Introduction of Kǔ Liàn Pí: Szechwan Chinaberry Bark
✵The article records the herb Szechwan Chinaberry Bark—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical sources—two plant species: (1) Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc. and (2) Melia azedarach L., and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environments of these two species, as well as the morphological features of the herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Cortex Meliae (Szechwan Chinaberry Bark)
Pinyin Name: Kǔ Liàn Pí
English Name: Szechwan Chinaberry Bark
Latin Name:Cortex Meliae Properties and Flavor: Cold; bitter
Brief Introduction:Cortex Meliae is the dried stem bark or root bark of Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc. or Melia azedarach L., used internally as an antiparasitic agent for treating helminthiasis and externally for scabies. It is commonly known as Cortex Meliae, Szechwan Chinaberry Bark, or Kǔ Liàn Pí.
Botanical Source: Classical herbal works define Cortex Meliae (Szechwan Chinaberry Bark) as the dried stem bark or root bark (cortex) of (1) Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc. or (2) Melia azedarach L.—species belonging to the genus Melia L., family Meliaceae (mahogany family), order Rutales. These two commonly used species are described below:
(1) Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc.
Botanical Description: Commonly known as Chuān Liàn, this is a tree growing up to 10 meters tall. The bark is taupe (grayish brown); young branches are densely covered with brown stellate scales. Leaves are bipinnately to tripinnately compound, 35–45 cm long; pinnae occur in 4–5 pairs; leaflets are oval or narrowly oval, 4–10 cm long and 2–4 cm wide, with entire margins or occasionally sparsely serrated.
Panicles are axillary; the calyx is celadon (sage green or grayish green), with 5–6 sepals; flowers have 5–6 petals; stamens number 10 or 12, with filaments fused into a tube.
Drupes are large, elliptic or subsphaeroidal (nearly spherical), ~3 cm long, yellow or chestnut brown; the endocarp is firm, hard, and lignified, with ridges and 6–8 locules. Seeds are oblong-ovoid and flattened. Flowering occurs from March to April; fruiting from September to November.
Ecological Environment:Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc. grows in groves (holt or mixed woodland) and open forests at altitudes of 500–2,100 m above sea level, as well as on flat alluvial plains and moist hilly sites. It is often cultivated near villages or along highways.
Growth Characteristics: This species prefers warm, humid climates and full sunlight, and is not shade-tolerant. It thrives at altitudes below 1,000 m. Cultivation is best carried out in sunny, deep-soiled fields with loose, fertile sandy loam.
(2) Melia azedarach L.
Botanical Description: Commonly known as Liàn or Kǔ Liàn, this is a deciduous tree reaching over 10 m, up to 15–20 m tall. The bark is dark brown and longitudinally fissured; older branches are purple and bear numerous thin, small lenticels. Branches are broad; branchlets show leaf scars. Leaves are bipinnately to tripinnately imparipinnate and alternate; leaflets are opposite, oval (egg-shaped) to elliptic, 3–7 cm long and 2–3 cm wide, with an acuminate apex and broadly cuneate or rounded base; margins are crenate; the upper surface is dark green, the lower surface is pea green (pale green); young leaves bear stellate hairs, while mature leaves retain only white hairs along the veins and are otherwise glabrous.
Panicles are axillary or terminal; flowers are mauve (lilac), ~1 cm long; the calyx is 5-lobed, with lanceolate lobes pilose on both surfaces; petals number 5, explicate or retroflexed, oblanceolate; the stamen tube is usually dark purple, ~7 mm long; the ovary is superior.
Drupes are ovate or subsphaeroidal (nearly spherical), 1.5–2 cm long, pale yellow, 4–5-loculed, each locule containing one seed. Flowering occurs from April to May; fruiting from October to November.
Ecological Environment: This species grows wild or along roadsides and is commonly planted in front of or behind houses. It is distributed throughout China and also occurs in other parts of East Asia, the Malay Peninsula, tropical Asia, and subtropical Asia.
Growth Characteristics: The plant grows rapidly in moist, fertile soil; soil requirements are not strict—it thrives in acidic, neutral, and calcareous soils. It is a suitable afforestation species for low-altitude plains and hilly areas and is commonly planted near villages and along roadsides. It is frequently found near villages, on open land, at forest edges, within forests, along roadsides, on hills, in valleys, on hillsides, on sunny slopes, and in groves (holt or mixed woodland).
