Ephedra is a plant based substance from the herb ephedra sinica. Ephedra is one of the phenomenal medicinal plants used in traditional. Unlike using the isolated or synthesized ephedrine, using the whole plant in alternative medicine is much more effective and rarely gives rise to serious sideeffects. Content of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine in three species of. Native americans and mormon pioneers drank a tea brewed. Ephedra is the sole genus in ephedraceae dumortier 1829, which many authors designate as the sole family in order ephedrales dumortier 1829.
Ephedra viridis coville mormon tea subordinate taxa. Plants of the ephedra family the ephedras produce naked seeds like the pines, but they form on a colored, cuplike structure called a perianth. It also helps to raise blood pressure, cool fevers, and alleviate rheumatism. The inventors of the present invention performed a process at an ultrahigh pressure to efficiently obtain ephedrine from ephedra sinica stapf, and. Purpose of assessment the federal office of consumer protection and food safety bvl, in collaboration with the als working party on dietary foods, nutrition and classification issues, has compiled a hit list of 10 substances, the consumption of which may pose a health risk. Ephedrine is one of the most commonly used noncatecholamine sympathomimetic drugs in the perioperative period. Gray ephedra is usually grazed heavily and seems to. California ephedra plant provided various benefits for. The naked seeds are the features, which places ephedra with the classical group, the gymnosperms. Seed germination, sowing instructions for ma huang. Mahuang ephedra sinica potted seedling, organic strictly. Preliminary phytochemical screening, quantitative analysis of.
Mahuang is a traditional chinese medicinal herb derived from ephedra sinica stapf and other ephedra species, used to treat asthma, nose and lung congestion, and fever with anhidrosis. It is in leaf all year, in flower from may to june, and the seeds ripen from august to september. It is found himalayas region in india, it is a perennial shrub, which grows up to a height of two feet, it is a leaf less stems grew up to 2 m long, green or gray, hairless. This is true with most herbs, but especially with ephedra, since other plant constituents can help buffer or improve the actions of the main constituents.
It is also used in preparation of herbal teas keeler 1989. Some ephedra species grow in the southwest desert of the united states. Complementary and alternative medicine penn state hershey. Ephedra sinica es mahuang is a wellknown plant due to its widespread therapeutic uses. Share your knowledge share your word file share your pdf file share your ppt file. Supplements containing ephedra extracts are a popular herbal stimulant.
Cao ma huang a long time holy grail for richters, we are very pleased finally to be able to offer seeds of the true. This ephedra extract has been a part of traditional chinese medicine for over 2,000 years in fact, ephedra is one of the oldest plants to be used medicinally by early humans. Ephedra ephedra sinica plant profiler sigmaaldrich. Ephedra sinica use of dry plant matter the ethnobotanical. Ephedra also referred to as ma huang is a plant material that contains numerous alkaloids, including lephedrine and dpseudoephedrine. Ephedra contains several additional alkaloids that undergo analogous reductions to form amphetamine and n,ndimethylamphetamine. One famous species, ephedra sinica, is the source for the chinese supplement ma huang. It is used for the treatment of asthma, cough and hayfever. Dried aerial parts of the listed ephedra species were used to determine the tac, tpc and tfc using spectrophotometric methods.
Ephedra is a shrub that is native to pakistan, china, and northwestern india. Shruby plant body usually remains less than two metres in height in most of the species. Chemical composition of various ephedra species ncbi. Ma huang is a naturally occurring plant that has been marketed for its ability to help lose weight. Ephedra, genus of 65 species of gymnosperm shrubs of the family ephedraceae. Wo2012011619a1 method for separating ephedrine from ephedra. Ephedras role as a precursor in the clandestine manufacture. To lose access to it is a serious setback to the practice of a 5000 year old traditional form of herbal medicine in america. Ebert, in pharmacology and physiology for anesthesia second edition, 2019. Ephedra herb uses alternative nature online herbal. Mar 18, 2020 hi kelly, as long as you give full sun and a welldrained soil you can grow true mahuang in texas, the humidity doesnt matter. Ephedraknown in much of north america as mormon teacomprises. Native to the steppes of northern china, mahuang prospers in full sun, dry soils, and is quite coldtolerant our patch. These shrub plants also showed antioxidant and antimicrobial activities 15.
Flattery proposed the second plant was peganum harmala harmal, harmel, syrian rue, see also harmaline, known in iranian languages as esfand, sepand or other similar terms related to avestan word spenta sacred, holy. The genus ephedra known in much of north america as mormontea comprises about 40 shrubby species that are found throughout the arid and semiarid regions of the northern hemisphere. Steam distillationsolidphase microextraction for the. The plant list includes a further 79 scientific plant names of infraspecific rank for the genus ephedra. California ephedra plant provided various benefits for early. Flattery considered harmel to be the real haoma, with ephedra only being the secondary ingredient in the parahaoma mixture. Ephedra sinica, ma huang, has been used for thousands of years in the treatment of. Ephedra basic compounds consist of the alkaloids ephedrine. Ephedra s unique and attractive evergreen or gray foliage makes it a desirable species for environmental plantings.
