Dendrobium from Jintang

Dendrobium from Jintang

　　Dendrobium is an important and commonly used traditional Chinese medicine. Modern medical research has proven that Dendrobium contains dozens of chemical substances. Dendrobine can promote blood circulation, enhance heart function, stimulate gastrointestinal motility, improve digestive function, and significantly raise the level of SOD (superoxide dismutase) in the human body while lowering LPO (lipid peroxide), offering significant anti-aging effects. It can also promote the generation of T cells, B cells, NK cells, and macrophages, as well as the production of lymphocyte migration inhibitory factors, thereby enhancing immunity. In the treatment of cataracts, it helps control and correct abnormal enzyme activity caused by galactose, and can prevent or rectify the imbalance of total cholesterol levels in the lens due to galactose-induced cataracts. Regarding anti-tumor properties, Dendrobium extracts have shown significant cytotoxicity against early-stage cancer cells such as those in human lung and ovarian cancers. Due to these various unique benefits, Dendrobium is hailed as the “Herb of Immortality.”

　　Jintang has a long history of artificially cultivating Jintang Dendrobium, but large-scale, intensive cultivation began in the 1960s, mainly through cooperative experiments with the Sichuan Academy of Plant Sciences on artificial cultivation of Dendrobium. Success was achieved in 1985, with a 90% survival rate of tissue-cultured seedlings. In 1990, this achievement won a second prize at the ministry level from the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, representing a leading domestic standard. Currently, the Jintang Dendrobium Industrial Park has been established in Fuxing and Zhaojia, covering a leased land area of 10,000 mu. The cultivated area of Jintang Dendrobium that has obtained both GAP (Good Agricultural Practice for Chinese Crude Drugs) standard and organic agricultural product certification reaches 8,000 mu. At the same time, a high-standard, high-cleanliness Jintang Dendrobium seedling tissue culture center and a constant-temperature acclimatization center have been built, with an annual propagation capacity of 1.5 million bottles of Dendrobium seedlings and a 95% survival rate for acclimatized planting.

　　To better leverage the economic benefits of Jintang Dendrobium, the Jintang County government guides local enterprises to emphasize the integration of industry, academia, and research. It actively leads and participates in the establishment of a standardized, regulated, and integrated industry-academia-research system for the Jintang Dendrobium sector. Deep collaborations have been formed with the Chengdu Branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Biology, the Sichuan Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine Sciences, Sichuan University, Sichuan Agricultural University, and Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. These efforts are dedicated to the research and development of a series of deep-processed products such as health foods and medicines derived from Jintang Dendrobium, fully tapping into its health and medicinal value, expanding and promoting its multi-level and diversified product offerings. While broadening sales channels, these initiatives also aim to meet the diverse health needs of different population groups.