[Decipherment of ancient literature about Danshen].

Danshen has a long history in China as a commen traditional Chinese medicine, but many other members of the Salvia family is also used as Danshen in particular regions. The name of Danshen were analyzed according to the color, efficacity and etc. To investigate the real origin of Danshen, the stalk, leaf, flower and radix in chronicle and pictures of ancient literature were deciphered. It showed that in the past dynasties, Salvia miltiorrhiza was the most likely plant used as Danshen. The rigin and quality evaluation of Danshen were also summerized, provided new insight and proof for the development and utilization of Danshen.