Cauliflower root

Cauliflower root

(compendium)

The other names are Qiu Qiaer and Qiu qiegen.

[source] it is the root of Chenopodiaceae.

[plant morphology] kernel vegetable, also known as sugar radish.

Herbs biennial or perennial, 60-120 cm high. The root is fleshy, hypertrophic, conical or spindle shaped, and the outer skin is purplish red or yellow white. Stem erect, furrowed, shiny. The basal leaves are oblong, 20-30 cm long and 12-18 cm wide, undulate, with rough surface and long petioles; the stem leaves are smaller, rhombic or ovate. Inflorescence panicle shaped; flowers small, yellow green, usually 2 or more aggregated; perianth 6-lobed, lobes dorsal edge, base combined with ovary, fruit hardening, covering fruit; stamen 5, born on the fat rhyme disk; ovary hidden in disk, stigma 3. Fruit aggregated, globose, brown; seed transverse, flat, lenticular, testa leathery, reddish brown, bright.

It is widely cultivated in China, especially in Northeast and Inner Mongolia.

[collection] in autumn.

[chemical composition] it contains betaine 0.52-0.70%, sugar 19-20%, mainly sucrose, a small amount of glucose, fructose and raffinose, and pentosan, pectin, cellulose and starch. In addition, it contains a variety of amino acids, organic acids, water-soluble vitamins, etc.

[pharmacological action] the root has the function of channeling meridians, and its active component is called betaine, which may be non-toxic to livestock. However, it contains more nitrite or nitrate under certain conditions (such as after being infected by various fungi). Leaves contain oxalic acid, potassium, may also produce cyanic acid, livestock (such as pigs) food, sometimes poisoning. The whole herb is effective to Ascaris lumbricoides. It does not contain rutin and has no antibacterial effect.

[flavor] Yinshan Zhengzheng: "sweet, flat, non-toxic. "

[function indications] "Yinshan Zhengzheng" says: "Tongjing, Xiaqi, Kaixiong. "

[usage and dosage] oral administration: decoction.