The Present Condition of Production and Consumption of Medicinal Plants in Japan

日本における 藥用植物の生産, 消費の 現況

The medicinal plants used traditional medicines are classified into two groups. The first group is formulary medicine which have been recorded on authorized books, for example, kampo drug in Japan. The second group is the fork medicines. These medicinal plants production is 165 billion yen(about 1.5 billion dollar) and which rate to to total pharmaceutical production is about 3% in 1990. The number of important medicinal plants treated in the market is 124 herbs from the total 364 herbs for kampo durgs(210 preparations kampo durgs) and other propritetary drugs (agents for common cold, laxatives, gastrointestional and so on). The production of the Ginseng and Bupleurum Root are increased about ten times in last twelve years(1976 or 1988). The 80% of these medicinal plants are imported from China, Korea and Southern Asian countries. Then the Pharmaceutical Affairs Bureau of Ministry of Health and Welfare published "The Guideline of Medicinal Plant for Cultivation" for a quality control and a stabilization supply of 80 herbs. The first part(1992) of the guideline reported 5 herbs; Coptis Rhizome, Rehmannia Root, Bupleur, Root, Japanese Angelica Root and Rhubarb, The next part will be published following 5herbs; Cnidium Rhizome, Safflower, Coix seed and Fruiet, Platicodon Root and Zedoary.