Introduction of Qin Jiao:Large-leaf Gentian Root or Radix Gentianne Macrophyllae.
✵The article gives records of the herb Large-leaf Gentian Root, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source four plant species, ①.Gentiana macrophylla Pall., ②.Gentiana straminea Maxim., ③.Gentiana crassicaulis Duthie ex Burk., ④.Gentiana dahurica Fisch., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of these four plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of these four plant species, the features of the herb Large-leaf Gentian Root, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Pin Yin Name: Qín Jiāo.
English Name: Large-leaf Gentian Root.
Latin Name: Radix Gentianne Macrophyllae.
Property and flavor: neutral in nature, pungent, bitter.
Brief introduction: The herb Radix Gentianne Macrophyllae is the dried root of Gentiana macrophylla Pall.Gentiana straminea Maxim., Gentiana dahurica Fisch., used (1).to dispel wind-damp, relieve arthralgia and clear consumptive heat for the treatment of wind-damp(rheumatic or rheumatoid) pain, and also for fever in phthisis, and (2).to remove damp-heat for treating jaundice. The herb is commonly known as Radix Gentianne Macrophyllae, Large-leaf Gentian Root, Qín Jiāo.
Botanical source: Herbal classic book and famous herbal classics defined the herb Radix Gentianne Macrophyllae(Large-leaf Gentian Root) as the dried root of (1).Gentiana macrophylla Pall., (2).Gentiana straminea Maxim., (3).Gentiana crassicaulis Duthie ex Burk., (4).Gentiana dahurica Fisch. They are plants of the Gentiana. Genus, Gentianaceae family (gentian family), Gentianales order. These herbal classic book defined species and usable species are introduced:
(1).Gentiana macrophylla Pall.
Botanical description: Gentiana macrophylla Pall is commonly known as Qín Jiāo. A perennial herb, the plant grows up to 20~60 cm tall. Taproots are coarse and long, cylindrical, the upper part is thick, and the lower part is thin, twisted and not straight, with a few branches, middle part is mostly whorled; the rhizome has many fibrous remnant leaf bases (foliar base). Stems are upright or oblique, cylindrical and glabrous. Basal leaves are mostly tufty and sessile, leaf blades are lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, up to 40 cm long, 3~5 cm wide, the apex is pointed, entire, 5 main veins; cauline leaves are in 3~4 pairs, opposite, smaller, base connate.
Inflorescence are mostly integrated and apical, and axillary verticillasters on the upper stems; hypanthiums (calyx tubes) crack half on one side, and calyx teeth are shallow; corolla is tubular, deep lilac-blue (deep royal purple), about 2 cm long, apex is 5-lobed, 5 short pleats between lobes; 5 stamens, inserted in the middle of corolla tube; the ovary is oblong, sessile.
Capsularfruit is oblong or elliptic. Seeds are elliptic, wingless, brown, and lustrous. Its flowering period is from July to September, and the fruiting period is from August to October.
Ecological environment: The plant grows in meadows of mountainous regions, on both sides of streams, in sloping fields on roadsides, and in bushes, in areas at altitudes of 400~2,400 meters above sea level. The plant is distributed in the northern, northwest, and southwest of China.
Growth characteristics: The plant Gentiana macrophylla prefers a cool, humid climate, it is tolerant to coldness. It is better to choose fields with deep soil layers, and fertile, humus-rich loam soil for cultivation.
Characters of herbs: The root is slightly conical, thick at the top and thin at the bottom, 7~30 cm long, and 1~3 cm wide. The surface is sallow (grayish yellow) or yellowish-brown, with longitudinal or twisted longitudinal grooves. The root head is often swollen, mostly composed of several rhizomes, and there are short fibrous vascular bundles of leaf base on the remaining stem base, the texture of the herb is hard and crisp, easy to break, and the cortex of the fracture surface is yellow or brown, the xylem (wood part) is yellow. The herb has a special odor, and it tastes bitter and puckery. The herb of a better grade has a solid and firm texture, brown, with a strong odor and rich taste.
Pharmacological actions: ①.anti-inflammatory effect; ②.effect on central system:sedative effect; ③.effect on cardiovascular system; ④.effect on blood glucose; ⑤.anti-anaphylactic shock and antihistamine effects; ⑥.effect on smooth muscle; ⑦.other effects:gentiopicrin has inhibitory effect on plasmodium.
Medicinal efficacy: Dispel wind and dampness, clear dampness and heat, harmonize the blood and free tendons, relieve tendons and channels, clear deficiency heat, clear heat and diuretic, relieve dampness and removing jaundice, stop arthralgia. It is indicated for rheumatism pain, pain of numbness, muscular constricture, jaundice, dampness-heat jaundice, joint ache pain, hemiplegia, afternoon hot flash, infantile malnutrition fever, hemafecia (blood in stool), bone steaming and hot flash, dysuria (difficulty in micturition), etc.
