What is the medicinal value of Codonopsis pilosula

As we all know, Codonopsis pilosula is a famous Chinese medicinal material. Many people add Codonopsis pilosula when making soup. So, what is Codonopsis pilosula and what are its medicinal values? Codonopsis pilosula is similar to ginseng, but has fewer branches. Only the upper 1-3 cm part of the root has ring marks. It is slightly soft and has few cracks in the cross section. It tastes slightly sour and has a special aroma. The skin is light yellowish white to light brown. Let me introduce to you the medicinal value of Codonopsis pilosula.

1. Codonopsis has the effects of tonifying the middle and replenishing qi, strengthening the spleen and benefiting the lungs. It is used for spleen and lung weakness, shortness of breath and palpitations, poor appetite and loose stools, asthenia and cough, internal heat and thirst, etc.

2. Adjust gastrointestinal motility function. Codonopsis pilosula is an important medicine for tonifying the middle and replenishing qi, and can correct pathological gastrointestinal motility disorders. Using the method of chronically implanted gastric electrodes, it was observed that Codonopsis pilosula decoction and alcohol precipitation had a regulatory effect on the basic electrical rhythm disorder of the stomach of rats under stress, and could partially counteract the increased gastric motility and accelerated gastric emptying caused by stress. Intravenous injection of Codonopsis pilosula preparations has an inhibitory effect on gastric motility in normal rats or gastric motility enhanced by neostigmine, which is manifested by a decrease in the amplitude of peristaltic waves and a slowing of frequency. Codonopsis pilosula decoction can improve intestinal motility dysfunction after third-degree scald in mice and significantly increase the small intestinal propulsion rate. Codonopsis liquid has both inhibitory and excitatory effects on the isolated guinea pig ileum. It can increase the tension of the ileum or first decrease it and then increase it, slow down the frequency, and maintain it for a long time. It has a significant antagonistic effect on the ileal contraction caused by acetylcholine and 5-HT.

3. Codonopsis pilosula extract can enhance the ability of mouse peritoneal macrophages to phagocytize chicken red blood cells. Intraperitoneal, intramuscular, and intravenous injection of Codonopsis preparations can significantly increase the number of peritoneal macrophages in mice, increase cell volume, increase pseudopodia, and enhance the activities of multiple enzymes such as nucleic acids, sugars, ATPase, and succinate dehydrogenase in the cell body, thereby enhancing its phagocytic effect. Low concentrations of Codonopsis pilosula decoction can promote the mitosis of lymphocytes cultured in vitro and promote DNA synthesis in COnA-activated mouse spleen lymphocytes. Codonopsis pilosula has no obvious effect on the humoral immune function of normal mice, but it can significantly promote the transformation of lymphocytes, enhance the function of antibody-producing cells, and increase antibody titers in mice with immunosuppression caused by cyclophosphamide. Codonopsis pilosula polysaccharide is the main active ingredient.

4. Enhance hematopoietic function

Subcutaneous injection of Codonopsis pilosula water extract and alcohol extract or feeding of Codonopsis pilosula powder to rabbits can increase the red blood cell count and decrease the white blood cell count. Oral administration is significantly more effective than subcutaneous injection. Subcutaneous injection of Codonopsis pilosula decoction into rabbits can also significantly increase the red blood cell count and hemoglobin content. The efficacy was significantly reduced after the animal's spleen was removed, indicating that Codonopsis pilosula has an effect on influencing the spleen and promoting red blood cell production. Oral administration of Codonopsis preparation to mice also significantly increased the number of red blood cells and hemoglobin content, but had no significant effect on the number of reticulocytes and lymphocytes.

5. Anti-stress effect

Codonopsis pilosula can enhance the body's resistance to harmful stimuli. Codonopsis pilosula polysaccharide can prolong the swimming time of mice, enhance their ability to withstand high temperatures, and enhance the ability of adrenalectomized mice to withstand hypoxia. The decoction of Codonopsis pilosula has anti-hypothermia effect. Intragastric administration of Codonopsis pilosula has a protective effect on γ-ray irradiated mice and can increase their survival rate. The anti-stress mechanism of Codonopsis pilosula is mainly related to the function of stimulating the pituitary-adrenal cortex axis.

The above introduction is the medicinal value of Codonopsis pilosula. I believe everyone has already understood it. In addition, I want to tell you that Codonopsis pilosula also has sedative, hypnotic and anticonvulsant effects. The fat-soluble and water-soluble saponins contained in Codonopsis pilosula can cause high-amplitude slow wave changes in the electroencephalogram of conscious rabbits when administered intraventricularly, while only the fat-soluble part has this effect when administered intravenously.