What Is Mu Hu Die
Mu Hu Die also known as Semen Oroxyli is the mature seed of Oroxylum indicum, which is a deciduous tree belonging to the family Bignoniaceae. It first appeared in <Ben Cao Gang Mu Shi Yi> (a supplement to the compendium of materia medica) in the 30th year of Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty (1,765 AD).
Semen Oroxyli is commonly known as the Indian trumpet flower and is an ornamental plant. It is native to the Indian subcontinent, and part of the Himalayan foothills extends to Bhutan and southern China, Indochina, and Malaysia.
This plant often grows in dense forests in tropical or subtropical low hill valleys at an altitude of 500-900 meters. Its bark and seeds can be made into medicine. Ayurvedic medicine has also been recorded about it.
In autumn and winter every year, people pick the mature fruits of Oroxylum indicum, expose the fruits until they crack, take out the seeds, dry them in the sun, and make them into Chinese herbal medicines.
Mu Hu Die contains baicalein, baicalin, scutellarin, chrysin, oroxin A, oroxin B, oroxindin, apigenin, quercetin, hispidulin, 5-hydroxy-6,7-dimethoxyflavone, salidroside, rengyol, pterocarpans, oleic acid, palmitic acid, behenic acid, linoleic acid, erucic acid, stearic acid, α-linolenic acid, arachidic acid, lupeol, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, prunetin, aloe-emodin, P-hydroxycinnamic acid, tecomin, β-lapachol, and totaxin.
According to <Ben Cao Gang Mu Shi Yi>, the medicinal nature of Mu Hu Die is relatively cool, with a bitter and sweet taste. It has a certain therapeutic effect on pathological changes of the lung, liver, and stomach meridians.
In traditional Chinese medicine, Mu Hu Die is used to clear lung and relieve sore throat, soothe the liver and harmonize the stomach, treat upper respiratory tract infection, acute bronchitis, chronic pharyngitis, pneumonia, whooping cough, dry bronchitis, tonsillitis, gastric ulcer, duodenal bulbar ulcer, vocal cord polyps, glous hystericus, and a variety of neurosis. It is an important component of Xiao Er Zhi Ke Tang Jiang.
Benefits
- Anti-inflammation, anti-virus, and anti-mutagenesis.
- Anti-oxidation, scavenging superoxide anions, DPPH free radicals, and hydroxyl free radicals, delaying aging.
- Inhibiting the proliferation of human breast cancer cells MCF7 and MDA-MB-231, liver cancer cells (Hep3B), prostate cancer cells (PC-3), leukemia cells (CEM), acute myeloid leukemia cells (HL-60), melanoma cells (B-16), and colon cancer cells (HCT-8).
- Decreasing thymus index and spleen index, suppressing immunity.
- Inhibiting the activity of α-glucosidase and lowering blood sugar.
- Reducing the damage of CCL4 to liver tissue and protecting the liver.
- Preventing and correcting metabolic disorders during cataract formation, and treating galactose cataracts.
- Relieving sore throat, hoarse voice, and damaging yin by pathogenic heat.
- Clearing lung heat, treating pertussis, and cough caused by lung heat.
- Soothing liver and harmonizing stomach, relieving abdominal distension and pain, flank pain, stomachache due to depression and invasion of the stomach by liver-qi.
- Inhibiting Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus.
- Studies have confirmed that it has genotoxicity and cell proliferation activity on isolated gastric wall mucosa.
Combinations
- It can be used in combination with Xuan Shen (Radix Scrophulariae), Mai Dong (Radix Ophiopogonis), Bing Pian (Borneol), etc. to treat sore throat, hoarse voice, and damaging yin by pathogenic heat.
- It can be used in combination with Jie Geng (Radix Platycodi), Sang Bai Pi (Cortex Mori), Kuan Dong Hua (Flos Farfarae), etc. to treat pertussis and cough caused by lung heat.
- It can be used in combination with Pu Huang (Cattail pollen), Wu Ling Zhi (Faeces Trogopterori), Hai Piao Xiao (Os Sepiae), etc. to treat gastric and duodenal ulcers.
- It can be used in combination with Tian Hua Fen (Radix Trichosanthis), Jin Yin Hua (Flos Lonicerae), Su Zi (Fructus Perillae), Zhu Ru (Bamboo Shavings), etc. to treat chronic pharyngitis.
- It can be used in combination with Yu Ye Jin Hua (Mussaenda Pubescens), Dan Zhu Ye (Lophatherum Gracile), Che Qian Cao (Plantago Asiatica), etc. to treat cystitis.
Side Effects
- The leaves and stems of this plant are edible, with few side effects.
- Individual patients taking it may cause headaches, nausea, or vomiting.
Precautions and Warnings
- The dosage of Mu Hu Die should be controlled at 1.5-3g.
- It can be made into decoctions.
- People who are allergic to Mu Hu Die should not take it.
- Patients with stomach-cold should not take it.