Recently, it is used to promote weight loss and bodybuilding community. Well the main reason i didnt plant them yet is the lack of grow lights. It has been used in traditional chinese medicine for more than 2,000 years. The species is dioecious individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is. Pharmacological effects depend on the phytocomposition of individual ephedra species. Preparation of the right microsite is particularly important for a plant of this nature, which must maintain a dry, warm crown during the growing season lest the crown begin to rot. The ephedra alkaloids possess 2 adjacent chiral atoms that could generate 4 possible isomers for. Ephedra commonly known as joint pine, joint fir, mormon tea or brigham tea is the only genus in family ephedraceae and order ephedrales. Selective extraction of ephedrine fromephedra sinica using mixtures of co2, diethylamine, and methanol. Nearly leafless, the plant has slender, cylindrical, yellowgreen branches and underground runners. China is the worlds largest exporter of bulk ephedrine. The aim of this study was to measure the total alkaloids. The genus ephedra is one such important group of medicinal plants.
Ephedra is used principally in current western herbal medicine as a treatment for asthma and hay fever, and for the acute onset of colds and flu. Ephedra is a plantbased substance from the herb ephedra sinica. Thus it superficially appears that these plants are an evolutionary link between the conifers and the true flowering plants. Ephedra is one of the most important herbs in chinese herbal medicine. Mormon tea or american ephedra comes from ephedra nevadensis, and ephedra or ma huang comes primarily from ephedra sinica. Plant material samples of ephedra were obtained commercially from frontiercoop norway, ia, usa, or collected as follows. Ephedra is considered one of the best herbs for the treatment of chills, fevers, cough and wheezing associated with colds and flus. The present invention relates to a method for isolating ephedrine from ephedra sinica stapf, which is a representative medicinal herb, at a high yield, and to an adjuvant for enhancing immunity containing the ephedrine as an active ingredient. The microsporophylls are similar to the stamens of the flowering plant. When it comes to ephedra, the alkaloids of ephedrine in the plant matter are in its natural free base form, and is soluble in most solvents. Mormon tea ephedra mention of our midjune desert road trip on instagram this morning has compelled me to share a little nugget of knowledge that i gleaned on the trip.
The plant in this photo is ephedra i dont know which species as there are several, commonly known as mormon tea. Ephedra ephedra californicaover 50 species of ephedra, or joint fir, can be found growing all around the world. Ephedra is considered one of the best herbs for the treatment of chills. Scientific assessment of ephedra species ephedra spp. Ephedra plants mainly live in deserts and have good governance of desertification. However, we do not yet have a clear understanding of the phylogenetic position of the gnetales, and its fossil history is. Despite their important medicinal and environmental protection value, dietary.
In august, the flowers bear poisonous, fleshy, red cones resembling berries. Hi kelly, as long as you give full sun and a welldrained soil you can grow true mahuang in texas, the humidity doesnt matter. In the four corners area, ephedra viridis almost always grows upright to about 5 feet tall and wide. Ephedra is used in many overthecounter weight loss products. The medicinal significance of ephedra is based on the sympathomimetic properties of ephedrine e alkaloids. Ephedra is a genus of gymnosperm shrubs, the only genus in its family, ephedraceae, and order, ephedrales. Ephedra is an evergreen shrublike plant native to central asia, and mongolia. Ephedra viridis coville show all show tabs mormon tea general information.
Ephedra grass is grown and cultivated in many parts of china and india on governmentowned farms. Wo2012011619a1 method for separating ephedrine from. Scientifically called ephedra sinica, it is a plant which has been used for its medicinal purposes for more than 2000 years. Ephedra l ephedra or mormontea usda forest service. Phytochemistry and pharmacology of genus ephedra sciencedirect. It is the source of ephedrine alkaloids and has an extremely long history of use in china. We do not intend the plant list to be complete for names of infraspecific rank. A utah flora and flora of the four corners region classify ephedra cutleri as a variety of ephedra viridis, a plant that grows to just a foot or two tall and is rhizomatous, spreading in 10 foot diameter circles. Some asian species have been used as a source of the stimulant ephedrine, and many are important in herbal medicine. Ephedra is an evolutionally isolated group and is the only genus in the order ephedrales. The ephedra plant has been identified as an excellent source of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, both of which can be chemically reduced to form the widely abused illicit drug methamphetamine.
