ISO 19661:2026

International
Standard
ISO 19661
First edition
Traditional Chinese medicine —
2026-02
Anemarrhena asphodeloides
rhizome
Médecine traditionnelle chinoise — Rhizome de Anemarrhena
asphodeloides
Reference number
© ISO 2026
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ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Description . . 1
5 Requirements and recommendations . 2
5.1 General characteristics .2
5.2 Morphological feature .2
5.3 Microscopic characteristics .3
5.4 Thin-layer chromatogram (TLC) identification .3
5.5 Moisture .3
5.6 Total ash .3
5.7 Acid-insoluble ash .3
5.8 Heavy metals .4
5.9 Pesticide residues .4
5.10 Marker compounds .4
6 Sampling . 4
7 Test method . 4
7.1 Macroscopic identification .4
7.2 Microscopic identification .4
7.3 Thin-layer chromatogram (TLC) identification .4
7.4 Determination of moisture content .4
7.5 Determination of total ash content .4
7.6 Determination of acid-insoluble ash content .4
7.7 Determination of heavy metal contents .4
7.8 Determination of pesticide residues contents.4
7.9 Determination of marker compound .4
8 Test report . 5
9 Packaging, storage and transportation . 5
10 Marking and labelling . 5
Annex A (informative) Thin-layer chromatogram (TLC) identification . 6
Annex B (informative) Determination of marker compound . 7
Annex C (informative) Reference information of national and regional requirements . 9
Bibliography .10

iii
Foreword
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iv
Introduction
Anemarrhena asphodeloides rhizome (also known as Anemarrhena Rhizoma, Zhimu in Mandarin) is one of
the commonly used herbal medicines in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). For instance, of 1607 formulae
in Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 edition), 44 contain the Anemarrhena asphodeloides rhizome (accounting
for 2,74 %); among 148 kampo medicines for prescription from the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare
(MHLW) of Japan, 6 formulae contain the Anemarrhena asphodeloides rhizome (accounting for 4,05 %).
[1]
Anemarrhena asphodeloides rhizome was firstly recorded in “Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing” , and has been used
in TCM for a long time for treatment of external contraction of febrile disease, high fever with vexation and
thirst, lung heat and dry cough, bone-steaming and tidal fever, interior heat wasting-thirst, constipation
caused by intestinal dryness. Phytochemical investigations have revealed that Anemarrhena asphodeloides
rhizome contains various chemical constituents, such as xanthones, steroidal saponins, flavones, xylogen,
tannins. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that the xanthones and steroidal saponins are the
main bioactive ingredients in Anemarrhena asphodeloides rhizome, which have the anti-diabetes, anti-
inflammation, anti-tumour, anti-platelet aggregation and anti-thrombotic formation, cardioprotective, and
cognition-enhancing effects.
In the global trade of Anemarrhena asphodeloides rhizome, China is the main export country. Based on the
statistics report of the Department of Market Supervision, Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic
of China, from 2016 to 2020, the average annual export volume of Anemarrhena asphodeloides rhizome was
758 326,4 kilograms, worth USD 4 068 006. The main destination countries and regions included Japan,
Hong Kong, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan (Province of China), Malaysia, Viet Nam, New Zealand, Germany,
the United States and Thailand.
Anemarrhena asphodeloides rhizome has been recorded in the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of
[2] [3] [4] [5]
China , the European Pharmacopoeia , the Japanese Pharmacopoeia and the Korean Pharmacopoeia ,
and the requirements of each pharmacopoeia are different. The standard of Anemarrhena asphodeloides
rhizome has not been unified at the international level. Therefore, the establishment of an International
Standard is necessary to guarantee the quality, safety, and consistency of the valuable herbal medicine.
As national and regional implementation can differ, national standards bodies are invited to modify the
values given in 5.6 and 5.7 in their national and regional standards. Examples of national and regional values
are given in Annex C.
v
International Standard ISO 19661:2026(en)
Traditional Chinese medicine — Anemarrhena asphodeloides
rhizome
1 Scope
This document specifies the quality and safety requirements for Anemarrhena asphodeloides rhizome.
This document applies to Anemarrhena asphodeloides rhizome that is sold and used as natural medicines
in international trade, including Chinese materia medica (whole medicinal materials) and decoction pieces
derived from the plant.
...