Table 1.
The main features of three commonly used Tu-San-Qi-related herbs.
| Items | Comparison of three kinds of 三七 San-Qi | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese name | 三七 | 景天三七 | 菊三七 |
| (Prescribed, nontoxic) | (Self-medication, nontoxic) | (Self-medication, toxic) | |
| Chinese Pinyin name | San-Qi | Jing-Tian-San-Qi | Ju-San-Qi |
| Synonym | Tian-Qi, Dian-San-Qi, Jin-Bu-Huan | Tu-San-Qi, Fei-Cai, Ba-Xian-Cao | Tu-San-Qi, Jian-Zhong-Xiao, Ru-Xiang-Cao, Nai-Cao |
| Origin | Roots of Panax notoginseng (Burkill) F.H. Chen | Roots or whole herbs of Sedum aizoon L. | Roots or whole herbs of Gynura japonica (Thunb.) Juel |
| Plant morphologies | Herbs, perennial, 20–60 cm tall | Herbs, perennial, fleshy, hairless, 20–80 cm tall | Herbs, perennial, high and robust, 60–100 cm or taller |
| Growing environment | Forests; ASL 1200–1800 m | Scrub, ravine edges in valleys, grasslands on rocky slopes, and so on; ASL1000–3100 m | Valleys, grassy slopes, forests, forest margins; ASL 1200–3000 m |
| Distribution in China and the world | SE Yunnan; cultivated in Fujian, SW Guangxi, Jiangxi, Zhejiang [N Vietnam] | Anhui, Gansu, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Zhejiang [Korea, Japan, Mongolia, Russia] | Anhui, Fujian, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Japan, Nepal, Thailand] |
| Macroscopic features of the medicinal part |
The roots are conical, spindle-shaped, or irregularly shaped, 1–6 cm long and 1–4 cm in diameter. The surface is grayish yellow to brownish black, with waxy luster, stem marks on the top, knob-like protrusions around, intermittent longitudinal wrinkles on the sides, and root fractures. The weight and texture are solid. After breaking, the section is grayish green, yellowish green, or grayish white; It smells a bit scent, tastes sweet after bitter |
The rhizome is short and slightly blocky; the surface is grayish brown, with several roots and varying thickness; the texture is hard and the section is dark brown or white; It smells a bit scent, tastes harsh |
The root is a fist-shaped round block with a length of 3–6 cm and a diameter of about 3 cm. The surface is grayish brown or brownish yellow. There are many tumor-like protrusions on the whole. There are often stems or buds on the top of the protrusions. Broken. It is solid, not easy to break, the section is not flat, it is white when fresh, and the dry is yellowish; It has no smell, tastes slightly bitter |
| Function and indication in folk medicine |
1. Stop bleeding and dissipate blood stasis 2. eliminate swelling and relieve pain. Treat various hemorrhagic diseases |
1. dissipate blood stasis and stop bleeding, detoxify. Mainly treat vomiting blood, hemoptysis, defecation hemorrhage, traumatic bleeding, dysmenorrhea, traumatic injury, insect bite and so on |
1. Stop bleeding and dissipate blood stasis 2. Eliminate swelling and relieve pain 3. Dissipate heat and detoxify. Mainly treat vomiting blood, hemoptysis, defecation hemorrhage, traumatic bleeding, dysmenorrhea, traumatic injury, insect bite, etc. |
| Bioactive constituents | Ginsenosides, amino acids, volatile oil | Monosaccharide, disaccharide, flavonoids |
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids, 3-epi-diosgenin-3-β-D-glucopyranoside |
| Usage and dosage |
Oral: 3–9 g (decoction), 1–3 g (powder) External: moderate amount |
Oral: 15–30 g (decoction), 30–60 g (Fresh herbs in squeezing juice) External: moderate amount |
Oral: 3–15 g (roots in decoction), 1.5–3 g (roots in powder), 10–30 g (whole herbs or leaves) External: moderate amount |
| Earliest literature |
Compendium of Materia Medica (本草纲目) A.D. 1596 |
Jiuhuang Materia Medica (救荒本草) A.D. 1406 |
Diannan Materia Medica (滇南本草) A.D. 1436 |