Stephania tetrandra

Radix stephaniae tetrandrae

Fourstamen Stephania root

[alias] Fangji, baimuxiang.

[source] the plant is Bufo gargarizans StephaniatetrandraS.Moore My roots.

[plant morphology] perennial deciduous twining vines. Stem slender, with longitudinal stripes. Leaves alternate, broadly triangular ovate, apex obtuse, apiculate, base truncate or slightly cordate, pubescent on both sides, entire, 5 palmate veins; petioles peltate. Flowers are small, unisexual, dioecious; male inflorescence is capitate cyme, arranged in racemose, sepals 4, petals 4, stamens 4, filaments connected into columnar body, upper disc-shaped, anthers attached on it; sepals and petals of female flower are the same as male flower, carpel 1. Drupe globose, red when ripe. The flowering period is from May to June and the fruiting period is from July to September.

It grows on the edge of grass and shrub in hillside and hilly area. It is mainly produced in Zhejiang, Anhui, Hubei and Hunan.

[harvesting] in autumn, the coarse skin is removed, dried until half dry, cut into sections or longitudinal sections, and dried.

[character] the root is irregular cylindrical, or cut into semi cylindrical or massive, often curved, with deep horizontal groove and nodular shape, 5-15cm in length and 1-5cm in diameter. The surface is grayish yellow with fine wrinkles and transverse protruding pores. It is hard and heavy in quality, flat in section, grayish white and powdery. It tastes bitter.

[chemical constituents] it contains a variety of isoquinoline alkaloids, including tetrandrine, fangchinoline, cyclinE, dimethyltetrandrine and berbamine.

Cold in nature and bitter in taste.

[indications] diuresis, detumescence, dispelling wind and relieving pain. For edema beriberi, adverse urination, rheumatic arthralgia, eczema, hypertension.