What are the effects and functions of Plantago

Plantain is also a kind of weed that we commonly call wild grass. It is also called wheel grass, pig stomach grass, clam grass, rice spoon grass, cow beet and many other names. Its name varies depending on the region. Plantain is a perennial herb and a commonly used Chinese medicinal material. It has diuretic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, antitussive and antiasthmatic effects. Now let’s talk about the effects and functions of Plantain.

1. Diuretic effect

For normal people, taking 10g of Plantago seed decoction orally has a diuretic effect, but the total volume of the decoction and the daily water intake are not recorded, and there is a lack of strict control. There is no obvious diuretic effect when taking plantain seed decoction in normal people and rabbits. Plantago seeds also have no diuretic effect.

2. Effect on joint capsule

When small amounts of Plantago seed decoction are injected multiple times into the rabbit's knee joint cavity, synovial inflammation occurs first, followed by connective tissue hyperplasia. Therefore, it is possible to restore the original tension of the relaxed joint capsule. It can be used clinically for temporomandibular joint subluxation. The seeds of Indian Plantain Plantagoovata contain a large amount of mucilage, which can be used as a bulk laxative and has the effect of lowering serum cholesterol in humans. The alcohol extract can lower the blood pressure of anesthetized dogs and cats, inhibit isolated rabbit hearts and frog hearts, excite the intestines of rabbits, rats and guinea pigs, and can be inhibited by atropine. Therefore, it is believed to have a choleretic effect. Injecting 0.05-0.2ml of 5% Plantago seed decoction into the rabbit's knee joint cavity can promote the proliferation of synovial connective tissue in the joint capsule, thereby restoring the original tension of the relaxed joint capsule. Plantago seed decoction showed no diuretic effect on normal humans, rabbits, and rats.

3. Expectorant, antitussive and antiasthmatic effects

Oral administration of Plantago decoction (1g/kg) to anesthetized cats can increase their tracheal secretions and has a significant expectorant effect, but its effect is not as strong as that of Platycodon grandiflorum. The expectorant effect of Plantain Pear lasts for more than 6 to 7 hours, and the peak effect is mostly within 5 to 6 hours. After oral administration of Cheqian, except for increased respiratory secretions, there was no increased salivation or nausea and vomiting. Some reports suggest that the expectorant mechanism of Plantago is that the plantago glycosides in Plantago have the effect of stimulating the secretory nerves; in addition to promoting the secretion of tracheal and bronchial mucus, it can also inhibit the respiratory center, causing breathing to deepen and slow down.

4. Anti-pathogenic microorganisms

In test tubes, Plantain water extract has different degrees of inhibitory effects on skin fungi such as Trichophyton concentricum, Trichophyton thunbergii, Microspore Trichophyton audouinensis, Microspore Trichophyton ferruginosa, Microspore Trichophyton woolly, and Nocardia asteroidea. There are also reports indicating that it has varying degrees of inhibitory effects on a variety of pathogenic bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella sonnei, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhi. Plantago asiatica alcohol extract (15 mg/ml) has a killing effect on Leptospira.

5. Other functions

The plant of the same genus, Plantago major DC., has a regulatory effect on gastrointestinal function. The psyllium pectin isolated from plantain leaves has a good therapeutic effect on experimental gastric ulcers in rats; it prolongs the gastric emptying time of rats. It has a stimulating effect on the gastric juice secretion of dogs, can reduce the contraction amplitude and tension of isolated rabbit intestines, and has a significant antispasmodic effect on intestinal spasms caused by barium chloride and histamine. In addition, the preparation has a significant inhibitory effect on inflammatory edema caused by formaldehyde and dextran. Intravenous injection of Plantago injection (water extraction and alcohol precipitation method) to dogs can increase urine volume, ureteral peristalsis frequency and intracavitary pressure in the upper ureter.