Lobelia chinensis

Lobelia chinensis
Flower of Lobelia chinensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Campanulaceae
Genus: Lobelia
Species: L. chinensis
Binomial name
Lobelia chinensis
Lour.[1]
Synonyms
  • Dortmanna campanuloides (Thunb.) Kuntze
  • Dortmanna chinensis (Lour.) Kuntze
  • Dortmanna radicans (Thunb.) Kuntze
  • Isolobus caespitosus (Blume) Hassk.
  • Isolobus campanuloides (Thunb.) A.DC.
  • Isolobus kerii A.DC.
  • Isolobus radicans (Thunb.) A.DC.
  • Isolobus roxburghianus A.DC.
  • Lobelia caespitosa Blume
  • Lobelia campanuloides Thunb.
  • Lobelia chinensis f. lactiflora
  • Lobelia chinensis f. plena
  • Lobelia japonica F.Dietr.
  • Lobelia kerii (A.DC.) Heynh.
  • Lobelia radicans Thunb.*
  • Lobelia roxburgiana (A.DC.) Heynh.
  • Pratia radicans G.Don
  • Pratia thunbergii G.Don

Lobelia chinensis, commonly known as the Chinese Lobelia, Herba Lobellae Chinensis, aze mushiro, and mizo kakushi,[1] is a species of flowering plant in the family Campanulaceae. It is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine, where it has the name (Chinese: 半边莲; pinyin: bàn biān lián).[2]

Description

L. chinensis is a small perennial herb[3] that grows in tangled clumps from 15 centimetres (5.9 in) to 35 centimetres (14 in) long. It has a long, thin, branching stem that is olive green and green-brown crumpled narrow leaves. It has little to no odor and a sweet and pungent taste. When harvesting herbs for medical use, the ones with the greenest stems and yellower roots are preferred.[2]

Distribution

It is endemic to east, south, southwest, and south-central China.

Herbal medicine

L. chinensis is considered one of the 50 fundamental herbs in Chinese herbology. Historically, L. chinensis has been used in herbal medicine to help stop smoking, however the Food and Drug Administration has banned the use of herbs containing lobeline.

Chemical constituents

L. chinensis contains 6,7-dimethoxycoumarin, fraxinol, 5-hydroxy-7-methoxycoumarin, tomentin, 3'-hydroxygenkwanin, apigenin, quercetin, luteolin, linarin, luteolin 3',4'-dimethylether-7-O-beta-D-glucoside, isoferulic acid, and ethyl rosmarinate.[4]

Toxicity and adverse effects

L. chinensis is considered mildly toxic[1] due to its adverse effects, including vomiting, heartburn, anxiety, vibrating, eclampsia, increased heart-rate, and severe stomach aches.[5]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lobelia chinensis.
  1. 1 2 3 "Taxon: Lobelia chinensis Lour.". NPGS/GRIN. Retrieved 2008-02-11.
  2. 1 2 "Lobelia Herb (Ban Bian Lian)". Chinese Herbs Healing. 2008.
  3. ↑ "Lobelia chinensis Lour. - Chinese lobelia". United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
  4. ↑ Chen JX, Huang SH, Wang Y, Shao M, Ye WC (2010). "Studies on the chemical constituents from Lobelia chinensis". Zhong Yao Cai 33 (11): 1721–4. PMID 21434431.
  5. ↑ Han J, Zhang F, Li Z, Du G, Qin H (2009). "[Chemical constituents of Lobelia chinensis]". Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi (in Chinese) 34 (17): 2200–2. PMID 19943485.


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