Research Progress on Miao Medicine of Alpinia zerumbet / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ABSTRACT

Alpinia zerumbet is a commonly used drug for ethnic minorities in Guizhou province. It has the effects of warming and drying dampness，relieving pain and eliminating malaria，and treating chills，chest and abdomen，indigestion，vomiting and diarrhea，with a long history of nearly 200 years. The author reviewed Chinese and foreign literatures for the past 30 years，and reviewed the research progress of the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of A. zerumbet in and abroad，in order to provide a theoretical basis for its medicinal value. With the development of instruments and technology，the chemical composition of A. zerumbet has attracted more and more attention. More than 200 compounds have been isolated and identified，including volatile oils，flavonoids，steroids，terpenoids and organic acids and many other chemical ingredients. Pharmacological studies have shown that A. zerumbet has many pharmacological activities，such as anti-oxidation，blood pressure lowering，antispasmodic analgesia and protection against endothelial cells. However，current studies on the chemical constituents only focus on volatile oil components，and only a few studies focus on other organic matter and polysaccharides and are not deep enough. In clinic，the use of A. zerumbet is more confusing. The roots，stems，leaves，flowers，fruits and seeds can be used in medicines，but the pharmacological effects of the various medicinal parts have not been clearly explained，which leads to confusion in clinical medication. In addition，the pharmacological mechanism is not clear，especially in the studies on traditional activities，such as analgesic，digestive and anti-ulcer. The studies only focus on the pharmacological activity，and with only a few studies on the mechanism of action. Besides，the existing studies are mainly in vitro activity experiments，and need further validation in clinical trials，so as to provide reference for further rational development and comprehensive utilization of medicinal resources.