Pseudostellaria heterophylla

Taxobox
name = Pseudostellaria heterophylla


image_width = 240px
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Apiales
familia = Caryophyllaceae
genus = "Pseudostellaria"
species = "P. heterophylla"
binomial = "Pseudostellaria heterophylla"
binomial_authority = Rupr. & Maxim.

Pseudostellaria, also known as Tai Zi Shen, false starwort or Prince Seng, is an adaptogen in the Caryophyllaceae family that is used in Chinese medicine and herbalism to tonify the qi and generate yin fluids. It is known as the "ginseng of the lungs". The plant is a low growing caryophyllaceae that is grown in Southern China in the provinces of Jiangsu, Anhui, Shandong, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Hebei, Henan, Shaanxi, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hubei, Shaanxi. and Shaanxi provinces. Botanically it is known as Pseudostellaria heterophylla (Miq.) Pax ex Pax et Hoffm.

Ethnobotany

Tai zi shen is a relatively recent addition to the Chung Yao Chi New Chinese Materia Medica, having been officially added in 1959, based upon local and ethnic use. [ [http://alternativehealing.org/tai_zi_shen.htm tai zi shen, radix psuedostellaria, Complementary and Alternative Healing University ] ] [David Winston & Steven Maimes. “ADAPTOGENS: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief,” Healing Arts Press, 2007.] It is weaker than Panax ginseng. The herb is a mild adaptogen, demulcent, an immune tonic, nutritive, and a pectoral herb. In Chinese terms it tonifies the yin. Accordingly the herb is restorative for lung damage due to excessheat or dryness including hot or dry asthma, pleurisy, bronchitis, bacterial pneumonia, wheezing, dry cough, and emphysema. Scientific research shows that Pseudostellaria aids in protecting the mucin layer that lines the respiratory tract and functions as an immune defense system. In the form Li Gan Zi Shen Tang (Regulate the Liver & Enrich the Kidneys Decoction) it is used to treat yin deficiency in diabetes mellitus [ [http://www.chinesemedicaldiabetes.com/articles/articles/article_type2_liver_kid.html Chinese Medical Diabetes - Article ] ] The polysaccharide fractions have anti-tumor properties. [ [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=7928302&dopt=Abstract The immunostimulating activities of anti-tumor pol... [Immunopharmacology. 1994 Jul-Aug - PubMed Result ] ] A lectin in the roots is being studied for anti HIV purposes. [ [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=11441923&query_hl=2&itool=pubmed_docsum A novel lectin from Pseudostellaria heterophylla r... [Life Sci. 2001 - PubMed Result ] ]

Constituents

Major constituents include:
*Arginine
*Aspartic Acid
*Fructose
*Inulin
*Phosphatides
*Polysaccharides:
*PH-1A (antitumor activity) [ [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=8045666&query_hl=2&itool=pubmed_docsum Tumor necrosis factor eliciting fractions separate... [Int J Immunopharmacol. 1994 - PubMed Result ] ]
*PH-1B (antitumor activity)
*PH-1C (antitumor activity)
*Pseudostellarin H (octapeptide)
*Pseudostellarin D (heptopeptide)
*Saponins
*Trace elements of iron, copper, manganese, zinc, selenium, cobalt, molybdenum etc. [ [http://alternativehealing.org/tai_zi_shen.htm tai zi shen, radix psuedostellaria, Complementary and Alternative Healing University ] ] [David Winston & Steven Maimes. “ADAPTOGENS: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief,” Healing Arts Press, 2007.]

Botanical Description

*Herbs, perennial.
*Taproots absent, Root tubers white, slightly grayish yellow, long fusiform.
*Stems Stem solitary, erect, (8--)15--20 cm tall, with 2 lines of hairs.
*Leaves Proximal leaves usually 1 or 2 pairs, spatulate or oblanceolate; middle leaves lanceolate; distal leaves 2 or 3 pairs, decussate, approximate, broadly ovate, not succulent.
*Inflorescences terminal.
*Pedicels recurved to reflexed.
*Flowers: perianth and androecium hypogynous; sepals 5, distinct; petals 5 [absent in cleistogamous flowers] , white.
*Capsules ovoid.
*Seeds Seeds brown, compressed orbicular, marginal wing absent, appendage absent. [ [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=127262 Pseudostellaria in Flora of North America @ efloras.org ] ] [ [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200007059 Pseudostellaria heterophylla in Flora of China @ efloras.org ] ]

Notes

ee also

*Adaptogen

*Herbalism

*Chinese Medicine