DEFINITION

Gastrodia Rhizome consists of the dried tuberous rhizome of Gastrodia elata Blume (Fam. Orchidaceae), which is collected in winter or spring, immediately washed, steamed, and either dried in the sun or at NMT 60° with proper ventilation. It contains NLT 0.20% and NMT 1.5% of phenols calculated as the sum of gastrodin (C₁₃H₁₈O₇) and 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (C₇H₈O₂), and NLT 1.2% of benzyl citrate glycosides calculated as the sum of parishin A (C₄₅H₅₆O₂₅), parishin B (C₃₂H₄₀O₁₉), parishin C (C₃₂H₄₀O₁₉), and parishin E (C₁₉H₂₄O₁₃), all on the dried basis.