Holistic Health Articles and Research Related to Herbal Medicines, Foods and Phytochemicals : Chinese Herbs

Monday 4 November 2013

Chinese Herbs – Mei or Lu E Mei (Fructus Armeniaca mume)

Mei or Lu E Mei is also known as Plum. The sour and warm herb has been used in TCM to treat relieving coughs, diarrhea, pain from colic caused by ascaris, alleviates thirst, etc., as it raise Yang, treat yin deficiency, stop bleeding etc., by enhancing the functions of large intestine, liver, lung and spleen channels.
Ingredients
1. Trans-2-hexenal
2. N-hexanol
3. Trans-2-hexen-1-ol
4. Cis-2-hexen-1-ol
5. Linalool
6. Geraniol
7. Trimethyltetrahydronaphthalene drivs
8. Tetradecanoic acid
9. Benzaldehyde
10. Terpinen-4-ol
11. Benzylalcohol
12. Hexandecanoic acid
13. b-sitosterol
14. A-terpineol
15. Etc.
Health Benefits
1. Anti bacterial and microbial effects
Twenty traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against four common oral bacteria. TCMs were tested for sensitivity against Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus mutans and Porphyromonas gingivalis showed that Fructus armeniaca mume was effective against all four bacteria. Thirteen TCMs demonstrated antimicrobial activity against Porphyromonas gingivalis, including Cortex magnoliae officinalis, Cortex phellodendri, Flos caryophylli, Flos lonicerae japonicae, Fructus armeniaca mume, Fructus forsythiae suspensae, Herba cum radice violae yedoensitis, Herba menthae haplocalycis, Pericarpium granati, Radix et rhizoma rhei, Radix gentianae, Ramulus cinnamomi cassia and Rhizoma cimicifugae(1)
2. Alkaloids
In the study of the alkaloids from Armeniaca mume Sieb, Two alkaloids were separated and their structures were elucidated as 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidone and tert-butylurea on the basis of spectral evidence(2)
3. Etc.
Side Effects
1. Do not use the herb in case of internal heat excess such as high fever with infection or cold or flu without sweat)
2. Etc.