✵The article records the herb White Hyacinth Bean, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, and its botanical source—namely, the plant species Dolichos lablab L.—with a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this species; the characteristics of the herb White Hyacinth Bean; its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Semen Lablab Album (White Hyacinth Bean)
Pinyin Name: Bái Biǎn Dòu
English Name: White Hyacinth Bean
Latin Name:Semen Lablab Album Property and Flavor: slightly warm in nature, sweet in taste.
Brief Introduction: The herb Semen Lablab Album is the dried ripe seed of Dolichos lablab L. It is used to strengthen the spleen and resolve dampness, primarily for the treatment of (1) spleen- and stomach-qi deficiency manifesting as anorexia, loose stools, and leukorrhea, and (2) vomiting and diarrhea due to summer-dampness. The herb is commonly known as White Hyacinth Bean or Bái Biǎn Dòu.
Botanical Source: Classical herbal works define the herb White Hyacinth Bean as the dried ripe seed of Dolichos lablab L. It is a plant of the genus Lablab, family Fabaceae (syn. Leguminosae, Papilionaceae; commonly called the legume or pea family), order Fabales (order Rosales in past). This widely used species is described below:
(1) Dolichos lablab L.
Botanical Description: The plant Dolichos lablab L. is commonly known as Biǎn Dòu. It is a perennial, twining herbaceous liana, up to 6 meters in length. The entire plant is glabrous or sparsely pubescent; the stem is mauve (lilac) or pale green. Leaves are trifoliolate and compound; petioles are 4–14 cm long; stipules are lanceolate or triangular-ovate, covered with white pubescence; the terminal petiolule is 1.5–3.5 cm long, while the ambilateral petiolules are short (2–3 mm), all covered with white pubescence; the terminal leaflet is broadly triangular-ovate, 5–10 cm long and width is equal to length, with an acute apex, a broadly cuneate or truncate base, an entire margin, pubescence on both surfaces (denser along the veins), three basal primary veins, and pinnate lateral veins; the lateral leaflets are obliquely ovate, with unequal sides.
Racemes are axillary, 15–25 cm long, erect, with a stout rachis; 2–4 (or more) flowers grow in fascicles at the nodes of the rachis; bracteoles are ligulate, two in number, and caducous; the calyx is broadly campanulate, with a 5-toothed apex; the upper two teeth are nearly completely connate, while the other three are subequal in length; the calyx margin is densely covered with white pubescence; the corolla is papilionaceous (butterfly-shaped), white or mauve (lilac), approximately 2 cm long; the vexillum is broadly elliptical with a slightly emarginate apex; the alae are obliquely elliptic, with an auriform protrusion near the base on one side; the keel is scaphoid (boat-shaped), curved or nearly right-angled; there are 10 stamens—1 free and 9 with partially connate filaments forming a tubular structure; the ovary is linear, covered with silky pubescence, with basal glands; the style apex bears white trichomes, and the stigma is capitate.
Legumes (pods) are sickle-shaped or obovate-oblong-oval, flattened, 5–8 cm long and 1–3 cm wide; the apex is broad, terminating in a recurved rostrum (beak); the margins are coarsely ribbed. Each pod contains 2–5 seeds, which are oblate-elliptic, white, russet (reddish-brown), or purplish-black (atramentous); 8–13 mm long, 6–9 mm wide, and 4–7 mm thick; the hilum and raphe are elongated and prominent; one margin bears a prominent, white, semilunar (half-moon-shaped) strophiole. Flowering occurs from June to August; fruiting occurs in September.
Ecological Environment: The plant is cultivated widely in rural China. It is suitable for garden cultivation or scattered (sporadic) planting.
Growth Characteristics: Dolichos lablab L. prefers a warm, humid climate and is frost-sensitive; frost damage may impair growth or cause plant death. The optimal seed germination temperature is 22–23 °C (71.6–73.4 °F), and mature plants tolerate temperatures up to approximately 35 °C (95 °F). During the seedling stage, adequate soil moisture is required; irrigation should be carefully managed. During flowering, the plant prefers drier conditions; high air or soil humidity readily induces flower abscission. It thrives best in fertile, well-drained sandy loam soil.
Characteristics of the Herb: Seeds are oblate-elliptic or flat-oval, 0.8–1.3 cm long, 6–9 mm wide, and ~7 mm thick. The surface is yellowish-white or pale yellow, smooth and slightly glossy; some seeds exhibit tan (chocolate-brown) spots. One margin bears a prominent, white, semilunar strophiole, 7–10 mm long. After removal of the strophiole, the concave hilum becomes visible. The end adjacent to the strophiole bears a micropyle; the opposite end bears the raphe. The seed texture is firm and hard; the testa is thin and brittle; the two cotyledons are hypertrophied and yellowish-white. The herb has a faint odor, a mild taste, and a characteristic beany flavor when chewed.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) anti-trypsin activity; (2) antibacterial and antiviral effects, including inhibition of Shigella dysenteriae; (3) detoxification effects; (4) enhancement of T-lymphocyte activity; (5) improvement of cellular immune function.