Characteristics of the Herb: The herb occurs as irregular lumps, groove-shaped pieces, or semi-cylindrical segments, varying in length and width; thickness ranges from 2–6 mm or 3–7 mm. The outer surface is taupe brown or grayish brown, rough, with interwoven vertical wrinkles and scattered taupe brown lenticels; specimens with the rough outer bark removed appear pale yellow. The inner surface is off-white or faintly yellow. The texture is pliable and tough, not easily broken; the fracture surface is fibrous and laminated, readily peeling into thin layers—yellow and white alternating in concentric lamellae; each thin lamella displays a fine reticulated pattern. The herb has a slight odor and tastes bitter.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) Paralytic effect on Ascaris suum (formerly Ascaris porcis) in vitro; mersosin is the primary anthelmintic component. The herb also paralyzes pinworms, exhibits schistosomicidal activity, and inhibits various pathogenic fungi. (2) Enhances contraction of skeletal and smooth muscle. (3) Anti-ulcer. (4) Anti-diarrheal. (5) Choleretic, etc.
Medicinal Efficacy: Expels parasites, clears heat, dries dampness, and treats tinea. Indicated for ascariasis, hookworm disease, enterobiasis, trichomoniasis, and abdominal pain due to intestinal parasitosis. Used externally for scabies-associated pruritus, tinea capitis (favus), and urticaria (nettle rash).
Administration of Cortex Meliae (Kǔ Liàn Pí):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Cortex Meliae (Kǔ Liàn Pí)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 3–6 grams. External: Apply an appropriate amount of finely powdered herb mixed with lard to affected areas. (2) Internally: water decoction, 2–3 qián (approximately 6–9 grams); fresh herb, 1–2 liǎng (approximately 30–60 grams); or prepared as pills or powder. External: Wash affected areas with decoction, or apply finely powdered herb topically. (3) Internally: water decoction, 6–15 grams; fresh herb, 15–30 grams; or prepared as pills or powder. External: Apply an appropriate amount of decoction or finely powdered herb (mixed and applied topically).
Contraindications, Precautions, and Adverse Reactions: Cortex Meliae should be used with caution—or avoided—in cases of hepatitis, nephritis, hepatic or renal dysfunction, and during pregnancy. Continuous or excessive use is contraindicated. The herb possesses notable toxicity; poisoning symptoms include headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
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1.Introduction of Kǔ Liàn Pí: Szechwan Chinaberry Bark
✵The article records the herb Szechwan Chinaberry Bark—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical sources—two plant species: (1) Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc. and (2) Melia azedarach L., and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environments of these two species, as well as the morphological features of the herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Kǔ Liàn Pí
Botanical Description: Commonly known as Chuān Liàn, this is a tree growing up to 10 meters tall. The bark is taupe (grayish brown); young branches are densely covered with brown stellate scales. Leaves are bipinnately to tripinnately compound, 35–45 cm long; pinnae occur in 4–5 pairs; leaflets are oval or narrowly oval, 4–10 cm long and 2–4 cm wide, with entire margins or occasionally sparsely serrated.
Ecological Environment: Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc. grows in groves (holt or mixed woodland) and open forests at altitudes of 500–2,100 m above sea level, as well as on flat alluvial plains and moist hilly sites. It is often cultivated near villages or along highways.
Botanical Description: Commonly known as Liàn or Kǔ Liàn, this is a deciduous tree reaching over 10 m, up to 15–20 m tall. The bark is dark brown and longitudinally fissured; older branches are purple and bear numerous thin, small lenticels. Branches are broad; branchlets show leaf scars. Leaves are bipinnately to tripinnately imparipinnate and alternate; leaflets are opposite, oval (egg-shaped) to elliptic, 3–7 cm long and 2–3 cm wide, with an acuminate apex and broadly cuneate or rounded base; margins are crenate; the upper surface is dark green, the lower surface is pea green (pale green); young leaves bear stellate hairs, while mature leaves retain only white hairs along the veins and are otherwise glabrous.
Panicles are axillary or terminal; flowers are mauve (lilac), ~1 cm long; the calyx is 5-lobed, with lanceolate lobes pilose on both surfaces; petals number 5, explicate or retroflexed, oblanceolate; the stamen tube is usually dark purple, ~7 mm long; the ovary is superior.
Growth Characteristics: The plant grows rapidly in moist, fertile soil; soil requirements are not strict—it thrives in acidic, neutral, and calcareous soils. It is a suitable afforestation species for low-altitude plains and hilly areas and is commonly planted near villages and along roadsides. It is frequently found near villages, on open land, at forest edges, within forests, along roadsides, on hills, in valleys, on hillsides, on sunny slopes, and in groves (holt or mixed woodland).
Characteristics of the Herb: The herb occurs as irregular lumps, groove-shaped pieces, or semi-cylindrical segments, varying in length and width; thickness ranges from 2–6 mm or 3–7 mm. The outer surface is taupe brown or grayish brown, rough, with interwoven vertical wrinkles and scattered taupe brown lenticels; specimens with the rough outer bark removed appear pale yellow. The inner surface is off-white or faintly yellow. The texture is pliable and tough, not easily broken; the fracture surface is fibrous and laminated, readily peeling into thin layers—yellow and white alternating in concentric lamellae; each thin lamella displays a fine reticulated pattern. The herb has a slight odor and tastes bitter.
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