Chinese Medicine Changshan, also known as Huang Changshan, Jiguchangshan, Jigufeng, Fenggumu, Baichangshan, Dajindao, and Shuqi, is harvested in autumn. The roots are dug up, washed, and dried. The branches and leaves are collected in summer and dried.
Characteristics of Changshan:
It is a deciduous shrub with a maximum height of 2 meters. The stems are round, jointed, and covered with short, yellow-brown hairs when young. The leaves are opposite, elliptical, broadly lanceolate, or ovate in shape, measuring 5-17 cm in length and 2-6 cm in width. They have a gradually pointed tip, a wedge-shaped base, and serrated edges. Both sides of the leaves are sparsely covered with yellow-brown hairs when young. The petioles are 1-2 cm long. The umbel inflorescence grows on the top or upper part of the branches. The flowers are light blue, and the bracts are linear-lanceolate and fall off early. The calyx is tubular and pale blue, measuring about 4 mm in length, with 5-6 triangular teeth at the apex, and covered with brown hairs on the outside. There are 5-6 blue petals, long and lanceolate or ovate in shape, measuring about 8 mm in length. There are 10-12 stamens with unequal lengths and blue anthers, and 1 pistil with an ovoid stigma. The fruit is round, with a diameter of 5-6 mm, blue in color, and has persistent sepals and stigma. It blooms from June to July and bears fruit from August to September.
Pharmacological Effects:
1: Antimalarial Effect
The water extract of Changshan root has significant therapeutic effects on chicken malaria, and the antimalarial potency of Changshan leaves (Shuqi) is 5 times that of the root. However, it cannot prevent relapse. The antimalarial potency of total alkaloids of Changshan is about 26 times that of quinine. The antimalarial potency of Changshan alkaloids A, B, and C on chicken malaria is 1, 100, and 150 times that of quinine, respectively. Changshan alkaloid B is 100 times more effective than quinine against duck malaria. Changshan alkaloid C is effective against canary malaria and monkey malaria. In the traditional antimalarial treatment, Changshan was used in combination with betel nut. However, through chicken malaria tests, betel nut alkaloids themselves have no antimalarial effect. They cannot enhance the antimalarial potency of Changshan alkaloid B or counteract the vomiting caused by Changshan alkaloid B. Instead, they increase the toxicity of Changshan.
2: Antiamoebic Effect
The in vitro antiamoebic effect of Changshan alkaloid B is stronger than that of emetine. It has higher efficacy in treating young rats infected with amoebic parasites, with a treatment index 1 times higher than that of emetine.
3: Antipyretic Effect
The crude extract of Changshan has antipyretic effects on artificially induced fever in rabbits. Oral administration of Changshan alkaloid C in rats has a stronger antipyretic effect than acetylsalicylic acid.
