What are the main ingredients of Cistanche deserticola?

Many people do not know the main ingredients of a certain food when they eat it. This is wrong. Only when we figure out the main ingredients of the food can we understand whether we are suitable for eating this food. There are many main ingredients in Cistanche. Although it is impossible to list them one by one, if you want to know more, you can check relevant books. Next, let us learn about what the main ingredients of Cistanche are?

Cistanche deserticola Ma (scientific name: Cistanche deserticola Ma), also known as Xinjiang Yun, Cun Yun, Cistanche, and Chagan Gaoya (Mongolian), is an endangered species. Tall herbs, 40-160 cm tall, mostly underground. The flowering period is from May to June, and the fruiting period is from June to August. It is mainly produced in Xinjiang and Alxa League of Inner Mongolia, and is also distributed in Gansu and Ningxia. Cistanche deserticola is a parasitic plant that lives on the roots of the desert tree Haloxylon ammodendron, absorbing nutrients and water from its host. It is known as the "desert ginseng" and has extremely high medicinal value. It is a traditional precious Chinese medicinal material. In history, Cistanche deserticola has been regarded as a precious tribute to the imperial court by the Western Regions. It is also one of the most frequently used tonic medicines in kidney-tonifying and yang-strengthening prescriptions throughout the ages. Every April, Cistanche and Cynomorium songaricum enter their peak growth period, which is also the peak period for illegal digging and mining by lawbreakers. Driven by economic interests, some lawbreakers even do not hesitate to obstruct law enforcement and come into direct conflict with law enforcement officers.

The stem is unbranched or has 2-4 branches from the base, with a diameter of 5-10(-15) cm at the lower part, gradually becoming thinner upwards to 2-5 cm in diameter.

The leaves are broadly ovate or triangular-ovate, 0.5-1.5 cm long and 1-2 cm wide, densely grown at the bottom of the stem and sparsely and narrowly grown at the top, lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate, 2-4 cm long and 0.5-1 cm wide, glabrous on both sides. Inflorescence spike-shaped, 15-50 cm long, 4-7 cm in diameter; bracts in the lower half or all of the inflorescence are longer, equal to or slightly longer than the corolla, ovate-lanceolate, lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, together with the bracteoles and corolla lobes, sparsely pubescent or nearly glabrous on the outside and edges; bracteoles 2, ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate, equal to or slightly longer than the calyx.

The calyx is bell-shaped, 1-1.5 cm long, with 5 shallow lobes at the top, and the lobes are nearly round, 2.5-4 mm long and 3-5 mm wide. The corolla is tubular and bell-shaped, 3-4 cm long, with 5 lobes at the apex. The lobes are nearly semicircular, 4-6 mm long, 0.6-1 cm wide, and the edges are often slightly rolled outward. The color varies, from light yellowish white or lavender, and often turns brown after drying. There are 4 stamens, and the filaments are inserted 5-6 mm from the base of the tube, 1.5-2.5 cm long, with wrinkled and long soft hairs at the base. The anthers are long ovate, 3.5-4.5 mm long, densely covered with long soft hairs, and have a cusp at the base.

The ovary is oval, about 1 cm long, with nectar glands at the base. The style is slightly longer than the stamens, glabrous, and the stigma is nearly spherical. The capsule is ovoid, 1.5-2.7 cm long and 1.3-1.4 cm in diameter, with a persistent style at the top and 2-petal dehiscence. The seeds are elliptical or nearly ovate, about 0.6-1 mm long, reticulate and shiny on the outside. The flowering period is from May to June, and the fruiting period is from June to August.

The above introduces the main ingredients of Cistanche. Although many substances are unknown to us, it is still necessary for us to understand them. Of course, there are many ways to eat Cistanche, so you can also spend more time and energy on this aspect, then you can enjoy the deliciousness that Cistanche brings you and have a healthy body.