Research on the original and quality evaluation of Styrax

Suhexiang Wan (蘇合香丸) is a well-known proprietary Chinese medicine developed by our partner company. It is recommended by the National Health Commission's "Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol for Novel Coronavirus Infection" as one of the prescribed treatments for severe cases of COVID-19. Styrax, a key therapeutic ingredient, plays a significant role in its efficacy. However, our preliminary investigation revealed that the origin of the styrax available in the market is unclear, and it remains unknown whether there are differences between Asian styrax and American styrax. This lack of clarity significantly impacts the quality and effectiveness of Suhexiang Wan.

To address this, our project aims to comprehensively compare Asian Styrax and American Styrax from four perspectives: original research, resource investigation, chemical analysis, and bioactivity evaluation. We seek to ascertain the source of raw materials and establish methods for quality evaluation of styrax. The ultimate goal is to enhance the quality standards of Suhexiang Wan, ultimately benefiting the general public.