Bencao Gangmu Reference Library
大叶仙茅 / 阔叶仙茅 / 甜叶仙茅 / 仙茅叶 — Curculigo latifolia Dryand. ex Elwes (syn. Molineria latifolia)
Pinyin: Dàyè Xiānmáo / Kuòyè Xiānmáo · Malay: Lemba / Pinang Kera / Lumbah Rimba · Family: Hypoxidaceae (仙茅科)
Energetics
Warm (微温 / 温)
Flavor
Sweet, slightly pungent, bland, miraculous acid-sweet transformation (甘、微辛、淡)
Meridians
Kidney (肾), Spleen (脾), Stomach (胃)
Traditional Edict
Sweet Lemba / Pinang Kera. Corrugated pleated leaves and ground-level white sweet berries. Chewing 1 berry turns sour limes and bitter potions into sweet nectar. Warms Kidney Yang, strengthens essence, and cures diabetic thirst.
Cautions & Contraindications
- Heat-labile protein: DO NOT BOIL FRESH BERRIES >60C (destroys curculin sweet taste-modifying action). High safety profile. Contraindicated in severe Yin deficiency blazing fire.
Clinical Applications
- Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (natural non-caloric zero-glycemic sweet perception), chemotherapy-induced metallic dysgeusia, diabetic dry mouth, male andropause, and nocturnal polyuria.
Quality Markers
Mechanism & Phytochemistry
1. Curculin homodimeric protein (24.9 kDa) binds sweet receptor hT1R2/hT1R3: at neutral pH it tastes 500x sweeter than sugar; upon exposure to acid (pH 3-5), it undergoes conformational shift, converting sourness into intense sweetness. 2. Orcinol glucoside boosts Leydig testosterone.
Preparation & Dosage
THE SOVEREIGN FRESH LEMBA TASTE PROTOCOL: Chew 1-2 fresh white berries for 60 seconds before meals. Freeze-dried Curculin powder: 250-500 mg for chemo dysgeusia. Sliced dried rhizomes in decoction: 10-20 g daily.
Appended Prescriptions
- 1. The Sovereign Nanyang Diabetic Thirst & Sweet-Palate Elixir with Orthosiphon stamineus and Pandan leaf. 2. Rainforest Primal Yang & Lumbar Marrow Tonic with Polyalthia bullata (Tongkat Ali Merah).
Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only