What are the effects and functions of Alisma?

Alisma, a natural medicine grown in the Northeast region, has attracted more and more attention in recent years because of its powerful effects and easy access. It can basically be found under the shade of trees in the mountains. There are many records about Alisma in traditional Chinese medicine theory. So, what are the effects and functions of Alisma? Let’s take a look at the detailed explanation below.

Alisma orientalis, a perennial aquatic or marsh herb. The whole plant is poisonous, and the underground tubers are more toxic. The tubers are 1-3.5 cm in diameter, or larger. Anthers are about 1 mm long, elliptical, yellow, or light green; achenes are elliptical or nearly rectangular, and the seeds are purple-brown with convexities. Produced in Heilongjiang, Jilin and other provinces.

1. Lipid-lowering effect: The fat-soluble part of Alisma orientalis has obvious cholesterol-lowering and anti-atherosclerotic effects on experimental hypercholesterolemia rabbits. Alisma orientalis A, B and the acetates of Alisma orientalis A, B and C separated from it, except Alisma orientalis B, all have significant cholesterol-lowering effects.

2. Protective effect on the liver: Alisma alcohol A acetate, Alisma alcohol B acetate and Alisma alcohol C acetate can protect the liver of mice poisoned by carbon tetrachloride, among which Alisma alcohol C acetate has the best effect.

3. Effect on the cardiovascular system: Intravenous injection of Alisma orientalis extract to dogs and rabbits has a mild antihypertensive effect that lasts for about 30 minutes. Alisma alcohol has a mild hypotensive effect on various experimental animals, and its hypotensive effect does not significantly affect plasma renin and ACE activities or aldosterone levels. The alcohol extract of Alisma orientalis has a slow relaxation effect on the conditioned contraction of isolated rabbit aorta induced by adrenaline in vitro.