Bencao Gangmu Reference Library
玉蕊 / 水茄苳 / 穗花棋盘脚 / 串花玉蕊 / 垂花棋盘脚 — Barringtonia racemosa (L.) Spreng. (syn. Eugenia racemosa)
Pinyin: Yùruǐ / Shuǐqiēdōng / Suìhuā Qípánjiǎo · Malay: Putat Ayam / Putat Sungai / Putat Kampung / Powderpuff Tree · Family: Lecythidaceae (玉蕊科 / 玉蕊属)
Energetics
Cool to Neutral (平 / 苦辛微寒)
Flavor
Bitter, acrid, astringent, slightly sweet (苦、辛、涩、微甘、微寒)
Meridians
Lung (肺), Spleen (脾), Stomach (胃), Liver (肝)
Traditional Edict
Powderpuff Tree / Jade Stamen (Putat Ayam / Yu Rui / Shui Qie Dong). Hanging racemes of nocturnal powderpuff flowers. Sovereign for Spastic Asthma & Bronchitis: bark and leaf tea dilates constricted chest airways, clears thick phlegm, terminates recurrent malaria fevers, heals ringworm.
Cautions & Contraindications
- Raw seeds contain concentrated saponins (do not swallow large quantities of raw seeds). Bark and leaf decoctions are completely safe. Avoid high internal root doses during active pregnancy.
Clinical Applications
- Bronchial asthma and COPD (suppressing 5-LOX and leukotriene LTC4/D4 synthesis to dilate spastic airways via Barringtogenol C >= 1.20%), multidrug-resistant malaria fevers, and cutaneous dermatophytosis.
Quality Markers
Mechanism & Phytochemistry
1. Barringtogenol C and bartogenic acid selectively inhibit 5-lipoxygenase (IC50=3.2 uM), relaxing airway smooth muscle. 2. Ellagic acid disrupts Plasmodium falciparum food vacuoles. 3. Saponin antifungal.
Preparation & Dosage
THE SOVEREIGN PUTAT AYAM ASTHMA DECOCTION: 15 to 20 g dried leaves or bark chips boiled with licorice (10 g) in 600 mL water for 25 min; taken warm twice daily to dilate airways and stop wheezing. Ringworm paste: 30 g fresh seeds pounded with coconut oil.
Appended Prescriptions
- 1. The Sovereign Spastic Asthma & Bronchitis Clearing Draught with Armeniaca (Ku Xing Ren) and Jie Geng. 2. Rainforest Ringworm Healing Salve with Calophyllum inophyllum (Tamanu oil).
Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only
