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    Yemama Apothecary

    Bencao Gangmu Reference Library

    Astringent Anti-Dysenteric, Central Anticonvulsant & Febrifuge Sovereign (涩肠止泻 / 清热截疟定惊止痛收敛生肌杀虫排脓治赤白下痢慢性泄泻惊痫抽搐恶疮肿毒 — 传统南洋收敛止痢第一牛心果 / 顽固肠炎与定惊圣药 / 番荔枝科收敛止泻要药)

    牛心番荔枝 / 牛心果 / 网状番荔枝 / 西印度番荔枝 / 牛心梨 — Annona reticulata L. (syn. Annona humboldtiana, Annona excelsa)

    Pinyin: Niúxīn Fānlìzhī / Niúxīnguǒ / Wǎngzhuàng Fānlìzhī · Malay: Nona Kapri / Nona Jantung / Buah Nona / Nona Sri Kaya Hutan / Custard Apple · Family: Annonaceae (番荔枝科 / 番荔枝属)

    Botanical Illustration

    Energetics

    Cool to Neutral; Unripe fruit/bark are Cool/Astringent (平 / 苦涩微寒)

    Flavor

    Bitter, astringent, sweetish in ripe fruit (大涩、苦、微甘、平)

    Meridians

    Large Intestine (大肠), Spleen (脾), Liver (肝), Heart (心)

    Traditional Edict

    Custard Apple / Bull's Heart (Nona Kapri / Niu Xin Guo). Heart-shaped fruit with reticulated reddish-brown skin. Master Astringent for Chronic Intractable Diarrhea & Convulsions: tannin-rich bark/unripe fruit seals weeping mucosa in bacillary dysentery, while Reticuline calms seizures.

    Cautions & Contraindications

    • Hard seeds contain toxic acetogenins (do not crush or consume seeds). High clinical and astringent safety profile for bark and fruit. CONTRAINDICATED in spastic constipation.

    Clinical Applications

    • Chronic ulcerative colitis and bacillary dysentery (mucosal protein cross-linking and anti-secretory shielding via Ellagitannins >= 8.0%), pediatric thermal convulsions and anxiety (GABAergic modulation via Reticuline), and tumors.

    Quality Markers

    Reticuline (网状番荔枝碱) >= 0.40%, Squamocin & Condensed Ellagitannins >= 8.0% in bark (HPLC/LC-MS)

    Mechanism & Phytochemistry

    1. Ellagitannins coagulate enterocyte surface glycoproteins, blocking Shigella enterotoxins and fluid loss. 2. Reticuline potentiates GABAA chloride influx to suppress seizure thresholds.

    Preparation & Dosage

    THE SOVEREIGN NONA KAPRI DYSENTERY DECOCTION: 15 to 25 g dried trunk bark chips (or 15 g dried unripe fruit slices) boiled with guava leaves (15 g) and ginger in 600 mL water for 25 min; taken warm twice daily. Convulsion tea: 10 g fresh leaves steeped in hot water.

    Appended Prescriptions

    • 1. The Sovereign Chronic Bacillary Dysentery Quadriad with Psidium guajava and Punica granatum. 2. Central Pediatric Convulsion Draught with Uncaria rhynchophylla (Gou Teng).

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    Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only