Research on the Traceability and Protection of the Sources of Chinese Medicinal Materials

Abstract

The quality, safety, and resource sustainability of Chinese medicinal materials are crucial to human health and ecological balance. Confronted with severe challenges such as resource depletion, species misidentification, and market fraud, establishing a systematic framework for source traceability and protection has become a core issue for the industry's development. This study reviews the theoretical progression of source traceability, from morphological characterization to molecular mechanism analysis. It systematically elaborates on the pivotal role of molecular biological technologies, including DNA barcoding and metabolomics, in authenticating botanical origins and geographical tracing. Furthermore, it demonstrates the integration pathways of information technologies, such as blockchain and the Internet of Things (IoT), for constructing reliable traceability systems. Simultaneously, from the perspective of conservation biology, the study investigates diagnostic methods for resource sustainability, encompassing population genetic assessment and ecosystem services. It details in-situ and ex-situ ecological conservation techniques and proposes innovative protection strategies based on multidisciplinary integration. The study further elucidates the driving mechanism of traceability data for conservation decision-making, emphasizing the synergistic effects of interdisciplinary approaches in resource management. This paper aims to construct a research framework that deeply integrates traceability with protection, thereby advancing the management of Chinese medicinal material resources towards greater precision, intelligence, and systematization. It also seeks to provide a theoretical foundation and technical reserve for addressing future resource and climate challenges.