Herbal Textual Research of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos in Famous Classical Prescriptions

The name "Lonicerae Japonicae Flos" was first published in Materia Medica from Steep Mountainsides of the Southern Song Dynasty. After the Song Dynasty, the name was gradually used by later generations and became the proper name of medicinal materials. The origin of the varieties of LJF is complicated in ancient times. Since the 2005 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia has stipulated that L. japonica Thunb. is the only source of LJF, and medicinal parts are buds or flowers with initial bloom. It is mostly used for raw products, and the processing accessories are mainly wine. Shandong and Henan are the genuine producing area, and the quality of flower buds harvested at the first crop is better. Based on current research results combined with modern research results and resource cultivation situation, the application and development of the classic prescriptions containing LJF (Simiao Yong'an Soup, Wuwei Disinfectant Drink and Tuoli Disinfection San) in the Catalogue of Ancient Classic Recipes (The First Batch) is suggested to use raw materials from Shandong, Henan, and other genuine producing areas with L. japonica Thunb. being the origin, and the buds harvested from the first crop during the second white to big white period were preferred for medicinal use. Based on the clinical application literature of famous classical prescriptions and bibliometric methods, the common dosage and average dosage of LJF in the three prescriptions were obtained, which could be used as the reference dosage of LJF in the development and utilization of famous classical prescriptions.