Ethnobotanical survey of cooling herbal drinks from southern China

Bibliographic Data

ID4722258
AuthorsYujing Liu (0000-0002-9429-5983, Minzu University of China), Selena Ahmed (0000-0001-5779-0697, Kunming Institute of Botany), Chunlin Long (0000-0002-6573-6049, Kunming Institute of Botany, corresponding author)
Year2013
Volume9
Issue1
Pages82-82
Publication date2013-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1746-4269 • E-ISSN: 1746-4269
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1186/1746-4269-9-82
PMID24354903
PMCIDPMC3926322
OpenAlexW2127719311
LanguageEN
Citations received15
References cited27

Background Liáng chá ("cooling tea", "herbal tea" or "cool tisane" in Chinese) are herbal drinks widely produced in southern China and consumed by billions of people worldwide to prevent and treat internal heat as well as a range of associated health conditions. Globalization and renewed interest in botanical remedies has attracted growing attention in cooling herbal drinks by industry, scientists and consumers. However, there is a knowledge gap on the plant species used and commercialized for cooling herbal drinks in southern China and their associated ethnobotanical use, habitat and conservation status. This is the first study to document plant species used and commercialized as liáng chá in southern China's Lingnan region and associated ethnomedical function, preparation methods, habitat and conservation status. Methods Three hundred market surveys were conducted between 2010-2012 in the largest herbal drink producing region of China to record plants used for liáng chá and to document knowledge on their medicinal function, habitat and conservation status. Product samples and voucher specimens were collected for taxonomic identification. Results All informants harvest and cultivate plants for preparing herbal drinks for their medicinal, cultural and economic values. A total of 222 ethnotaxa corresponded to 238 botanical taxa (species, varieties or subspecies) belonging to 86 families and 209 genera were recorded as liáng chá to treat health conditions in the study area. Recorded remedies consisted of one or several plant species to treat conditions classified into 27 major health conditions with clearing internal heat being the most common medicinal function. The habitat types of plants documented for use as liáng chá include 112 wild harvested species, 51 species that are either wild harvested or cultivated, 57 cultivated species, and 2 naturalized species. According to China's Red List and CITES on conservation status, one of these species is endangered, one species is critically endangered, eight species are vulnerable, one is listed in CITES II, three are listed in Regional Red Data Book and the remaining 224 species are in the least concerned conservation category. Conclusions The liáng chá industry of southern China reflects the plant species richness and cultural diversity of the region. Future research on safety and efficacy of herbal drinks as well as ecological and cultural conservation efforts are needed for the sustainable growth of China's botanical industry

Agroforestry · Biodiversity · Biology · China · Ethnobotany · Geography · Habitat · Medicinal plants · Socioeconomics · Traditional medicine · Ethnobotanical and Medicinal Plants Studies · Forest, Soil, and Plant Ecology in China · Medicine · Natural product bioactivities and synthesis · Phytochemistry and Biological Activities · Species Distribution and Climate Change · Traditional Chinese Medicine Analysis · Ecology

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