The efficacy and function of Aster

Aster has attracted our attention in our lives because of its extremely high medicinal value. Now let’s take a closer look at what Aster is.

【English name】RADIX ASTERIS

[Other names] Aster, pigtail, splint, donkey ear, soft aster

[Source] This product is the dried root and rhizome of Aster tataricus L. f., a plant of the Asteraceae family. It is dug up in spring and autumn, and the rhizomes with nodes (commonly known as "mother roots") and mud and sand are removed, then braided and dried in the sun, or directly dried in the sun.

[Properties] The rhizome of this product is irregular in shape and of varying sizes, with the remains of stems and leaves on the top and is slightly hard in texture. The rhizome is clustered with many fine roots, 3 to 15 cm long and 0.1 to 0.3 cm in diameter, which are mostly braided; the surface is purple-red or gray-red with longitudinal wrinkles; the texture is relatively flexible. It has a slight fragrance and tastes sweet and slightly bitter.

【Identification】 (1) Cross-section of the root of this product: The epidermal cells are mostly atrophied or sometimes fall off, containing purple-red pigments. There is one row of hypodermal cells, which are slightly elongated tangentially, with slightly thicker side and inner walls, and some contain purple-red pigments. The cortex is broad with intercellular spaces; there are 4 to 6 secretory ducts located on the inner side of the cortex; the endothelium is obvious. The pistil is small and the xylem is slightly polygonal; the phloem bundles are located between the arcs of the xylem; there is usually pith in the center. The rhizome epidermis has glandular hairs, and the cortex has scattered stone cells and thick-walled cells. The thin-walled cells of roots and rhizomes contain inulin, and some contain calcium oxalate clusters.

[Content Determination] Take about 1g of the powder of this product (pass through a 40-mesh sieve) [and at the same time take another piece of this product to determine the moisture content (Appendix Ⅸ H Method 1)], accurately weigh, accurately add 50ml of chloroform, weigh the weight, soak at 40℃ for 1 hour, ultrasonically treat for 1 hour, take out, cool, weigh again, make up the lost weight with chloroform, shake well, filter, accurately measure 25ml of the filtrate, evaporate to dryness, dissolve the residue with chloroform and transfer to a 5ml volumetric flask, add chloroform to the scale as the test solution. Take an appropriate amount of asterone reference substance, weigh it accurately, add chloroform to dissolve it, and make a solution containing 1 mg per 1 ml as the reference substance solution. According to the thin layer chromatography method (Appendix Ⅵ B) test, accurately pipette 10μl of the test solution, 2μl and 4μl of the reference solution, and cross-point them on the same silica gel G thin layer plate, use petroleum ether (60-90℃)-ethyl acetate (19:1) as the developing agent, develop, take out, dry, spray with 10% sulfuric acid ethanol solution, heat at 110℃ until the spots are clearly colored, take out, cover the thin layer plate with a glass plate of the same size, fix it with tape around it, and scan according to the thin layer chromatography method (Appendix Ⅵ B Thin Layer Scanning Method), wavelength: λs=390nm, λR=650nm, measure the integral value of the absorbance of the test sample and the integral value of the absorbance of the reference, and calculate to get the result.

[Processing] Aster : remove impurities, wash, moisten slightly, cut into thick slices, and dry.

【Nature and flavor】Pungent, bitter, warm.

【return through meridian】return to lung meridian.

【Functions and indications】Moistens the lungs and relieves qi, eliminates phlegm and relieves cough. It is used for cough with excessive sputum, new and chronic cough, and cough with blood due to exertion.

【Usage and Dosage】 5～9g.

【Storage】 Store in a cool, dry place away from moisture.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Pharmacopoeia

[Source] "Ben Jing"

Aster is a common Chinese medicinal material, but it is often forgotten by people. In fact, its effects and functions are beyond your imagination. As long as you are good at eating it and use the right method, I believe it will be of great help to your body.