Ephedra sinica
Species of plant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ephedra sinica (also known as Chinese ephedra or ma huang) is a species of Ephedra in the plant family Ephedraceae. Native to Mongolia, northern China, and Russia, it is a shrub found on arid highland slopes, dry river beds, steppes, fields or mountain sides.[1][2]
| Chinese ephedra (Cao Ma Huang—草麻黄) | |
|---|---|
| |
| Ephedra sinica | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Gymnospermae |
| Division: | Gnetophyta |
| Class: | Gnetopsida |
| Order: | Ephedrales |
| Family: | Ephedraceae |
| Genus: | Ephedra |
| Species: | E. sinica |
| Binomial name | |
| Ephedra sinica Stapf | |
| Synonyms[1][2] | |
| |
E. sinica contains alkaloids, including ephedrine, which have been a basis for using the plant in traditional medicine for thousands of years.[3][4] Due to concerns about alkaloid toxicity, ephedrine has been banned from the market in the European Union, United States, and many other countries.[4][5]
Description
E. sinica is a dioecious evergreen shrub, a gymnosperm closely related to conifers, with small leaves on green stems.[4][6] The plant grows on shrublands, forests, and mountainsides between elevations of 400–1,600 m (1,300–5,200 ft).[1]
The stems and leaves are collected and dried for use, whereas the roots, known as "ma huang gen", are used in Chinese traditional medicine.[4][6] E. sinica has a strong pine odor and its taste is astringent, accounting for its Chinese name, ma huang, meaning "yellow astringent" or "yellow hemp".[5]
E. sinica is a common plant in a stable population listed as "least concern" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.[1] It is widely cultivated, although the status of wild harvesting is unknown and a significant threat.[1]
Composition
Ephedra contains diverse alkaloids, among which ephedrine has a phenethylamine structure.[4] Ephedrine has sympathomimetic properties.[4][7]
Uses
Alkaloid extracts of the E. sinica plant contain ephedrine, which is the active ingredient for its intended therapeutic effects in traditional medicine, and for its adverse effects.[3][4][5][7]
Traditional medicine and dietary supplement
E. sinica is the primary source of ephedra as used in ma huang, a practice applied over many millenia in China since 2800 BC.[3][4][7] In traditional medicine, ephedra is intended to treat colds and other minor respiratory ailments, fever, and headaches.[3][4][5] As a dietary supplement, it has been used to aid athletic performance and to lose weight.[3][4][5][7]
Adverse effects
Even when used for short periods in low doses, ephedra has been linked to harmful effects, including sudden hypertension, heart attack, seizures, and stroke; it can be life-threatening or disabling.[3][4][5][7]
