99650 Pharmacology of Chinese Herbal Medicine

Finding Journal Articles

Learning Objectives: Practise how to find journal articles to understand evidence-based Chinese herbal medicine

Top Databases

Embase,MedlineandAMED can be accessed via the Library Website from:

  • the Find Databases tool, or
  • the Catalogue

Example searches for Embase,Medlineand AMED:

( suggestions from your lecturer)

  1. Search using single herb name or active compounds:

Herb name / Active compounds
Ren Shen,Ginseng / ginsenosides
Dan Shen, Salvia Miltiorrhiza / tanshinones
Gan Cao,Licorice, Radix Glycyrrhizae / glycyrrhizin or glycyrrhetic acid
Jiao Gu Lan,Gynostemma pentaphyllum / gypenosides

2. Search using herb name with known active compounds andpharmacological effects or clinical applications

  • Huang Lian (Coptis Chinensis)/Berberine and anti-diabetes/diabetes
  • Huang Qin (Radix Scutellariae)/baicalin and anti-cancer/cancer
  1. Screening search for a special disease:
  2. Chinese herbal medicines for obesity
  3. Chinese herbal medicines for diabetes
  4. Chinese herbal medicines for enhancing immunity
  5. Chinese herbal medicines for menopause
  6. Chinese herbal medicines for cancer therapy

Search hints:

  • Try ‘Map term to subject heading’ in “Advanced Search” to find Medical Subject Heading on your topic, eg Chinese herbal medicine maps to herbaceous agent in Embase,maps to Drugs, Chinese Herbal in Medline
  • For some herbs, more related subject headings can be found, e.g. ginseng, ginseng extract, ginseng saponin, ginsenoside, you can choose OR to include these subjects
  • If can’t find a subject heading for a specific topic, e.g. chenpi, then choose keyword search: chenpi OR chen pi ORPericarpium Citri Reticulatae
  • Use refine function to limit your results on a specific Publication Type, eg Randomized Controlled Trial, Controlled Clinical Trial or Systematic Review

More information on Evidence Based Medicine:go to Study Guide-> Pharmacy->Evidence Based Practice

  • use SFX link to locate full text
  1. Use one more databasesconcurrently (Embase, Medline andAMED) through OVID Resources to do search.

Use keyword in “Advanced Search” and then refine the results by Subject.

  • Dan Shen/ Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae/ Salvia miltiorrhiza, tanshinones
  • Jiao Gu Lan/Gynostemma pentaphyllum, gypenosides

Electronic Reference Books/Databases

(search by title at the library catalogue)

  • Mosby's Handbook of Herbs & Natural SupplementsMosby, 2006

Provides detailed information on 300 commonly used herbal products and natural supplements. Search herb by Chinese, English and pharmacology name, search herbal formula by name of disease.

  • An illustrated Chinese materia medica Oxford University Press, 2005

A lavishly illustrated atlas of the 320 herbs used most frequently in traditional Chinese medical practice. Each substance is profiled authoritatively in monographs that provide pharmaceutical, botanical and English names; flavor properties and channel tropisms; functions; clinical uses and major combinations; dosage and administration; and precautions.

  • A clinical guide to identifying Chinesemateria medicaBeijing: People's Medical Pub. House, 2008
  • An illustrated atlas ofthe commonly used Chinese materia medicaBeijing: People's Medical Pub. House, 2007
  • Chinese and related North American herbs : phytopharmacology and therapeutic valuesCRC Press, 2009.
  • Natural StandardNatural Standard database provides high-quality, evidence-based information about complementary and alternative medicine including dietary supplements and integrative therapies.

Useful Free Websites

  • PubMed ( )

The U.S. National Library of Medicine's digital archive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature, providing free access to the full text of articles.

  • HerbMed (
    Searchable database provides evidence-based herbal information. Six categories of information are provided for each herb: evidence of activity, warnings, preparations, mixtures, mechanisms of action and related web links.
  • Complementary and Alternative HealingUniversity ()

Searchable information of TCM, including Chinese herbs, Qigong, Acupuncture, massage, etc.

Have a question? Go to RHD in the library, or sendan email:

99650 Pharmacology of Chinese Herbal Medicine handout.doc324/10/2018