✵The article records the herb Rangoon-Creeper Fruit, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical source—namely the dried ripe fruit of a single plant species, (1) Quisqualis indica L.—and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species; the macroscopic and microscopic features of the herb Rangoon-Creeper Fruit; its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Fructus Quisqualis (Rangoon-Creeper Fruit)
Pinyin Name: Shǐ Jūn Zǐ
English Name: Rangoon-Creeper Fruit
Latin Name:Fructus Quisqualis Properties and Flavor: Warm in nature, sweet in taste, slightly toxic
Brief Introduction:Fructus Quisqualis is the dried ripe fruit of the Rangoon creeper (Quisqualis indica L.), used as an anthelmintic to treat ascariasis, enterobiasis, and infantile malnutrition associated with intestinal parasitosis. It is commonly known as Fructus Quisqualis, Rangoon-Creeper Fruit, Shǐ Jūn Zǐ.
Botanical Source: Classical herbal works define Fructus Quisqualis (Rangoon-Creeper Fruit) as the dried ripe fruit of Quisqualis indica L. It is a plant of the genus Quisqualis L., family Combretaceae R. Br. (white mangrove family), order Myrtales. The commonly used species is described below:
(1) Quisqualis indica L.
Botanical Description:Quisqualis indica L. is commonly known as Shǐ Jūn Zǐ—named after a seed discovered by a herbalist named Shǐ Jūn during the Northern Song Dynasty. It is a deciduous climbing shrub, growing 2–8 meters tall. Young shoots are brownish-yellow and pubescent. Leaves are opposite or subopposite; petioles lack nodes, measuring 5–8 mm long, densely rust-colored when young and persisting after leaf abscission; leaf blades are membranous, ovate (egg-shaped) or elliptic, 5–11 cm long and 2.5–5.5 cm wide; the apex is shortly acuminate, the base is blunt; the upper surface is glabrous, while the lower surface is sometimes sparsely covered with brown pilose hairs; lateral veins occur in 7–8 pairs.
Inflorescences are terminal spikes arranged in corymb-like clusters; flowers are hermaphroditic; floral bracts are ovate to linear-lanceolate and pilose; the calyx tube is 5–9 cm long, covered with yellow pilose hairs, terminating in five widely spreading, reflexed, small calyx teeth; there are five petals, 1.8–2.4 cm long and 4–10 mm wide, with obtuse apices—white at first, later turning pale red; ten stamens are arranged in two whorls, not exserted beyond the corolla; anthers are ~1.5 mm long; the ovary is inferior.
Fruits are ovate (egg-shaped), mucronate, 2.7–4 cm long and 1.2–2.3 cm in diameter, glabrous, with five prominent sharp ridges and angles; the exocarp becomes crisp and thin at maturity, turning cyan-black or chestnut-colored. Each fruit contains one seed—white, cylindrical-fusiform (spindle-shaped), 2.5 cm long and ~1 cm in diameter. Flowering occurs from May to September; fruiting takes place in late autumn.
Ecological Environment:Quisqualis indica L. grows on flat land, hillsides, mountain slopes, roadsides, and in sunny shrublands; it is also cultivated. The plant is distributed in China and in some regions of South Asia.
Growth Characteristics:Quisqualis indica L. prefers warm and humid environments; it is not cold-tolerant, frost-sensitive, shade-tolerant, and has a deep root system with wide and deep root distribution. For cultivation, it is advisable to select a sunny field with deep soil layers, moderate fertility, and yellow or black sandy loam; fertile, well-drained sandy loam is optimal. Planting should occur in sunny, sheltered locations.
Characteristics of the Herb: The fruit is elliptic or ovate (egg-shaped), with five prominent longitudinal ridges—occasionally 4–9—and measures 2.5–4 cm in length and approximately 2 cm in diameter. The surface is dark brown to purplish brown, smooth and slightly glossy; the apex is narrowly pointed, the base is blunt, and conspicuous circular pedicel scars are present. The herb is firm and hard in texture; the cross-section is pentagonal, with thickened ridges and corners, and a nearly circular central cavity. Seeds are oblong-ovate or fusiform (spindle-shaped), ~2 cm long and ~1 cm in diameter; the surface is tan (chocolate brown) or dark brown, bearing numerous longitudinal wrinkles. The spermoderm (seed coat) is thin and easily detachable; two cotyledons are yellowish-white and oily, with fissured fracture surfaces. The herb has a mild fragrance and a slightly sweet taste.
Pharmacological actions: (1) Anthelmintic activity against Ascaris lumbricoides; (2) Anthelmintic activity against Enterobius vermicularis; (3) Inhibitory effect on dermatophytes: aqueous extracts of the herb exhibit varying degrees of in vitro inhibition against Trichophyton violaceum, Trichophyton concentricum, Arthroderma schoenleinii, Microsporum audouinii, Trichoderma ferrugineum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Epidermophyton floccosum, and Nocardia asteroides; (4) Elevation of blood pressure in anesthetized rats.
