Earticle

This study examines fish-derived medicinal materials recorded in the Zhonghua Bencao , a major reference in traditional Chinese medicine. We analyzed all entries under “fish” verified taxonomy using the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), and determined native species status via the National Species List of the National Institute of Biological Resources. A total of 192 entries were identified, corresponding to 147 species across 121 genera, with Hippocampus and Syngnathus being the most frequently used. The family Cyprinidae had the highest species diversity (32). Twenty-nine body parts were utilized, with flesh being the most common. Sixty-eight species were native to Korea, representing 5.04% of the country’s 1,349 fish species. These findings highlight the underexplored potential of fish-based medicinal materials and underscore the need for further pharmacological evaluation, standardization, and industrial application in traditional medicine and beyond.