Administration of Radix Gentianne Macrophyllae (Qín Jiāo):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Radix Gentianne Macrophyllae (Qín Jiāo)
TCM Books:
①.Internally:3~9 grams; ②.Internally:water decoction, 1.5~3 qian (about 4.5~9 grams), infusing in wine or prepare to pill,powder.Externally:prepare to ground herb powder and apply; ③.Internally:water decoction, 5~10 grams,or infusing in wine,or prepare to pill,powder.Externally:proper amount,prepare to finely ground herb powder and apply.
(2).Gentiana straminea Maxim.
Botanical description: Gentiana straminea Maxim is commonly known as Má Huā Jiāo. A perennial herb, the plant grows up to 10~20 cm tall. The taproots are stout and conical. Basal leaves are mostly tufty and sessile, leaf blades are larger and lanceolate, the apex is pointed, entire, 5 main veins, the main veins on the back surface of the leaf are broad, protuberant; cauline leaves are opposite and smaller.
Flowers are fewer and form cymes, has long peduncles; hypanthium (calyx tube) is yellow green, membranous, dehiscent on one side, 2~5 calyx teeth, equal length; corolla is tubular, yellow, funnelform (funnel-shaped), throat part has many green spots, the apex is 5-lobed, lobes are ovoid; 5 stamens, insert in the middle and lower part of corolla tube; the ovary is superior, 1 loculus, with 2 parietal placentae.
Capsularfruit, cracks into 2 fruit valves, elliptic-lanceolate, carpopodium (fruit stalk) is 7~12 mm long. Seeds are brown, glossy, or lustrous, narrowly oblong. Its flowering period is from July to September, and the fruiting period is from August to October.
Ecological environment: The plant grows in high mountains and alpine regions, meadows (grasslands), and stream sides, in areas at altitudes of 2,000~5,000 meters above sea level. It is distributed in the northwest, southwest, and middle reaches of the Yangtze River, and other areas of China.
Characters of herbs: The root is slightly conical, 8~18 cm long, and 1~3 cm in diameter. The lower part of the main root is many-branched, or most of them are separated from each other and then joined, which is slightly reticular or twist-like, so it is commonly known as Má Huā Jiāo (fried dough twist Gentian Root). The texture of the herb is loose and crisp, easily broken, and the fracture surface is mostly withered and decayed. The herb of a better grade has a solid and firm texture, brown, with a strong odor and rich taste.
(3).Gentiana crassicaulis Duthie ex Burk.
Botanical description: Gentiana crassicaulis Duthie ex Burk is commonly known as Cū Jīng Qín Jiāo or Cū Jīng Lóng Dǎn. A perennial herb, the plant grows up to 20~40 cm tall. The rhizomes are stout and large, and most or all of them are divided into radicelle (rootlets), twisted together in a right-handed twist. The rhizome has many fibrous remnant leaf bases, and the stem is upright or obliquely ascending, cylindrical and glabrous. Basal leaves are mostly tufty, leaves are larger, narrowly elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, up to 40 cm long, 4~5 cm wide, the apex is slightly pointed, entire, 5 main veins pass through the leaf; cauline leaves are opposite, smaller.
Scapes are thick and short, slightly inclined, many flowers, no pedicel, cluster at the stem top and capitate, rarely axillary and is rotated; hypanthium (calyx tube) cracks only on the top side, calyx teeth are extremely shallow or absent; hypanthium (calyx tube) is gyalectiform, 2~2.2 cm long, yellow or bluish violet (royal purple), about 3 cm long, the apex of the lobe is slightly pointed, the interior has spots; 5 stamens; the ovary is oblong, has stalks.
Capsularfruit is hidden inside, oblong, and sessile. Its flowering period is from June to September, and the fruiting period is from September to October.
Ecological environment: The plant grows in an alpine meadow, grasslands on hillsides and mountain slopes, bushes and forest edges, in areas at altitudes of 2,100-4,500 meters above sea level. It is mainly distributed in the northwest, and southwest areas of China.
Characters of herbs: The roots are slightly cylindrical, thicker and larger, mostly unbranched and rarely twisted with each other, 12~20 cm long, and 1~3.5 cm in diameter. The surface is yellowish-brown or dark brown, with longitudinal twisted wrinkles; the root head has primrose yellow (pale yellow) petiole residue and fibrous vascular bundles of leaf base. The herb tastes bitter and puckery. The herb of a better grade has a solid and firm texture, brown, with a strong odor and rich taste.
