✵The article provides records of the herb Stemona Root, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, and botanical sources—three plant species: (1) Stemona sessilifolia (Miq.) Franch. et Sav., (2) Stemona japonica (Blume) Miq., and (3) Stemona tuberosa Lour.—with a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environments of these three plants; the morphological characteristics of the herb Stemona Root; its pharmacological actions; medicinal efficacy; and administration guidelines.
Radix Stemonae (Stemona Root)
Pinyin Name: Bǎi Bù
English Name: Stemona Root
Latin Name:Radix Stemonae Properties and Flavor: Slightly warm; sweet and bitter
Brief Introduction:Radix Stemonae is the steamed and dried tuberous root of Stemona sessilifolia (Miq.) Franch. et Sav., Stemona japonica (Blume) Miq., or Stemona tuberosa Lour. It is used internally to moisten the lungs and relieve acute and chronic coughs, and externally to kill trichomonads and lice.
Botanical Source:Radix Stemonae (Stemona Root) is the steamed and dried tuberous root of (1) Stemona sessilifolia (Miq.) Franch. et Sav., (2) Stemona japonica (Blume) Miq., or (3) Stemona tuberosa Lour.—plants belonging to the genus Stemona Lour. in the family Stemonaceae (order Pandanales). These three commonly used species are described below:
(1) Stemona sessilifolia (Miq.) Franch. et Sav.
Botanical Description:Stemona sessilifolia (Miq.) Franch. et Sav. is a perennial herb of the family Stemonaceae and genus Stemona Lour., commonly known as Stemona sessilifolia or Zhī Lì Bǎi Bù. It grows 30–60 cm tall. Its root tubers are tufted, succulent, and fusiform (spindle-shaped). The stem is erect and unbranched. Leaves are whorled, usually 3–4 per whorl; petioles are short or subsessile; leaf blades are oval to elliptical, 3.5–5.5 cm long and 1.8–3.8 cm wide; apices are tapering or acuminate; bases are cuneate; venation is typically pinnate with 5 primary veins, the three central veins are especially prominent.
Flowers are axillary, mostly arising from the axils of scale leaves on the lower stem; pedicels are slender and elongated; tepals are 4, ovate-lanceolate; stamens are 4, purple; the connective is enlarged into a lanceolate appendage; the ovary is ovoid; the stigma is short and sessile (lacking a distinct style). The fruit is a capsule. Flowering occurs from April to May; fruiting occurs in July.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows in mountain forests or bamboo groves.
Growth Characteristics: It prefers warm, humid, shady, and cool conditions; is cold-tolerant but intolerant of waterlogging. Cultivation is best conducted in deep, loose, fertile, humus-rich sandy loam soil with good drainage.
Characteristics of the Herb: The root tuber is fusiform (spindle-shaped), with slender, elongated upper ends; some lower ends are caudate and curved. Length ranges from 5–17 cm; diameter ranges from 0.5–1 cm. The surface is yellowish-white or light khaki, bearing irregular deep longitudinal grooves and occasional transverse wrinkles. The texture is brittle when dry but becomes tough and pliable upon moisture absorption. The fracture surface is flat, corneous, and light yellowish-brown or yellowish-white; the cortex is broad, while the stele is flattened and small. The herb has a mild odor and tastes sweet and bitter. High-grade herb material is thick, solid, and firm.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) Antibacterial effect: In vitro studies show that decoctions and ethanolic extracts of Stemona Root inhibit numerous pathogenic bacteria, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes (Group B), Neisseria meningitidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Shigella dysenteriae. (2) Insecticidal effect: Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Stemona japonica and related species exhibit larvicidal activity against mosquitoes and flies, and are effective against head lice, agricultural pests (e.g., aphids), and bedbugs.
Medicinal Efficacy: Moistens the lungs and relieves cough; expels parasites. Indicated for pertussis (whooping cough), pulmonary tuberculosis with cough, enterobiasis (pinworm infection), Trichomonas vaginalis infection, pediculosis capitis (head lice), and scabies.
Administration of Radix Stemonae (Bǎi Bù):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Radix Stemonae (Bǎi Bù)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 3–9 grams; (2) 1–3 qián (≈3–9 grams); (3) 3–10 grams, administered as a water decoction; alternatively, soaked in wine or processed into fine powder for pills or powders. External use: Wash affected areas with decoction, or apply finely powdered herb topically.
(2) Stemona japonica (Bl.) Miq.
Botanical Description:Stemona japonica (Blume) Miq. is a plant of the family Stemonaceae and genus Stemona Lour., commonly known as Stemona japonica or Wān Shēng Bǎi Bù (Sprawl Stemona). It is a perennial herb growing up to 60–90 cm tall; the whole plant is glabrous. The roots are succulent, typically spindly (long and slender), and occur in clusters of several to dozens. The lower part of the stem is erect, while the upper part is vine-like. Leaves are whorled, usually 3–4 per whorl; petioles are 1.5–3 cm long; leaf blades are oval or ovate-lanceolate, 4–9 cm long and 1.8–4 cm wide; apices are acute or acuminate; bases are rounded or truncate; margins are entire; venation includes 5–9 primary veins. Pedicels are filiform, 1.5–2.5 cm long, attached at the base to the leaf midvein; each pedicel typically bears a single flower. There are 4 tepals—pale green, ovate-lanceolate to ovate; 4 stamens—purple, with short filaments and introverted, linear anthers bearing an arrow-shaped appendage at the apex; the ovary is ovoid, very small, and sessile (lacking a distinct style). The fruit is a capsule, broadly ovate and flattened, containing several oblong-ovate seeds. Flowering occurs in May; fruiting occurs in July.
