七叶树为高大落叶乔木，以干燥成熟种子——娑罗子入药，具有疏肝理气、和胃止痛之功效，是我国珍稀濒危中药材。本文采用文献调查结合实地考察的方法，对中国境内七叶树资源种类、分布概况、适生生境、资源现状进行分析和总结，阐明了对七叶树属药用植物资源规范化种植和系统化研究的必要性和紧迫性，并提出资源可持续利用的重要性，以期为娑罗子药材的开发和合理利用提供借鉴。

Aesculus Linn. is tall deciduous arbor. Aesculi semen, the dried ripe seeds of the tree, is used as medicinal material, which possesses functions of dredging the liver, harmonizing blood, warming the stomach and relieving pains. It is rare and endangered Chinese herbal medicines. In this paper, methods of literature survey combined with field trips were adopted to analyze and summarize types of resources, an overview of distribution, suitable habitat, and resource status of A . Linn. in the territory of China. This paper clarified the need and urgency of standardized cultivation and systematic study on Aesculus medicinal plant resources, and preliminarily put forward the importance of sustainable use of resources, in order to provide draw for development and rational use of Aesculi semen herbs.

湖北省科技厅重点新产品新工艺研究开发项目（2012BCA02）：I 类创新药复方七叶皂苷冻干粉针的研制与开发，负责人：石召华。