Medicinal efficacy: Expels parasites, eliminates food retention and Qi stagnation, and strengthens the Spleen. Indicated for ascariasis, enterobiasis, Ascaris-induced abdominal pain, parasitic abdominal pain, infantile malnutrition with stagnation, milk retention, abdominal distension, and diarrhea.
Administration of Fructus Quisqualis (Shǐ Jūn Zǐ):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Fructus Quisqualis (Shǐ Jūn Zǐ)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally:9–12 grams of whole fruit, crushed before decoction; 6–9 grams of seed kernel, prepared as pills, powder, or single-herb formula, administered 1–2 times daily. Pediatric dose: 1–1.5 grains per year of age, stir-fried until aromatic and chewed; maximum single-day dose: 20 grains. (2) Internally: water decoction, 3–5 qián (approximately 9–15 grams); or prepared as pills or powder. (3) Internally:water decoction, 6–15 grams of whole fruit, crushed before decoction; or prepared as pills or powder. Shelled or hulled seeds may be stir-fried until aromatic and chewed; pediatric dose: 1–1.5 grains per year of age, not exceeding 20 grains per day.
Contraindications, Precautions, and Adverse Reactions: Fructus Quisqualis should not be taken concurrently with strong tea or hot tea. High doses may cause vomiting, hiccupping, and dizziness.
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1.Introduction of Shi Jun Zi: Rangoon-Creeper Fruit
✵The article records the herb Rangoon-Creeper Fruit, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical source—namely the dried ripe fruit of a single plant species, (1) Quisqualis indica L.—and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species; the macroscopic and microscopic features of the herb Rangoon-Creeper Fruit; its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Shǐ Jūn Zǐ
Botanical Description: Quisqualis indica L. is commonly known as Shǐ Jūn Zǐ—named after a seed discovered by a herbalist named Shǐ Jūn during the Northern Song Dynasty. It is a deciduous climbing shrub, growing 2–8 meters tall. Young shoots are brownish-yellow and pubescent. Leaves are opposite or subopposite; petioles lack nodes, measuring 5–8 mm long, densely rust-colored when young and persisting after leaf abscission; leaf blades are membranous, ovate (egg-shaped) or elliptic, 5–11 cm long and 2.5–5.5 cm wide; the apex is shortly acuminate, the base is blunt; the upper surface is glabrous, while the lower surface is sometimes sparsely covered with brown pilose hairs; lateral veins occur in 7–8 pairs.
Inflorescences are terminal spikes arranged in corymb-like clusters; flowers are hermaphroditic; floral bracts are ovate to linear-lanceolate and pilose; the calyx tube is 5–9 cm long, covered with yellow pilose hairs, terminating in five widely spreading, reflexed, small calyx teeth; there are five petals, 1.8–2.4 cm long and 4–10 mm wide, with obtuse apices—white at first, later turning pale red; ten stamens are arranged in two whorls, not exserted beyond the corolla; anthers are ~1.5 mm long; the ovary is inferior.
Ecological Environment: Quisqualis indica L. grows on flat land, hillsides, mountain slopes, roadsides, and in sunny shrublands; it is also cultivated. The plant is distributed in China and in some regions of South Asia.
Characteristics of the Herb: The fruit is elliptic or ovate (egg-shaped), with five prominent longitudinal ridges—occasionally 4–9—and measures 2.5–4 cm in length and approximately 2 cm in diameter. The surface is dark brown to purplish brown, smooth and slightly glossy; the apex is narrowly pointed, the base is blunt, and conspicuous circular pedicel scars are present. The herb is firm and hard in texture; the cross-section is pentagonal, with thickened ridges and corners, and a nearly circular central cavity. Seeds are oblong-ovate or fusiform (spindle-shaped), ~2 cm long and ~1 cm in diameter; the surface is tan (chocolate brown) or dark brown, bearing numerous longitudinal wrinkles. The spermoderm (seed coat) is thin and easily detachable; two cotyledons are yellowish-white and oily, with fissured fracture surfaces. The herb has a mild fragrance and a slightly sweet taste.
Pharmacological actions: (1) Anthelmintic activity against Ascaris lumbricoides; (2) Anthelmintic activity against Enterobius vermicularis; (3) Inhibitory effect on dermatophytes: aqueous extracts of the herb exhibit varying degrees of in vitro inhibition against Trichophyton violaceum, Trichophyton concentricum, Arthroderma schoenleinii, Microsporum audouinii, Trichoderma ferrugineum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Epidermophyton floccosum, and Nocardia asteroides; (4) Elevation of blood pressure in anesthetized rats.
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