Medicinal Efficacy: Invigorates the spleen, resolves dampness, regulates the middle energizer, and alleviates summer-heat. It is indicated for: spleen- and stomach-qi deficiency manifesting as anorexia, poor appetite, loose stools, or diarrhea; poor appetite and loose stool, leukorrhagia; summer-heat and damp vomiting and diarrhea, chest tightness and abdominal distension, polydipsia (excessive thirst) and chest oppression. The stir-fried form specifically strengthens the spleen and eliminates dampness, and is indicated for spleen-deficiency diarrhea and leukorrhea.
Administration of Semen Lablab Album (Bái Biǎn Dòu):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Semen Lablab Album (Bái Biǎn Dòu)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 9–15 grams; (2) Internally: Water decoction, 10–15 grams; or as fresh herb extract juice mixed with water; or prepared into pills or powders. External use: apply an appropriate amount topically as a mashed paste.
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1.Introduction of Bai Bian Dou: White Hyacinth Bean
✵The article records the herb White Hyacinth Bean, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, and its botanical source—namely, the plant species Dolichos lablab L.—with a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this species; the characteristics of the herb White Hyacinth Bean; its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Bái Biǎn Dòu
Botanical Description: The plant Dolichos lablab L. is commonly known as Biǎn Dòu. It is a perennial, twining herbaceous liana, up to 6 meters in length. The entire plant is glabrous or sparsely pubescent; the stem is mauve (lilac) or pale green. Leaves are trifoliolate and compound; petioles are 4–14 cm long; stipules are lanceolate or triangular-ovate, covered with white pubescence; the terminal petiolule is 1.5–3.5 cm long, while the ambilateral petiolules are short (2–3 mm), all covered with white pubescence; the terminal leaflet is broadly triangular-ovate, 5–10 cm long and width is equal to length, with an acute apex, a broadly cuneate or truncate base, an entire margin, pubescence on both surfaces (denser along the veins), three basal primary veins, and pinnate lateral veins; the lateral leaflets are obliquely ovate, with unequal sides.
Racemes are axillary, 15–25 cm long, erect, with a stout rachis; 2–4 (or more) flowers grow in fascicles at the nodes of the rachis; bracteoles are ligulate, two in number, and caducous; the calyx is broadly campanulate, with a 5-toothed apex; the upper two teeth are nearly completely connate, while the other three are subequal in length; the calyx margin is densely covered with white pubescence; the corolla is papilionaceous (butterfly-shaped), white or mauve (lilac), approximately 2 cm long; the vexillum is broadly elliptical with a slightly emarginate apex; the alae are obliquely elliptic, with an auriform protrusion near the base on one side; the keel is scaphoid (boat-shaped), curved or nearly right-angled; there are 10 stamens—1 free and 9 with partially connate filaments forming a tubular structure; the ovary is linear, covered with silky pubescence, with basal glands; the style apex bears white trichomes, and the stigma is capitate.
Legumes (pods) are sickle-shaped or obovate-oblong-oval, flattened, 5–8 cm long and 1–3 cm wide; the apex is broad, terminating in a recurved rostrum (beak); the margins are coarsely ribbed. Each pod contains 2–5 seeds, which are oblate-elliptic, white, russet (reddish-brown), or purplish-black (atramentous); 8–13 mm long, 6–9 mm wide, and 4–7 mm thick; the hilum and raphe are elongated and prominent; one margin bears a prominent, white, semilunar (half-moon-shaped) strophiole. Flowering occurs from June to August; fruiting occurs in September.
Characteristics of the Herb: Seeds are oblate-elliptic or flat-oval, 0.8–1.3 cm long, 6–9 mm wide, and ~7 mm thick. The surface is yellowish-white or pale yellow, smooth and slightly glossy; some seeds exhibit tan (chocolate-brown) spots. One margin bears a prominent, white, semilunar strophiole, 7–10 mm long. After removal of the strophiole, the concave hilum becomes visible. The end adjacent to the strophiole bears a micropyle; the opposite end bears the raphe. The seed texture is firm and hard; the testa is thin and brittle; the two cotyledons are hypertrophied and yellowish-white. The herb has a faint odor, a mild taste, and a characteristic beany flavor when chewed.
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