Literature research and traditional Chinese medicine properties of Aspalathus linearis / 中国中药杂志

Aspalathus linearis is a needle-shaped shrub that grows in the Cedarberg mountains in southern South Africa, with an extremely high medicinal value. In 2014, China has approved A. linearis as a new food material. Through retrieval in CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, Web of Science, PubMed and Scopus databases, the literatures were excluded, classified and summarized.On the basis of Chinese medicine theory, the traditional Chinese medicine properties were deducted. Finally, 264 relevant li-teratures were included and classified into 6 categories: review, planting, chemical composition, clinical study, pharmacological effects and safety. The traditional Chinese medicinal properties were deducted as sweet flavor and neutral property. It enters kidney, spleen, heart and liver channels. The major functions are to tonify the kidney and benefit the essence, nourish Qi and spleen, nourish Yin and prompt the production of body fluid, tranquilize mind, and relieve pain. It can be used for soreness of the waist and fatigue, sexual disinterest, limbs heaviness, thirst due to insufficiency of fluid and internal heat, irritability and insomnia, forget fulness, stomachache, joint pain, dysmenorrhea, headache. Preparation for external use can treat eczema itching. Water decoction(2-15 g) can also be used as tea directly. This paper defined the traditional Chinese medicine properties of A. linearis, so as to provide the theoretical basis for further clinical application.

Research Progress of Rooibos, Aspalathus linearis (Barm.f.) R. Dahlgren / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

Rooibos, Aspalathus linearis (Barm.f.) R. Dahlgren, is a South African endemic plant. Modern researches have shown that its leaves and branches are rich in polyphenols and specific flavonoids, aspalathin and nothofagin, which have many pharmacological effects on improving oxidative stress and inflammation, reducing blood sugar, protecting liver, resisting cancer and mutagenesis. In this paper, the research progress of Rooibos is summarized which could provide reference for further research and development.