Studies on Resources of Ethnomedicine Gaultheria leucoc arpa var. yunnanensis
- VernacularTitle:民族药滇白珠资源研究
- Author:
Xiao-Jun MA
1
;
Jun-Hua ZHENG
;
Xin-Zi CHEN
Author Information
1. Beijing Un iversity
- From:
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica
2001;26(2):85-89
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective: To study the resources of G. leuco c arpa var. yunnanensis for further develop ment of this drug. M ethod:field in vestigating, consulting with relevant experts and looking into available spec imens. Result and C onclusion:G. leucocarpa var. yunnanensis is widely distributed in the so uthern regions of the Yangtze River. The field investigation suggests that the distribution ce nter is situated in Yunnan province, mainly in Kunming, Chuxiong and Dali counti es. The climate in these areas is moderate and moist. G. leucocarpa var. yunnanensis is not a dominant species in this natural environment. In som e places, it grows with other species of Gaultheria , such as G. fragrantissima, G. tetramera, G. griffithiana and G. leucocarpa var. cumingiana. It is di stributed at altitudes from 400 m to 3 500 m. Accustomed to different sunshine conditions, G. leucocarpa var. yunnanensis prefers stronger sunlight and commonly grows on sunny slopes, seldom in dense forest, propagating itself by roots. As a folk medicine, G. leucocarpa var. yunnanensis is commonl y used t o treat rheumatic arthritis(RA), dazzling, suppressed menstruation, cold, cough, asthma, strain hematemesis, eczema, ascites, wound, amebic dysenter y, acute and chronic prostatitis. It is suggested that further pharmacological a nd clinical researches of this plant be concentrat ed on the treatment of RA and relief of aches.