Setting the standard: HKBU Research to safeguard quality of Houzao

A research team led by Dr Li Lifeng, Research Assistant Professor at the HKBU School of Chinese Medicine, has been awarded a grant of nearly HK$1.9 million from the Chinese Medicine Development Fund (CMDF). 

The grant will fund a groundbreaking project to conduct the first comprehensive study on the quality, sourcing, and safety of Houzao—a traditional paediatric medicine. The project, titled “Multi-dimensional and Multi-parameter Investigation of the Quality of Commercial Houzao Raw Materials and Related Products,” aims to establish much-needed scientific benchmarks for this widely used medicinal material.

Houzao, a paediatric medicine derived from goat caesum bezoar, is widely used in Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland. However, inconsistent origins and a lack of scientific standards have led to significant quality variations in commercial products.

Dr Li’s team is combining traditional identification methods with advanced analytical techniques to establish reliable quality benchmarks. Their recent findings, published in Phytochemical Analysis, identified Houzao’s key chemical components and proposed new quality control measures for both raw materials and finished products. The study also confirmed substantial quality inconsistency among Houzao products in Hong Kong, underscoring the urgent need for standardisation.

This research aims to modernise the understanding of Houzao through scientific innovation, supporting the evolution of traditional Chinese medicine while ensuring product safety and efficacy. The project will enhance market transparency, raise industry standards, and improve public awareness of Houzao products.