Sour Vine Fruit, also known as Xintongzi, Rudi Long, Sour Vine Seed, and Sweet and Sour Leaf, is a plant of the Rubiaceae family in the genus Sour Vine Fruit. It is distributed in southern regions of China, such as Yunnan, Guangxi, and Hainan. The fruits are mainly harvested in summer and have a sour and sweet taste that is edible. The fruits are rich in vitamin C and have the effect of strengthening and nourishing the blood. They are effective in treating gastric acid deficiency and loss of appetite.
【Medicinal Parts】
The fruits and branches/leaves of the plant Sour Vine Fruit from the Rubiaceae family. The fruits are harvested in summer, while the branches/leaves can be harvested throughout the year.
【Plant Morphology】
Sour Vine Fruit is a climbing shrub that grows up to 1-2 meters tall. The branches have obvious lenticels. The leaves are inverted ovate or elliptic, measuring 3-6 cm in length and 1-2 cm in width. The apex is blunt or rounded, and the base is wedge-shaped. The leaves have entire margins. The plant is dioecious, with inflorescences axillary or lateral. Each inflorescence has 3-8 flowers, which are white in color. Both the calyx and corolla of the flowers have 4 lobes. The stamens are attached to the base of the corolla lobes. The female flowers have degenerate stamens, and the pistils are approximately the same length as the corolla lobes. The berries are spherical, with a diameter of about 5-6 mm. They turn red when mature, and the flowering period is in spring from March to May, with fruit ripening from August to October. The plant grows in sunny areas in shrubs on slopes and sparsely wooded mountains. It is distributed in various southern regions of China.
【Distribution Environment】
It is distributed in Yunnan, Guangxi, Hainan, Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, Taiwan, and other provinces/regions in China. It is also found in Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia. It grows in shrubs on slopes, valleys, and forest edges.
【Efficacy and Application】
Fruits: The fruits have a sour and sweet taste and are rich in vitamin C. They can be eaten fresh or decocted alone. They have the effects of strengthening and nourishing the blood and treating gastric acid deficiency, gum bleeding, and loss of appetite.
Branches/Leaves: The branches/leaves have a sour taste and can be eaten to quench thirst. The roots are used in medicine and have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, blood-activating, pain-relieving, heat-clearing, detoxifying, astringent, and antidiarrheal effects. They can be used to treat sore throat, gum bleeding, spleen deficiency with leakage, bruises, and hemorrhoids. The recommended dosage for decoction is 9-15 grams.
