| Stephania tetandra | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida |
| Order: | Ranunculales |
| Family: | Menispermaceae |
| Genus: | Stephania |
| Species: | S.
tetranda |
| Binomial name | |
| Stephania tetranda S. Moore[1] |
|
Stephania tetrandra S. Moore is a species of flowering plant in the family Menispermaceae.
Contents |
It is a herbaceous perennial vines growing to around 4 m tall, with a large, woody caudex. The leaves are arranged spirally on the stem, and are peltate, with the leaf petiole attached near the centre of the leaf.
Stephania tetrandra, is among the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine. The standard pinyin according to the Chinese [Herbal] Pharmacopia of the People's Republic of China (Chinese: 中华人民共和国药典; pinyin: Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo Yao Dian) is: fen fang ji (Chinese: 粉防己), but it is more commonly known as han fang ji (Chinese: 漢防己; pinyin: hang fang ji). Other plants named fang ji (Chinese: 防己, roughly "snakebite remedy") are sometimes substituted for it. Notable among these is guan fang ji (Chinese: 廣防己; pinyin: guang fang ji), Aristolochia fanchi which is toxic to the liver, kidneys and adrenal glands. The main toxic component is aristolochic acid, a potent carcinogen.
Guang fang ji contains toxic amounts of aristolochic acid and can cause renal failure and even death; it is used in TCM only with great caution. In May of 2000 the FDA started detaining any plants or medicines suspected of containing aristolochic acid unless laboratory testing indicates the substances test negative for aristolochic acid. (Ony tests which use liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry [LC/MS/MS] method with a precision of less than 0.5 parts per million (PPM) are acceptable.)[2] The traditional way of using guang fang ji is via water decoction. Since aristolochic acid has low water solubility this is believed to much safer than taking the herb as an uncooked powder.[3]
Fen fang ji is of low toxicity (standard dose is: 4.5 to 9g, overdose can occur at 30-100g) and is traditionally used to dispel wind and dampness to relieve pain and to promote diuresis. It is acrid, bitter and cold. The part used is the root. The main active alkaloids are: tetrandrine (12 to 23 grams / kg) and fangchinoline (0.3-3 mg/kg). Also present are: cyclanoline, menisine, menisidine, oxofangchirine, stephenanthrine, stepholidine and bisbenzylisoquinoline.[4][5]
   | Stephania tetrandra information from NPGS/GRIN - Stephania tetrandra information from NPGS/GRIN |
| | Stephania tetranda (Google Images) - "Stephania tetrandra" - Google Images |
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