Chinese medicine "Geshanxiang", also known as "Jinjizhao", "Jizhacan", "Shanzhuxiang", etc., has the effect of dispersing wind and clearing heat, relieving cough and phlegm, and reducing swelling and relieving pain. It is mainly distributed in Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi and other provinces in China. So what are the pharmacological effects of Geshanxiang?
【Morphological Characteristics of Geshanxiang】
Geshanxiang is a perennial herb, 40-130 cm tall, with a smooth and hairless surface. The main root is cylindrical or spindle-shaped. The stem is erect, cylindrical, with longitudinal and shallow groove marks, and branches on the upper part.
The leaves have petioles, with petioles measuring 7-30 cm long and broad sheaths at the base. The leaf blades are oblong-ovate to broadly triangular, 3-pinnate and 2-pinnate; the lobes have stalks, with stalks measuring 2-7 cm long; the small lobes are elliptic to lanceolate, measuring 3.5-6.5 cm long and 0.4-2.5 cm wide, gradually tapering at the tip and narrowing at the base. It flowers from June to August and fruits from September to October.
It is wild on sunny slopes of shrubs or forest edges. It is distributed in Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hunan and other provinces, mainly in Zhejiang and Guangxi.
【Efficacy and Function of Geshanxiang】
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that Geshanxiang has the effects of dispersing wind and clearing heat, relieving cough and phlegm, and reducing swelling and relieving pain. It is mainly used to treat colds, coughs, headaches, abdominal pain, dysentery, hepatitis, rheumatism, hernia, irregular menstruation, bruises and swelling, carbuncles, and snake bites.
1. "Guangxi Medicinal Plant Catalog": The whole plant can nourish and strengthen the body, dispel wind and promote Qi circulation. It is used to treat tuberculosis, stomach pain, heart pain, malaria, dysentery, bruises, and amenorrhea.
2. "Common Chinese Herbal Medicine Manual of the Guangzhou Military": The root can promote blood circulation, relieve stasis, promote Qi circulation, relieve pain, stop coughing, and eliminate phlegm. It is used to treat angina pectoris, stomach pain, chronic cough, and snake bites.
3. "Jiangxi Herbal Medicine": The root can clear heat, detoxify, stop coughing, and stop bleeding. It is used to treat leukorrhea.
4. "Selected Chinese Herbal Medicine for Use in Guangxi Trials": The root can dispel wind, reduce swelling, promote blood circulation, relieve stasis, and relieve pain. It is mainly used to treat stomach pain, hemoptysis, rheumatoid arthritis, cold abscesses, chronic osteomyelitis, and abdominal pain.
【Pharmacological Effects of Geshanxiang】
1. Antitussive, expectorant, and anti-inflammatory effects
The distillate of Geshanxiang has a significant antitussive effect on cough induced by ammonia water in guinea pigs, and can promote the discharge of phenol red from the bronchi of mice, indicating certain expectorant effects. The inhibition rate of rat foot swelling inflammation is similar to that of 0.25% dexamethasone.
2. Effects on smooth muscles
The crystal Isothujone (Ⅰ) obtained from the ethyl ether extract of Geshanxiang roots is formulated into a suspension with Tween-80, and it is found to have certain spasmolytic effects on isolated rabbit intestines, guinea pig tracheas, and rabbit aortic strips, and can also inhibit in situ small intestine motility.
3. Antibacterial effects
In vitro antibacterial tests show that the distillate of Geshanxiang has a certain inhibitory effect on Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, influenza village bacteria, and pneumococcus.
