Table 4 Quality standards of MTCM included in the 2020 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and related standards for Chinese herbal medicines

Syngnathus

Characteristic

Moisture

–

–

Hippocampus

Characteristic, Powder, Microscopic

Dry weight reduction, Total Ash, Acid-insoluble ash

–

–

Sepiae Endoconcha

Characteristic, Powder, Microscopic, Physicochemical

Heavy metals and harmful elements, Moisture, Dry weight reduction, Acid-insoluble ash

–

Calcium carbonate (CaCO₃)

Sargassum

Characteristic, Powder, Physicochemical

Heavy metals and harmful elements, Moisture, Total Ash, Acid-insoluble ash

Alcohol-soluble leachate

Fucose (C₆H₁₂O₅)

Meretricis Concha Cyclinae Concha

Characteristic, Powder, Microscopic, Physicochemical, Thin-layer

Heavy metals and harmful elements, Acid-insoluble ash

–

Calcium carbonate (CaCO₃)

Laminariae Thallus Eckloniae Thallus

Characteristic, Physicochemical

Moisture, Total Ash, Heavy metals and harmful elements

Alcohol-soluble leachate

Iodine, Fucose (C₆H₁₂O₅)

Ostreae Concha

Characteristic, Powder, Microscopic, Physicochemical, Thin-layer

Heavy metals and harmful elements, Acid-insoluble ash, Dry weight reduction, Arsenic salt

–

Calcium carbonate (CaCO₃)

Haliotidis Concha

Characteristic, Powder, Microscopic, Physicochemical

Dry weight reduction, Acid-insoluble ash

–

Calcium carbonate (CaCO₃)

Arcae Concha

Characteristic, Powder, Microscopic

Calcium carbonate (CaCO₃)

Margarita

Characteristic, Powder, Microscopic, Physicochemical

Heavy metals and harmful elements, Acid-insoluble ash

Margaritifera Concha

Characteristic, Powder, Microscopic, Physicochemical

Acid-insoluble ash