The role of traditional Chinese medicine Sterculia lychnophora

Many people who suffer from sore throats or pharyngitis will choose lozenges. An indispensable ingredient in those moisturizing lozenges is Sterculia lychnophora. Sterculia lychnophora is the most common Chinese medicine. Because of its very round shape, its name is also very appropriate. The pharmacology of the traditional Chinese medicine Pangdahai is very extensive. Now let's learn about this familiar yet unfamiliar traditional Chinese medicine!

The Chinese medicine Sterculia lychnophora (Latin name: SEMEN STERCULIAE LYCHNOPHORAE), also known as: sea, sea seeds, big hole fruit, big hair, is the dried mature seeds of the Sterculia lychnophora Hance plant of the Sterculaceae family. It is spindle-shaped or oval, 2 to 3 cm long and 1 to 1.5 cm in diameter. The apex is obtuse, the base is slightly pointed and crooked, with a light-colored round hilum, the surface is brown or dark brown, slightly shiny, and has irregular shrinkage wrinkles. The outer peel is very thin, brittle and easy to fall off. The middle layer of the fruit skin is thicker, dark brown, loose and brittle, and expands into a sponge-like state when in contact with water. Scattered resinous spots can be seen on the cross section. The inner pericarp can be peeled off from the middle pericarp, is slightly leathery, and contains 2 thick endosperms, which are broadly ovate; there are 2 cotyledons, which are thin, closely attached to the inside of the endosperm, and are the same size as the endosperm. It has a slight odor, light taste, and is sticky when chewed.

Medical Pharmacology

⒈ Laxative effect Animal experiments have shown that Sterculia lychnophora has a mild laxative effect. The mechanism is that after oral administration of Sterculia lychnophora, the increase in intestinal contents can produce mechanical stimulation, causing increased reflex intestinal peristalsis and causing diarrhea. The outer skin, soft shell and kernel of Sterculia lychnophora were extracted with water respectively. For anesthetized dogs, no matter which method of administration was used, the intestinal peristalsis could be significantly increased. This effect could be antagonized by atropine. The kernel extract at a ratio of 1:400,000 can increase the intestinal peristalsis of isolated rabbits, but the effects of the outer skin and soft shell were not obvious.

⒉ Antihypertensive effect: A 25% solution of Sterculia lychnophora seed (defatted dry powder) can significantly lower blood pressure when given to dogs and cats by intravenous, intramuscular or oral injection. Experiments have shown that its antihypertensive principle is related to the central nervous system. There are also reports that Sterculia lychnophora seed water extract has a antihypertensive effect on anesthetized dogs and a pressor effect on rabbits; but the different effects on the blood pressure of dogs and rabbits can both be sensitized by histamine.

⒊ Other effects: The water extracts of the peel, soft shell and kernel of the Pteris crenata all have certain diuretic and analgesic effects, with the kernel being the strongest; all three have no local irritating effect.

Plantago ovata is sweet and cool in nature. It enters the lung and large intestine meridians and has the effects of clearing lung heat, relieving throat, detoxifying, and moistening the intestines and promoting bowel movements. It is used for hoarseness caused by lung heat, sore throat, constipation due to heat, and excessive use of the voice. However, it only has a certain auxiliary effect on sore throat and acute tonsillitis caused by exogenous factors.

The Chinese medicine Plantago ovata has many functions. It not only has the effect of clearing away heat and detoxifying, but also has the effect of lowering blood pressure. Nowadays, the Chinese medicine Sterculia lychnophora has appeared in many medicines, but in fact, people can also buy some Sterculia lychnophora in pharmacies and soak it in water to drink. Long-term drinking can lower blood pressure and reduce throat discomfort.