Cornus officinalis from Foping

Cornus officinalis from Foping

　　Cornus officinalis from Foping is produced in Foping County, Shaanxi Province.

　　Cornus officinalis is a traditional and highly valued Chinese medicinal herb, also known as jujube peel, medicinal jujube, or cornelian cherry. The Compendium of Materia Medica lists it as a top-grade tonic, stating: “Long-term consumption improves vision, strengthens the body, and prolongs life. It treats skull and bone pain, relieves tinnitus, nourishes kidney qi, enriches essence, and stops urinary incontinence in the elderly.” It has high medicinal and edible value. It tastes sour and astringent, with a slightly warm nature, and has the effects of nourishing liver and kidney, and consolidating collapse. It is widely used clinically and is a main raw material for processing Liuwei Dihuang Pills and related products.

　　Modern pharmacological studies have shown that Cornus officinalis contains loganin, cornin, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, polysaccharides, vitamin C, various amino acids, and multiple trace elements. It has antibacterial, immune-regulating, blood sugar-lowering, and anti-aging properties.

　　Tao Hongjing of the Liang Dynasty in the Southern Dynasties recorded in the Commentary on the Classic of Materia Medica: “Cornus officinalis grows in the valleys of Mount Hanzhong.” Foping is the original production area of Han Zhong’s Cornus officinalis, with a long history of cultivation. Cornus officinalis from Foping is renowned both domestically and internationally for its large fruit size, thick flesh, genuine taste, freedom from pests and diseases, bright red and oily appearance, and high content of active ingredients. It is considered top-grade.

　　Foping is the optimal habitat for Cornus officinalis, with nearly a thousand years of cultivation history. Currently, it has obtained national GAP certification and origin mark registration, covering a planting area of over 80,000 mu (approximately 5,333 hectares) with more than 3 million plants. Its annual yield exceeds 760 tons. It is recognized as a “National Standardized Cultivation Base for Cornus officinalis” and a “Shaanxi Provincial Standardized Medicinal Material Cultivation County.” It has been rated as one of China’s top three Cornus officinalis production bases and is honored as the “Hometown of Cornus officinalis in China.”