Sea Red Bean belongs to deciduous small trees, with a height of 5-10m. Sea red bean is used for dispersing wind, clearing heat, drying dampness, relieving itching, moisturizing the skin, and nourishing the face. It is mainly used to treat facial dark spots, acne, sebaceous nose, facial wind, and tinea versicolor.
[Plant Morphology of Sea Red Bean]
Sea red bean, also known as peacock bean, red bean, acacia tree, acacia grid, amphibious tree, red wood, and xishi grid tree. It is a deciduous tree with a height of about 8 meters, and the tender parts are covered with small hairs.
Bipinnate compound leaves, with 4-12 pairs of leaflets (3-4 pairs in Hainan), 8-14 leaflets, rectangular or ovate, 2.5-3.5 cm long, about 1.5-2.5 cm wide, very blunt at the tip, and covered with soft hairs on both sides.
Conical inflorescence-like panicles, small flowers, white or pale yellow, borne in clusters, with short stalks; calyx campanulate, 5-toothed, about 5 mm long, covered with golden soft hairs along with the flower stalk; petals 5, lanceolate; stamens 10, separate, anthers ovate; ovary stalkless.
The pod is strap-like, 10-20 cm long, and curls and twists when it cracks, smooth and clean; the seeds are bright red, shiny, broadly ovate, about 5.5-8 mm long, with a funicle attached at one end. Flowering period is from June to July, and fruiting period is from August to September.
[Distribution of Sea Red Bean Habitat]
It grows in forests or on the banks of shady mountain streams and slopes, and is also planted in gardens.
It is distributed in Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, and the eastern part of the Himalayas.
[Collection of Sea Red Bean] Collect mature fruits, peel off the seeds, and dry them.
[Chemical Composition of Sea Red Bean]
The seeds contain stigmasterol and its glucosides, sitosterol, and polysaccharides. The seed oil contains oleic acid, linoleic acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, and a small amount of tetracosanoic acid.
[Pharmacological Effects of Sea Red Bean]
Sea red bean is different from acacia seeds, it does not contain glycosides, alkaloids, or acacia seed toxic proteins. It has been reported that it contains toxic compounds similar to toxic flat beans, but Africans use it as a seasoning. The root has emetic and purgative effects; the leaves have astringent properties and can be used to treat diarrhea.
[Nutritional Value of Sea Red Bean]
Red beans also contain a variety of inorganic salts and trace elements, such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, manganese, zinc, etc. The nutritional composition of red beans is similar to that of mung beans that people are familiar with, and some even exceed mung beans.
1. Red beans contain more saponins, which can stimulate the intestines. Therefore, it has a good diuretic effect and can relieve alcoholism, detoxify, and benefit heart disease, kidney disease, and edema.
2. Red beans have more dietary fiber, which has good effects on lubricating the intestines, promoting bowel movements, reducing blood pressure, lowering blood lipids, regulating blood sugar, detoxifying and anti-cancer, preventing stones, and beautifying and losing weight.
3. Red beans are foods rich in folic acid, and eating more red beans is beneficial for lactation in puerperas and lactating mothers.