Growth Characteristics: The plant grows in shrubs on sunny slopes or in bamboo groves.
Characteristics of the Herb: The root tubers are narrow and slender at both ends; the surface is pale grayish-white and bears numerous irregular longitudinal wrinkles and occasional transverse wrinkles. The taste is bitter. High-grade herb material is thick, solid, and firm.
(3) Stemona tuberosa Lour.
Botanical Description:Stemona tuberosa Lour. is a plant of the family Stemonaceae and genus Stemona Lour., commonly known as Stemona tuberosa or Duì Yè Bǎi Bù. It is a perennial climbing herb reaching up to 5 meters in height. The tuberous roots are succulent and fusiform (spindle-shaped) or cylindrical; the stems are twining. Leaves are usually opposite; petioles are 3–10 cm long; leaf blades are broadly ovate, 8–30 cm long and 2.5–10 cm wide; bases are shallowly cordate; margins are entire or slightly serrate; venation includes 7–11 primary veins. Pedicels are axillary—not attached to the leaf midrib—and bear either solitary flowers or 2–3 flowers arranged in a raceme; perianths are yellow-green with purple stripes; anther appendages are subulate or lanceolate. The fruit is a flattened obovate capsule. Flowering occurs from May to June; fruiting occurs from July to August.
Growth Characteristics: The plant grows in sunny shrublands.
Characteristics of the Herb: The root tubers are fusiform (spindle-shaped) or elongated, 8–24 cm long and 0.8–2 cm in diameter. The surface is light yellowish-brown to grayish-brown, marked by shallow longitudinal wrinkles or irregular vertical grooves. The texture is solid and firm; the fracture surface ranges from yellowish-white to dark brown; the stele is large, and the pith is whitish. The taste is bitter. High-grade herb material is thick, solid, and firm.
✵The article provides records of the herb Stemona Root, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, and botanical sources—three plant species: (1) Stemona sessilifolia (Miq.) Franch. et Sav., (2) Stemona japonica (Blume) Miq., and (3) Stemona tuberosa Lour.—with a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environments of these three plants; the morphological characteristics of the herb Stemona Root; its pharmacological actions; medicinal efficacy; and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Bǎi Bù
Botanical Description: Stemona sessilifolia (Miq.) Franch. et Sav. is a perennial herb of the family Stemonaceae and genus Stemona Lour., commonly known as Stemona sessilifolia or Zhī Lì Bǎi Bù. It grows 30–60 cm tall. Its root tubers are tufted, succulent, and fusiform (spindle-shaped). The stem is erect and unbranched. Leaves are whorled, usually 3–4 per whorl; petioles are short or subsessile; leaf blades are oval to elliptical, 3.5–5.5 cm long and 1.8–3.8 cm wide; apices are tapering or acuminate; bases are cuneate; venation is typically pinnate with 5 primary veins, the three central veins are especially prominent.
Characteristics of the Herb: The root tuber is fusiform (spindle-shaped), with slender, elongated upper ends; some lower ends are caudate and curved. Length ranges from 5–17 cm; diameter ranges from 0.5–1 cm. The surface is yellowish-white or light khaki, bearing irregular deep longitudinal grooves and occasional transverse wrinkles. The texture is brittle when dry but becomes tough and pliable upon moisture absorption. The fracture surface is flat, corneous, and light yellowish-brown or yellowish-white; the cortex is broad, while the stele is flattened and small. The herb has a mild odor and tastes sweet and bitter. High-grade herb material is thick, solid, and firm.
Botanical Description: Stemona japonica (Blume) Miq. is a plant of the family Stemonaceae and genus Stemona Lour., commonly known as Stemona japonica or Wān Shēng Bǎi Bù (Sprawl Stemona). It is a perennial herb growing up to 60–90 cm tall; the whole plant is glabrous. The roots are succulent, typically spindly (long and slender), and occur in clusters of several to dozens. The lower part of the stem is erect, while the upper part is vine-like. Leaves are whorled, usually 3–4 per whorl; petioles are 1.5–3 cm long; leaf blades are oval or ovate-lanceolate, 4–9 cm long and 1.8–4 cm wide; apices are acute or acuminate; bases are rounded or truncate; margins are entire; venation includes 5–9 primary veins. Pedicels are filiform, 1.5–2.5 cm long, attached at the base to the leaf midvein; each pedicel typically bears a single flower. There are 4 tepals—pale green, ovate-lanceolate to ovate; 4 stamens—purple, with short filaments and introverted, linear anthers bearing an arrow-shaped appendage at the apex; the ovary is ovoid, very small, and sessile (lacking a distinct style). The fruit is a capsule, broadly ovate and flattened, containing several oblong-ovate seeds. Flowering occurs in May; fruiting occurs in July.
Botanical Description: Stemona tuberosa Lour. is a plant of the family Stemonaceae and genus Stemona Lour., commonly known as Stemona tuberosa or Duì Yè Bǎi Bù. It is a perennial climbing herb reaching up to 5 meters in height. The tuberous roots are succulent and fusiform (spindle-shaped) or cylindrical; the stems are twining. Leaves are usually opposite; petioles are 3–10 cm long; leaf blades are broadly ovate, 8–30 cm long and 2.5–10 cm wide; bases are shallowly cordate; margins are entire or slightly serrate; venation includes 7–11 primary veins. Pedicels are axillary—not attached to the leaf midrib—and bear either solitary flowers or 2–3 flowers arranged in a raceme; perianths are yellow-green with purple stripes; anther appendages are subulate or lanceolate. The fruit is a flattened obovate capsule. Flowering occurs from May to June; fruiting occurs from July to August.
URL QR code:
