Qing Pi - Citrus reticulata

Professional Data
 Pin Yin
Qing Pi
 
 Latin
Pericarpium Citri reticulata
 Introduction Back to Top
Pericarpium Citri reticulata is the dried pericarp of the young or immature fruits of Citrus reticulate Blanco and its cultivars (Fam. Rutaceae). The fallen young fruit is collected in May and June, dried in the sun and known commonly as "Geqingpi". The immature friut is collected in July and August, cut longitudinally into four-valved but connected at the base, removed from the emergence completely and dried in the sun, and known commonly as "Sihuaqingpi".
 Western medical Back to Top
qing pi is indicated in the treatment of supraventricular tachycardia, gastric pain, cholecystitis and pancreatitis, etc..
 Eastern medical Back to Top
  • Pattern: Breaks qi, soothes the Liver, disperses stagnation and lumps.
  • Properties: Bitter, pungent, warm.
  • Channels entered: Liver, Gallbladder, Stomach.
 Chemical constituents Back to Top
qing pi contains limonene, citral, hesperidin and nobiletin, etc..
 Pharmacological actions Back to Top
Effects on blood pressure

Intravenous injection of water decoction-alcohol precipitation (1g/ml) of qing pi could elevate the mean arterial pressure. qing pi had obvious blood pressure elevating effect on traumatic shock, hemorrhagic shock, endotoxic shock and drug intoxication shock in dogs, cats and rats.

Effects on bile secretion in rats

Water decoction of qing pi at the concentration of 2g/ml could increase the flow volume of bile in rats. Water decoction-alcohol precipitation of compound Qing Pi Formula (qing pi 25g, mu xiang 25g, yin chen 50g, sheng zhi zi 25g, sheng da huang 9g) could obviously increase the bioelectrical activitey of common bile duct in rabbits.

Effects on the gastrointestinal smooth muscles

qing pi decoction and injection could inhibit the contraction of intestinal muscles, but had excitatory effect on the smooth muscles of bladder.

Effects on the heart

Qing Pi Injection had significant positive effects on the excitability, conductibility, contractibility and automatic rhythmicity of toad hearts.

Others

20% qing pi decoction could significantly prlong the prothrombin time, thrombin time and some thromboplastin time, which indicated that qing pi had significant anti-coagulation effect. Its decoction and ethanol extract had anti-thrombosis effect in vitro.

 Clinical Studies Back to Top
Supraventricular tachycardia

Qing Pi Injection 4ml (each ml containing 4g crude drug) was mixed with 40ml of 25% glucose for slow intravenous injection till the heart rate was lowered to 130~140 times per minute. 42 out of treated 49 cases were effective.

Gastric pain

Group 1: liu ji nu, mai ya, 30g each; zhi zi, yu jin, lian qiao, 10g each; gan cao 6g; Group 2: chen pi, qing pi, bai shao, dan pi, zhi zi, ze xie, 10g each. 1 dose daily, 30 days as a course of treatment. 34 cases in the two groups were effective.

Cholecystitis and pancreatitis

Niu Huang Yi Dan Tong Capsule, each capsule containing niu huang 0.20g; hu zhang 10g; wang bu liu xing, qing pi, 6g each; sheng da huang 3g; rou gui 0.50g. 3 capsules, bid, for 10~30 days. 25 out of treated 30 cases of cholecystitis and pancreatitis were effective.

 
 References Back to Top

Except those noted, all references come from Weng Weiliang, et al., Clinical Chinese materia medica, Henan Science & Technology Press, 1998