According to traditional Chinese medicine, the grasshopper has the effects of promoting blood circulation, relieving pain, detoxifying, and reducing swelling. It is commonly used for abdominal pain, malnutrition in children, dry tuberculosis in women, lumbar strain, trauma, urethritis, parotitis, and snake bites. Now let's learn about the characteristics and famous discussions of the grasshopper.
【Characteristics Identification】
The grasshopper has cylindrical stems with a diameter of about 3mm and longitudinal ridges on the surface. It has trifoliate leaves, with the top leaf being larger, measuring 5.5-9cm in length and 3.5-5cm in width, and having an elliptical or inverted ovate shape.
The tip of the leaf can be blunt or sharply pointed, with a hard tip. The base is wedge-shaped with smooth edges, and the color is pale green. The lower surface has soft hairs, and the texture is brittle.
Sometimes, it may have racemose inflorescences or pods. The pod measures 1.5-2.4cm in length and has constricted sutures on the ventral side and deep wave-like sutures on the dorsal side, with 4-7 segments. The surface is covered with brown velvety hairs. It has a slight odor and a bean-like smell.
【Pharmacological Research】
1. Research on hepatoprotective and lipid-lowering activity
The total leaf extract and ethyl acetate extract of the grasshopper have the most significant effects in regulating blood lipids, protecting the liver, and inhibiting lipid peroxidation. The effective part of the grasshopper is the ethyl acetate fraction from the leaves.
The ethyl acetate extract of the grasshopper can be used to treat liver damage caused by hyperlipidemia.
2. Research on hepatoprotective activity in acute liver injury
The butanol extract of the grasshopper leaves has a good effect on reducing the levels of GPT, GOT, and MDA in mice with acute liver injury caused by carbon tetrachloride, as well as increasing the activity level of SOD in mice. This is the main part responsible for the hepatoprotective effect of the grasshopper and can be developed for use in hepatoprotective preparations.
【Application in Prescriptions】
1. Treatment of abdominal pain: Take 1 fen (Chinese unit of weight, about 3.3g) of Sophora root seeds and grind them into powder for consumption; or take 15g of Sophora root, decoct it in water, and drink the decoction. (From "Guizhou Herbal Medicine")
2. Treatment of dry tuberculosis in women: Take 1 liang (Chinese unit of weight, about 50g) of Sophora root. For the first dose, decoct it in wine and drink the decoction. For the second dose, stew it with meat and eat it. (From "Guizhou Herbal Medicine")
【Famous Discussions】
1. "Emei Medicinal Plants": Clears heat and relieves inflammation.
2. "Guizhou Herbal Medicine": Nourishes weakness, promotes blood circulation, treats malaria, and relieves pain.
3. "Guangxi Chinese Herbal Medicine": Promotes digestion, relieves pain, and detoxifies snake bites. Used to treat stomach diseases, malnutrition in children, and snake bites.
3. "Fujian Pharmacopoeia": Clears heat, diuresis, detoxification, and reduces swelling. Treats stomach pain, malnutrition in children, heatstroke, urethritis, parotitis, lymphadenitis, and snake bites.
