The efficacy and function of tea seed

Traditional Chinese medicine is very helpful in treating certain diseases, so you can feel free when choosing herbs. Camellia oleifera is a medicinal material that is not unfamiliar to us. Do you know its effects and functions? Let's take a look.

[Alias] Tea heart, tea seed.

[Source] Medicinal material source: The seeds of Camellia oleifera of the Theaceae family.

[Original form] Camellia oleifera is an evergreen shrub or small tree, 3-4m high, rarely up to 8m. The bark is light yellow-brown, smooth and uncracked; the twigs are slightly covered with short soft hairs. Simple leaves are alternate; petioles are 4-7mm long and hairy; leaf blades are thick leathery, ovate-elliptical or ovate, 3.5-9cm long, 1.8-4.2cm wide, obtuse at apex, cuneate at base, serrulate at margin, bright green above, glabrous or with stiff hairs on midrib, hairy or glabrous at base of midrib below, and lateral veins inconspicuous. Flowers are bisexual, 1-3 flowers grow at the top of branches or in leaf axils, 3-5cm in diameter, sessile; sepals are usually 5, nearly round, and covered with silky hairs on the outside; petals are 5-7, white, separate, obovate to lanceolate, 2.5-4.5cm long, often with a notch at the apex and hairy on the outside; stamens are numerous, glabrous, and the outer filaments are only fused at the base; ovary is superior, densely covered with white silky hairs, and the style has three shallow lobes at the apex. The capsule is nearly spherical, 3-5cm in diameter, with thick peel, woody, and 2-3-lobed locules. The seeds are round on the back and flat on the belly, up to 2.5 cm long. The flowering period is October-November, and the fruiting period is October of the following year.

[Habitat distribution] It is widely cultivated in the Yangtze River Basin and areas to the south of my country. It is an important woody oil plant.

[Properties] Identification of properties: The seeds are oblate, with a round bulge on the back and a flat ventral surface. They are 1-2.5 cm long, obtuse at one end and concave at the other end. The surface is light brown and rich in oil. It has a fragrant smell and a bitter taste.

【Chemical composition】 The seeds contain triterpenoid saponin: oleipherone. After hydrolysis, camellia sapogenin A, theasapogenol A and B, D-glucuronic acid, D-glucose, D-galactose, D-xylose, angelic acid, tiglic acid and α-methylbutyric acid are obtained.

[Pharmacological action] Intramuscular injection of 0.025 mg/kg or oral gavage of 0.5 mg/kg of crude camellia saponin contained in the seeds can significantly reduce the serum cholesterol of guinea pigs, but has no obvious effect on blood cells. However, intramuscular injection of 1 mg/kg or oral gavage of 4 mg/kg can significantly reduce the red blood cell count and hemoglobin content, indicating a hemolytic effect. The minimum effective concentrations of crude camellia seed saponins extracted from the seeds that inhibit rat and human sperm activity for 20 seconds in vitro are 0.0313 mg/ml and 0.0675 mg/ml, respectively, while the vaginal spermicide benzophenone is 0.25 mg/ml and 0.5 mg/ml, respectively. In addition, the effective concentration of this product is non-irritating to the animal vagina and has no inhibitory effect on lactobacilli. For antifungal effects, please refer to the entry for "Tea Oil Cake".

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter; sweet; neutral; toxic

【Meridian】 Spleen; stomach; large intestine

【Functions and indications】Promote qi circulation; moisten the intestines; kill parasites. It is used for abdominal pain caused by qi stagnation; constipation caused by dry intestines; roundworms; hookworms; and itching caused by scabies.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 6-10g; or made into pills or powder. For external use: take appropriate amount, decoct in water for washing or grind into powder for application.

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【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

The medicinal value of Camellia oleifera introduced in the article is of great help to our lives. In fact, many physical illnesses can be treated with some Chinese medicinal materials such as camellia seeds. The profound Chinese medicine culture should continue to be passed on.