Kutanzi, a traditional Chinese medicine, refers to the seeds or fruits of the plant Thick-fruited Yeast Vine in the Leguminosae family. Kutanzi is highly toxic and is mainly used to treat toxic symptoms, alleviate pain, dissolve accumulations, and kill parasites. It is commonly used to treat scabies, tinea, sores, impetigo, abdominal pain caused by dampness, and childhood malnutrition. Thick-fruited Yeast Vine is also known as Small-fruited Yeast Vine, Poisonous Fish Vine, and Large Vine World.
【Medicinal Properties of Kutanzi】
Dried Kutanzi seeds are flat and slightly kidney-shaped. Seeds attached to the ends of the pods are round on one side and flat on the other, while seeds in the middle of the pods are flat on both sides. They are approximately 4 cm long and 3 cm thick.
The surface is reddish-brown to dark brown with a glossy appearance, or with a thin film of grayish-white color. The hilum is located in the middle waist indentation. There are two cotyledons, which are thick and horny, easily fissured longitudinally. There are irregular protrusions around the hilum, causing uneven fissures in the cotyledons.
It has a slight aroma and a mild taste that gradually becomes numbing. It is considered good quality if the skin is reddish-brown, large in size, and free from insect damage.
The fruits are harvested after they ripen in October. The fruit skin is removed, and the seeds are dried.
【Chemical Composition of Kutanzi】
Kutanzi seeds contain fish vine ketone and pseudo-fish vine ketone. The roots contain 1.2% fish vine ketone and 4% resin.
【Effects and Uses of Kutanzi】
It kills parasites, counteracts toxins, and relieves pain. It is used to treat scabies, tinea, impetigo, abdominal pain caused by dampness, and childhood malnutrition.
① "The Compendium of Herbs and Woods": "It kills parasites, counteracts toxins. It can be applied topically or used for washing to treat scabies, tinea, malnutrition, and impetigo."
② "Folk Medicine in Guizhou Province": "It relieves depression, dispels wind evil, and relieves pain."
