The original book has long been lost, but its relevant content can still be glimpsed from later works such as Daguan Bencao and Zhenghe Bencao. The content of Tao Hong-jingBencao Jing Jizhu includes 365 types recorded by Tao Hong-jing from Mingyi Bielu.

Mingyi Bielu originally contained more than 730 types of medicines, as this number was selected by Tao Hong-jing when compiling it into two separate works, possibly discarding some medicines deemed unnecessary at the time. In terms of the classification method of medicines, it still follows the three-grade classification of Bencao Jing, which roughly divides medicines into upper, middle, and lower grades based on their therapeutic effects, and further categorizes plant, mineral, and animal medicines within each grade.

For each medicine, the book records its official name, properties, indications, alternative names (or one name), usage, dosage, morphology, place of origin, collection, processing of materia medica, and interactions with other medicines. This is essentially the same as Bencao Jing. In Mingyi Bielu, some medicines are already accompanied by formulas, such as "honeycomb, combined with human hair and snake skin, burned to ashes, taken with wine in a square-cun spoon, twice a day, to treat various malignant ulcers, bone-attached abscesses, roots in zang-fu organs, multiple arthralgia with swelling, boils, sores, and malignant veins, all toxic conditions are cured." This is the earliest example of materia medica works including formulas, setting a good practical precedent for later materia medica works to include prescriptions. Additionally, some of the medicinal effects recorded in Mingyi Bielu surpass those in Bencao Jing, such as cinnamon inducing sweating and stemona root relieving cough, which are not found in Benjing. Therefore, this book holds significant practical value for the study of materia medica during the Han, Wei, and Six Dynasties periods.