Introduction of Bu Gu Zhi: Malaytea Scurfpea Fruit
✵The article records the herb Malaytea Scurfpea Fruit—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical source—one plant species: Psoralea corylifolia L., and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this species, as well as the characteristics of the herb itself, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Fructus Psoraleae (Malaytea Scurfpea Fruit)
Pinyin Name: Bǔ Gǔ Zhī
English Name: Malaytea Scurfpea Fruit
Latin Name:Fructus Psoraleae Properties and Flavor: Warm in nature, pungent and bitter in taste
Brief Introduction:Fructus Psoraleae is the dried, ripe fruit of Psoralea corylifolia L., used to warm the kidneys and spleen and reinforce yang. It is indicated for impotence, nocturnal emission, frequent urination, chronic asthma due to kidney yang deficiency, and diarrhea occurring daily just before dawn (so-called "five-o’clock diarrhea") resulting from combined spleen- and kidney-yang deficiency. The herb is commonly known as Fructus Psoraleae, Malaytea Scurfpea Fruit, or Bǔ Gǔ Zhī.
Botanical Source: Classical herbal texts define Fructus Psoraleae (Bǔ Gǔ Zhī) as the dried, ripe fruit of (1) Psoralea corylifolia L., a plant of the genus Psoralea, family Fabaceae (Leguminosae or Papilionaceae; also known as the legume or pea family), order Rosales. This widely used species is described below:
(1) Psoralea corylifolia L.
Botanical Description:Psoralea corylifolia L. is an annual herb with an erect habit, growing 60–150 cm tall. It belongs to the genus Psoralea and family Fabaceae. Common names include Bǔ Gǔ Zhī and malaytea scurfpea. Stems and branches are firm, longitudinally ridged, and covered with white pubescence and conspicuous dark brown glandular spots. Leaves are simple and alternate; occasionally, a single lateral leaflet (1–2 cm long) appears at the branch tip. Petioles measure 2–4 cm and are densely covered with white tomentum. Stipules are paired, triangular-lanceolate (≈1 cm long), membranaceous. Leaf blades are broadly ovate, 5–9 cm long and 3–6 cm wide; the apex is blunt or rounded; the base is cordate or rounded; the margin is coarsely serrated; both surfaces bear conspicuous black glandular dots.
Inflorescences are dense, axillary, spicate racemes. Peduncles (not petioles) are 6–10 cm long. The calyx is campanulate (bell-shaped), with the basal portion fused into a tubular structure and the apex 5-lobed; it is covered with black glandular hairs. The corolla is papilionaceous (butterfly-shaped), mauve (lilac) or yellow; the vexillum is broadly obovate; the alae are broadly linear; the keel is oblong with a blunt, slightly incurved apex. There are ten stamens with small anthers; one pistil with a superior ovary—ovary shape is obovate or linear-filiform—and a filiform style.
Fruits are indehiscent, elliptic legumes, ≈5 mm long, with a black pericarp. Each fruit contains a single, flattened, aromatic seed. Flowering occurs from July to August; fruiting from September to October.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows on slopes, along stream banks, and in fields. It is predominantly wild but is also cultivated in various regions of China.
Growth Characteristics:Psoralea corylifolia prefers a warm, humid climate and thrives in flat, sunny, well-drained fields. Seedlings require moist soil but are intolerant of waterlogging. The plant responds well to fertilization: vigorous growth occurs when adequate base fertilizer is applied and the soil is fertile loam. Soil requirements are not stringent; it can be grown in ordinary fields, though humus-rich sandy loam is optimal, while heavy clay is unsuitable. Seeds germinate in approximately 7–10 days in moist soil at ≈20 °C (68 °F).
Characteristics of the Herb: The herb is oblate-reniform, slightly flattened, with one end slightly pointed; it rarely has a persistent calyx, measures 3–5 mm in length, 2–4 mm in width, and 1.5 mm in thickness. The surface is black, dark brown (i.e., blackish brown), or tan (i.e., chocolate brown), with fine reticulated patterns; dotted concave and convex veins are visible under a magnifying glass. The apex is blunt, with a small protrusion, and the concave side bears fruit-stalk scars. The herb is hard and brittle; when cut open, the pericarp and testa are closely adnate. A punctate hilum is visible at the upper end of the convex side of the seed, and the opposite end bears the chalaza; the raphe is inconspicuous. The testa is hard; the endothelium is membranous and ash-gray (i.e., grayish white). It contains two cotyledons, which are hypertrophic and range in color from faint yellow (i.e., pale yellow) to fawn (i.e., pale brownish yellow); older cotyledons are darker, and their inner surfaces often bear a white substance that appears as fine needle-like crystals under a magnifying glass; the embryonic primordium is very small. The persistent calyx is connate at the base, with a 5-lobed apex; it is sallow (i.e., grayish yellow), bears trichomes, and displays densely scattered brown glandular spots. The herb has a fragrant odor and tastes slightly pungent and bitter.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) Cardiovascular effects; (2) Immune-enhancing activity; (3) Antitumor activity; (4) Hemostatic effect; (5) Cysticercicidal activity, potent trichomonacidal action against Trichomonas vaginalis, and antibacterial activity, among others.