(4).Gentiana dahurica Fisch.
Botanical description: Gentiana dahurica Fisch is commonly known as Xiǎo Qín Jiāo or Dá Wū Lǐ Qín Jiāo, Dá Wū Lǐ Lóng Dǎn. A perennial herb, the plant grows up to 10~25 cm tall. Roots are simple or slightly branched, left-handed twist, elongated and cylindrical, and less than 1 cm in diameter. Basal leaves are tufty, and the base has many fibrous remnant foliar bases (leaf base); leaf blades are long narrowly lanceolate and sessile; cauline leaves are smaller, opposite, sessile, linear-lanceolate to linear, 2~5 cm long, 2~4 mm wide, entire.
Flowers are often many or 1~3 flowers, apical, form verticillaster; hypanthium (calyx tube) doesn't usually crack, rarely shallowly dehiscent on one side; 5 lobes, orderless, linear, apex is acuminate; corolla is navy blue (dark-blue); 5 stamens, filaments are linear subulate; the ovary is oblong, sessile, style is linear, stigma is 2-lobed.
Capsularfruit is elliptic, nearly equal in length to the corolla. The seeds are pale brown, and lustrous. Its flowering period is from July to August, and the fruiting period is from September to October.
Ecological environment: The plant grows in the ridge of fields, roadsides, sandlots of a flood plain, sunny hillsides or sunny mountain slopes, and dry steppe, in areas at altitudes of 800~4,500 meters above sea level. The plant is distributed in the northern, northwest, southwest, and other areas of China.
Characters of herbs: The roots are slightly long fusiform (long spindle-shaped) or cylindrical, 8~20 cm long, and 2~9 mm in diameter. The surface is brownish yellow or tan (chocolate brown), has longitudinal or twisted grooves, and the surface is yellow after peeling. The root head is thin, single, and occasionally bifurcated, with transverse veins on the surface, and the stem base and short fibrous leaf sheath remain on the top. The main root is usually one or divided into several rootlets. The texture of the herb is crisp and easily broken, and the fracture surface is yellowish-white. The herb has a slight odor, and it tastes bitter and puckery. The herb of a better grade has a solid and firm texture, brown, with a strong odor and rich taste.
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1.Introduction of Qin Jiao:Large-leaf Gentian Root or Radix Gentianne Macrophyllae.
✵The article gives records of the herb Large-leaf Gentian Root, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source four plant species, ①.Gentiana macrophylla Pall., ②.Gentiana straminea Maxim., ③.Gentiana crassicaulis Duthie ex Burk., ④.Gentiana dahurica Fisch., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of these four plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of these four plant species, the features of the herb Large-leaf Gentian Root, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Pin Yin Name: Qín Jiāo.
Botanical source: Herbal classic book and famous herbal classics defined the herb Radix Gentianne Macrophyllae(Large-leaf Gentian Root) as the dried root of (1).Gentiana macrophylla Pall., (2).Gentiana straminea Maxim., (3).Gentiana crassicaulis Duthie ex Burk., (4).Gentiana dahurica Fisch. They are plants of the Gentiana. Genus, Gentianaceae family (gentian family), Gentianales order. These herbal classic book defined species and usable species are introduced:
Botanical description: Gentiana macrophylla Pall is commonly known as Qín Jiāo. A perennial herb, the plant grows up to 20~60 cm tall. Taproots are coarse and long, cylindrical, the upper part is thick, and the lower part is thin, twisted and not straight, with a few branches, middle part is mostly whorled; the rhizome has many fibrous remnant leaf bases (foliar base). Stems are upright or oblique, cylindrical and glabrous. Basal leaves are mostly tufty and sessile, leaf blades are lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, up to 40 cm long, 3~5 cm wide, the apex is pointed, entire, 5 main veins; cauline leaves are in 3~4 pairs, opposite, smaller, base connate.
Ecological environment: The plant grows in meadows of mountainous regions, on both sides of streams, in sloping fields on roadsides, and in bushes, in areas at altitudes of 400~2,400 meters above sea level. The plant is distributed in the northern, northwest, and southwest of China.
Characters of herbs: The root is slightly conical, thick at the top and thin at the bottom, 7~30 cm long, and 1~3 cm wide. The surface is sallow (grayish yellow) or yellowish-brown, with longitudinal or twisted longitudinal grooves. The root head is often swollen, mostly composed of several rhizomes, and there are short fibrous vascular bundles of leaf base on the remaining stem base, the texture of the herb is hard and crisp, easy to break, and the cortex of the fracture surface is yellow or brown, the xylem (wood part) is yellow. The herb has a special odor, and it tastes bitter and puckery. The herb of a better grade has a solid and firm texture, brown, with a strong odor and rich taste.
Pharmacological actions: ①.anti-inflammatory effect; ②.effect on central system:sedative effect; ③.effect on cardiovascular system; ④.effect on blood glucose; ⑤.anti-anaphylactic shock and antihistamine effects; ⑥.effect on smooth muscle; ⑦.other effects:gentiopicrin has inhibitory effect on plasmodium.
Botanical description: Gentiana straminea Maxim is commonly known as Má Huā Jiāo. A perennial herb, the plant grows up to 10~20 cm tall. The taproots are stout and conical. Basal leaves are mostly tufty and sessile, leaf blades are larger and lanceolate, the apex is pointed, entire, 5 main veins, the main veins on the back surface of the leaf are broad, protuberant; cauline leaves are opposite and smaller.
Ecological environment: The plant grows in high mountains and alpine regions, meadows (grasslands), and stream sides, in areas at altitudes of 2,000~5,000 meters above sea level. It is distributed in the northwest, southwest, and middle reaches of the Yangtze River, and other areas of China.
Characters of herbs: The root is slightly conical, 8~18 cm long, and 1~3 cm in diameter. The lower part of the main root is many-branched, or most of them are separated from each other and then joined, which is slightly reticular or twist-like, so it is commonly known as Má Huā Jiāo (fried dough twist Gentian Root). The texture of the herb is loose and crisp, easily broken, and the fracture surface is mostly withered and decayed. The herb of a better grade has a solid and firm texture, brown, with a strong odor and rich taste.
Botanical description: Gentiana crassicaulis Duthie ex Burk is commonly known as Cū Jīng Qín Jiāo or Cū Jīng Lóng Dǎn. A perennial herb, the plant grows up to 20~40 cm tall. The rhizomes are stout and large, and most or all of them are divided into radicelle (rootlets), twisted together in a right-handed twist. The rhizome has many fibrous remnant leaf bases, and the stem is upright or obliquely ascending, cylindrical and glabrous. Basal leaves are mostly tufty, leaves are larger, narrowly elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, up to 40 cm long, 4~5 cm wide, the apex is slightly pointed, entire, 5 main veins pass through the leaf; cauline leaves are opposite, smaller.
Ecological environment: The plant grows in an alpine meadow, grasslands on hillsides and mountain slopes, bushes and forest edges, in areas at altitudes of 2,100-4,500 meters above sea level. It is mainly distributed in the northwest, and southwest areas of China.
Characters of herbs: The roots are slightly cylindrical, thicker and larger, mostly unbranched and rarely twisted with each other, 12~20 cm long, and 1~3.5 cm in diameter. The surface is yellowish-brown or dark brown, with longitudinal twisted wrinkles; the root head has primrose yellow (pale yellow) petiole residue and fibrous vascular bundles of leaf base. The herb tastes bitter and puckery. The herb of a better grade has a solid and firm texture, brown, with a strong odor and rich taste.
Botanical description: Gentiana dahurica Fisch is commonly known as Xiǎo Qín Jiāo or Dá Wū Lǐ Qín Jiāo, Dá Wū Lǐ Lóng Dǎn. A perennial herb, the plant grows up to 10~25 cm tall. Roots are simple or slightly branched, left-handed twist, elongated and cylindrical, and less than 1 cm in diameter. Basal leaves are tufty, and the base has many fibrous remnant foliar bases (leaf base); leaf blades are long narrowly lanceolate and sessile; cauline leaves are smaller, opposite, sessile, linear-lanceolate to linear, 2~5 cm long, 2~4 mm wide, entire.
Ecological environment: The plant grows in the ridge of fields, roadsides, sandlots of a flood plain, sunny hillsides or sunny mountain slopes, and dry steppe, in areas at altitudes of 800~4,500 meters above sea level. The plant is distributed in the northern, northwest, southwest, and other areas of China.
Characters of herbs: The roots are slightly long fusiform (long spindle-shaped) or cylindrical, 8~20 cm long, and 2~9 mm in diameter. The surface is brownish yellow or tan (chocolate brown), has longitudinal or twisted grooves, and the surface is yellow after peeling. The root head is thin, single, and occasionally bifurcated, with transverse veins on the surface, and the stem base and short fibrous leaf sheath remain on the top. The main root is usually one or divided into several rootlets. The texture of the herb is crisp and easily broken, and the fracture surface is yellowish-white. The herb has a slight odor, and it tastes bitter and puckery. The herb of a better grade has a solid and firm texture, brown, with a strong odor and rich taste.
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