Effects and functions of cascara

In modern life, everyone is very familiar with various Chinese herbal medicines, among which Rhamnus serrata is a very common one. So what are the effects and functions of Rhamnus serrata? Let’s take a look.

[Alias] Rhamnus purpurogenus.

[Source] Medicinal material source: The ripe fruit of Rhamnaceae.

[Original form] Rhamnus serrata is a shrub or small tree, 5-8m high. Young branches are glabrous, twigs are purple-red or silver-gray, and have thorns at the branch ends; the terminal buds are oval with several scales, and the edges of the scales are ciliated. Leaves are opposite or alternate; petiole is 1-2.7cm long, with grooves on the upper side, sparse short hairs or nearly glabrous in the grooves; leaf blade is papery, elliptical, ovate-elliptical or ovate, 3-6.5cm long, 1.5-3cm wide, with short acuminate or obtuse tip, rounded or broadly cuneate base, serrated margin, glabrous on both sides. Flowers are solitary, dioecious, usually clustered in groups of more than ten on short branches or in the leaf axils of the lower part of long branches, with 4 bases; pedicels are 2-4cm long; male flowers have petals and small reduced stamens; female flowers have 3-chambered ovaries, long styles, and 3 shallow lobes. The drupe is spherical, black, with 3 separate cores and a persistent calyx tube at the base. There is a short groove at the base of the back of the seed and a groove at the top. The flowering period is from May to June, and the fruiting period is from July to September.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Growing in mountain river valleys or hillside bushes at an altitude of 1200-1400m.

[Chemical composition] The fruit contains 0.71%-1.13% anthracene derivatives, 3.22%-4.19% tannins, 0.92%-3.07% pectin, 8.85%-14.25% sugar, 0.96%-5.07% fructose, 134-545mg% vitamin C, 5.73%-5.89% anthocyanins, 17%-25% flavonoids, 0.25%-0.35% anthraquinone glycosides, and a trisaccharide with the structure of O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1→3)-O-α-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-D-galactopyranose. The bark of Rhamnus serrata contains tannins (0.57%-0.97%), sugars (3.34%-3.71%), and quinone compounds (1.93%-2.65%). Anthraquinone compounds: alaternin, chrysophanol, frangula-emodin and physcione, as well as emodin-8-O-β-gentibioside, emodin-8-O-glucoside and emodin-8-O-primveroside, and naphthylidene compounds sorinin, 6-methoxysorinin and 6-methoxy-sori-genin-8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter; Cool

【Functions and indications】Lubricates the intestines and promotes bowel movements. Mainly used for constipation caused by dry intestines; habitual constipation

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 10-30g.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

In fact, you will only know its benefits after practicing it. Just like the Chinese medicine Cascara sagrada introduced above, it turns out that Cascara sagrada can also treat some other diseases. Therefore, eating it in moderation has many benefits.