Medicinal Efficacy: Warming the kidney and invigorating yang, promoting inspiration to relieve asthma, warming the spleen and relieving diarrhea; dispelling wind and eliminating speckle. It is indicated for kidney-yang deficiency, cold deficiency of the lower energizer, kidney-deficiency-induced cold diarrhea, impotence and seminal emission, enuresis (urinary incontinence, bed-wetting), frequent urination, spermatorrhea or involuntary seminal emission, cold pain in the lumbar region and knees, kidney dysfunction in qi containment, dyspnea and cough due to kidney deficiency, intractable dyspnea due to deficiency, dyspnea and cough due to cold deficiency, spleen-kidney deficiency, chronic diarrhea, and diarrhea occurring before dawn. Externally, it is indicated for vitiligo (leukoderma, piebald skin), alopecia areata, psoriasis (lepra alphos, serpigo, scaly tetter), etc.
Administration of Fructus Psoraleae (Bǔ Gǔ Zhī):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Fructus Psoraleae (Bǔ Gǔ Zhī)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 6–10 grams. Externally: 20%–30% tincture, applied topically to the affected area. (2) Internally: water decoction, 1.5–3 qian (≈4.5–9 grams), or prepared as pills or powder; externally: finely powdered herb applied topically, or infused in wine and applied topically. (3) Internally: water decoction, 6–10 grams, or prepared as pills or powder; externally: an appropriate amount, infused in wine and applied topically.
Contraindications, Precautions, and Adverse Reactions: Fructus Psoraleae should not be combined with Glycyrrhiza uralensis (licorice root).
Article Link:
URL QR code:
References:
1.Introduction of Bu Gu Zhi: Malaytea Scurfpea Fruit
✵The article records the herb Malaytea Scurfpea Fruit—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical source—one plant species: Psoralea corylifolia L., and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this species, as well as the characteristics of the herb itself, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Bǔ Gǔ Zhī
Botanical Description: Psoralea corylifolia L. is an annual herb with an erect habit, growing 60–150 cm tall. It belongs to the genus Psoralea and family Fabaceae. Common names include Bǔ Gǔ Zhī and malaytea scurfpea. Stems and branches are firm, longitudinally ridged, and covered with white pubescence and conspicuous dark brown glandular spots. Leaves are simple and alternate; occasionally, a single lateral leaflet (1–2 cm long) appears at the branch tip. Petioles measure 2–4 cm and are densely covered with white tomentum. Stipules are paired, triangular-lanceolate (≈1 cm long), membranaceous. Leaf blades are broadly ovate, 5–9 cm long and 3–6 cm wide; the apex is blunt or rounded; the base is cordate or rounded; the margin is coarsely serrated; both surfaces bear conspicuous black glandular dots.
Inflorescences are dense, axillary, spicate racemes. Peduncles (not petioles) are 6–10 cm long. The calyx is campanulate (bell-shaped), with the basal portion fused into a tubular structure and the apex 5-lobed; it is covered with black glandular hairs. The corolla is papilionaceous (butterfly-shaped), mauve (lilac) or yellow; the vexillum is broadly obovate; the alae are broadly linear; the keel is oblong with a blunt, slightly incurved apex. There are ten stamens with small anthers; one pistil with a superior ovary—ovary shape is obovate or linear-filiform—and a filiform style.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows on slopes, along stream banks, and in fields. It is predominantly wild but is also cultivated in various regions of China.
Characteristics of the Herb: The herb is oblate-reniform, slightly flattened, with one end slightly pointed; it rarely has a persistent calyx, measures 3–5 mm in length, 2–4 mm in width, and 1.5 mm in thickness. The surface is black, dark brown (i.e., blackish brown), or tan (i.e., chocolate brown), with fine reticulated patterns; dotted concave and convex veins are visible under a magnifying glass. The apex is blunt, with a small protrusion, and the concave side bears fruit-stalk scars. The herb is hard and brittle; when cut open, the pericarp and testa are closely adnate. A punctate hilum is visible at the upper end of the convex side of the seed, and the opposite end bears the chalaza; the raphe is inconspicuous. The testa is hard; the endothelium is membranous and ash-gray (i.e., grayish white). It contains two cotyledons, which are hypertrophic and range in color from faint yellow (i.e., pale yellow) to fawn (i.e., pale brownish yellow); older cotyledons are darker, and their inner surfaces often bear a white substance that appears as fine needle-like crystals under a magnifying glass; the embryonic primordium is very small. The persistent calyx is connate at the base, with a 5-lobed apex; it is sallow (i.e., grayish yellow), bears trichomes, and displays densely scattered brown glandular spots. The herb has a fragrant odor and tastes slightly pungent and bitter.
URL QR code:
