Fangji

Radio Aristolochiae Fangchi

Fanschiroot

[alias] Fangji, mufangji, baijietou.

[source] Aristolochia Fangchi y. C. wuex L. D. chowet S. M. Hwang.

[plant morphology] woody vines. The stem is dirty yellow, and the young branches are dense and hairy. Leaves alternate, oblong to ovate lanceolate, 6-12cm long and 3-4cm wide, densely covered with brown hairs below; petioles covered with brown hairs. Raceme has 1-3 flowers, purple, perianth is exhausted and fluffy, the lower part is tubular, slightly curved, the upper part is trumpet shaped, the apex is 3-lobed, with yellow spots; stamens are 6, attached around the style body; ovary is inferior. Capsule elliptic. The flowering period is from March to May and the fruiting period is from July to September.

It grows in sparse forest on hillside. It is mainly produced in Guangdong and Guangxi.

[harvest] in autumn and winter, dig, wash and cut into sections. Cut the thick roots into two pieces and dry them in the sun.

[character] the root is cylindrical, or half cut into semi cylindrical, the tip is curved, 8-20cm in length and 3-6cm in diameter. The surface is gray brown, thick and rough. There are many longitudinal wrinkles, deep transverse grooves at the bend, and grayish yellow skin is exposed by scraping off the outer skin. It is hard, slightly powdery in cross section, with fine and dense radial texture. It tastes bitter.

[chemical constituents] it contains magnoflorine, aristolochic acid A, B, C, allantoin and β - sitosterol.

[flavor] it is cold in nature, bitter and pungent in taste.

[indications] it can dispel wind and relieve pain, clear away heat and promote diuresis. It is used for body pain due to damp heat, edema of lower limbs, adverse urination and rheumatic arthralgia.