✵This article documents the herb Chinese White Olive, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical source—namely, a single plant species: (1) Canarium album (Lour.) Raeusch.—and provides a detailed introduction to its botanical characteristics, growth habits, ecological environment, characteristics, pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Fructus Canarii (Chinese White Olive)
Pinyin Name: Qīnɡ Guǒ, Gǎn Lǎn
English Name: Chinese White Olive
Latin Name:Fructus Canarii Property and Flavor: Neutral; sweet, sour, and astringent
Brief Introduction:Fructus Canarii is the dried, ripe fruit of Canarium album (Lour.) Raeusch., used clinically to relieve sore throat and hoarseness. It is commonly known as Chinese White Olive, Qīnɡ Guǒ, or Gǎn Lǎn.
Botanical Source: Traditional herbal classics define Fructus Canarii (Chinese White Olive) as the dried, ripe fruit of (1) Canarium album (Lour.) Raeusch. (Genus Canarium Linn., Family Burseraceae Kunth, Order Sapindales). This widely used species is described below:
(1) Canarium album (Lour.) Raeusch.
Botanical Description:Canarium album (Lour.) Raeusch. is also known as Pimela alba Lour. and commonly called Gǎn Lǎn. It is an evergreen tree reaching 10–20 m in height—occasionally up to 35 m—with a diameter at breast height (DBH) of up to 150 cm. The tree exudes fragrant, adhesive resin. Bark is pale gray and smooth; branchlets, petioles, and rachises are covered with very short pubescence and bear lenticels. Leaves are alternate, imparipinnate compound, 15–30 cm long; leaflets (11–15 per leaf) are oblong-lanceolate, 6–15 cm long and 2.5–5 cm wide; apex is acuminate, base is oblique, margins are entire, surfaces are glabrate; reticulate venation is conspicuous on both sides; abaxial surface bears minute dense dots along the veins, slightly coarse to touch.
Inflorescences are terminal or axillary panicles, equaling or slightly shorter than leaves. Calyx is cyathiform (cup-shaped), shallowly 3-lobed (rarely 5-lobed). Flowers have 3–5 white, fragrant petals—approximately twice the length of the calyx. Stamens number six, inserted on the outer margin of the ring-like floral disc. Gynoecium consists of a single superior ovary with one pistil.
Fruits are drupes, ovoid (egg-shaped), ~3 cm long; greenish-yellow when immature, turning yellowish-white at maturity; both ends are acutely pointed. Flowering occurs from May to July; fruiting from August to October; fruits fully mature in December.
Ecological Environment: The tree grows in low-altitude mixed deciduous-evergreen forests (shaws) and is widely cultivated.
Growth Characteristics: Canarium album thrives in warm, humid climates. Its optimal mean annual temperature is 20–22 °C (68–71.6 °F). It is frost-sensitive and suffers severe cold injury in regions with hard frosts. It grows best in deep, loose, fertile, humus-rich sandy soils. Young trees may be intercropped with leguminous crops.
Olive cultivation requires a warm climate; vigorous growth demands adequate warmth—mean annual temperature ≥20 °C (68 °F)—and winters free of severe frost. It tolerates brief exposure to −3 °C (37.4 °F), but temperatures below 4 °C (39.2 °F) cause serious freezing damage. Annual precipitation of 1,200–1,400 mm is suitable. The species exhibits broad soil adaptability: it grows well on riverbanks, hills, and mountains, and tolerates red soils, yellow soils, and gravelly soils—provided drainage is good and soil depth is sufficient.
Characteristics of the Herb: The fruit is fusiform (spindle-shaped), with bluntly pointed ends, 2.5–4 cm long and 1–1.5 cm in diameter. Surface is brown to dark brown, bearing irregular, deep wrinkles. Pulp is thick, taupe-brown (grayish-brown) or tan (light chocolate-brown). The endocarp (stone) is fusiform, dark reddish-brown, with three longitudinal ridges; between ridges lie two curved grooves. Texture is firm and hard; when fractured, it divides into three locules, each containing one seed. Exocarp is yellowish and often adheres to the endocarp; endocarp is reddish-brown and membranous; endosperm is extremely thin; embryo comprises two cotyledons. Odorless; pulp tastes astringent, becoming slightly sweet upon prolonged chewing.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) Stimulates salivary gland secretion and aids digestion; (2) Exerts protective effects against hepatocyte toxicity in mice.
Medicinal Efficacy: Clears lung heat, relieves sore throat, promotes salivation and quenches thirst, detoxifies. It is indicated for: sore throat with swelling and pain; dysphoria; cough with hemoptysis; cough with blood-tinged sputum; bacillary dysentery; epilepsy; summer-heat syndrome with irritability; alcohol intoxication; pufferfish poisoning; alcohol poisoning; fish and crab poisoning; etc.
Administration of Fructus Canarii (Qīnɡ Guǒ, Gǎn Lǎn):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Fructus Canarii (Qīnɡ Guǒ, Gǎn Lǎn)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 4.5–9 grams; (2) Internally: water decoction, 1.5–3 qián (≈4.5–9 grams); charred herb (processed to retain its properties); prepared as a fine powder, fresh juice, or paste; External use: charred herb (processed to retain its properties), prepared as a fine powder and applied as a paste; (3) Internally:water decoction, 6–12 grams; or prepared as a paste or pills; External use: appropriate amount, prepared as a fine powder and applied topically; or mixed with oil and applied as a paste.
✵This article documents the herb Chinese White Olive, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical source—namely, a single plant species: (1) Canarium album (Lour.) Raeusch.—and provides a detailed introduction to its botanical characteristics, growth habits, ecological environment, characteristics, pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Qīnɡ Guǒ, Gǎn Lǎn
Botanical Description: Canarium album (Lour.) Raeusch. is also known as Pimela alba Lour. and commonly called Gǎn Lǎn. It is an evergreen tree reaching 10–20 m in height—occasionally up to 35 m—with a diameter at breast height (DBH) of up to 150 cm. The tree exudes fragrant, adhesive resin. Bark is pale gray and smooth; branchlets, petioles, and rachises are covered with very short pubescence and bear lenticels. Leaves are alternate, imparipinnate compound, 15–30 cm long; leaflets (11–15 per leaf) are oblong-lanceolate, 6–15 cm long and 2.5–5 cm wide; apex is acuminate, base is oblique, margins are entire, surfaces are glabrate; reticulate venation is conspicuous on both sides; abaxial surface bears minute dense dots along the veins, slightly coarse to touch.
Fruits are drupes, ovoid (egg-shaped), ~3 cm long; greenish-yellow when immature, turning yellowish-white at maturity; both ends are acutely pointed. Flowering occurs from May to July; fruiting from August to October; fruits fully mature in December.
Growth Characteristics: Canarium album thrives in warm, humid climates. Its optimal mean annual temperature is 20–22 °C (68–71.6 °F). It is frost-sensitive and suffers severe cold injury in regions with hard frosts. It grows best in deep, loose, fertile, humus-rich sandy soils. Young trees may be intercropped with leguminous crops.
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