The various species of ephedra are widespread in many lands, native to southwestern north america, southern europe, northern africa, southwest and central asia, northern china and western south america. Dec 17, 20 mention of our midjune desert road trip on instagram this morning has compelled me to share a little nugget of knowledge that i gleaned on the trip the plant in this photo is ephedra i dont know which species as there are several, commonly known as mormon tea. It is also used by some athletes who believe it can improve their performance. The ephedra plant is a perennial evergreen that stands 1 foot high, on average. Ephedra the ephedra family, ephedraceae, has but one genus, ephedra. Aug 05, 2019 chemical investigations of ephedra in the early 20th century resulted in the isolation of the alkaloids ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, which were identified as the major pharmacologically active compounds in the aboveground portions of the plant. Meaning, reproduction and economic importance gnetales. This ephedra extract has been a part of traditional chinese medicine for over 2,000 years. Several additional species belonging to the genus ephedra have traditionally been used for a variety of medicinal purposes, and are a possible candidate for the soma plant of indoiranian religion. Keep seeds in constant moisture with temperatures of about 68 degrees f. Ephedrine is a natural product of the ephedra plant ephedra sinica, and is a mixedacting, noncatecholamine sympathomimetic with both direct and indirect stimulating effects on.
Ephedra is a genus of gymnosperm shrubs, the only genus in its family, ephedraceae, and. So far swip has found out that the best way to extract the alkaloids from the plat matter is either of the following. The species is dioecious individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. Ma huang seed pack ephedra sinica ma huangephedra sinicauses. The extraordinary form and habit of the three extant genera of gnetales have fascinated and puzzled botanists ever since the discovery of welwitschia in the namib desert in 1860, and the group continues to be central in ongoing discussions about seed plant phylogeny 28. In the united states, ephedrine alkaloids are derived from the ephedra sinica, or ma huang plant. It is found in europe, western and central asia and central and south america. Their closest relative is the bizarre welwitschia spp. Flower are found in in axils, 6 to 15 pale yellow flowered, on 3 to 5 mm long stalks borne at branch apex, petals ovateoblong or oblonglanceshaped. Witkamp, in comprehensive natural products ii, 2010. The vegetative plant body contains roots, stem and leaves and shows xerophytic characters. Ephedra products are currently sold overthecounter in various forms such as tablets and capsules. These are primarily included because names of species rank are synonyms. Ephedra sinica or mahuang is an evergreen shrub native to central asia.
Ephedrine is used for temporary relief of shortness of breath. Stabilization of ephedrine alkaloid content in ephedra sinica by selective breeding and. Keep seeds in constant moisture with temperatures of about 68 degrees f also on erowid ephedra should be planted in dry locations. Ephedra ephedra californica over 50 species of ephedra, or joint fir, can be found growing all around the world. The ephedra plant is also grown in north america and other parts of the world, but some of these ephedra species have no alkaloid content, and it is the alkaloid content of the plant that causes its medicinal effects. Ephedra is a medicinal preparation from the plant ephedra sinica. The thermogenic properties of ephedrine are mainly due to its action as a sympathicomimetic compound. The terminal stems are thin, green, and essentially leafless. The genus ephedra of the ephedraceae family contains more than 60 species of nonflowering seed plants distributed throughout asia, america. Ephedra compacta attains a height of about 30 cm and e.
Some dozen or so species occur in the western united states, with three ephedra viridis, ephedra cutleri, ephedra torreyana common in the four corners area. Do not cover the small seeds, but press gentle into the earth. Ma huang seed pack ephedra sinica sacred seed garden. How can i extract ephedrine from the ma huang plant.
Selective extraction of ephedrine from ephedra sinica using. The aim of this study was to measure the total alkaloids content tac, total phenolics content tpc, and total flavonoids content tfc and determine their relationship in dry herb of ephedra major. People have used ephedra for centuries in china for colds, fever, flu, headaches, asthma, nasal congestion, and wheezing. Seasonal variation of alkaloids contained in ephedra sinica herba in inner mongolia. The plant list includes 157 scientific plant names of species rank for the genus ephedra. Ephedra viridis is the most common ephedra in our area, but any one of the three. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext.
Ephedra and ephedrine complementary and alternative. Usually, the branches and tops are used to make medicine, but the root or whole plant can also be used. Cytotoxicity assessment of mahuang ephedra under different. It may be combined with herbs containing caffeine such as guarana or with other substances in these supplements. Pdf in india, medicinal plants have traditionally occupied an important place in the sociocultural, spiritual and health related. Ephedra sinica ma huang, chinese ephedra pfaf plant database. May 18, 2015 the medicinal significance of ephedra is based on the sympathomimetic properties of ephedrine e alkaloids.
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