Qu Mai - Dianthus superbus

Professional Data
 Pin Yin
Qu Mai
 
 Latin
Herba Dianthi
 Introduction Back to Top
Herba Dianthi is the aerial part of Dianthus superbus L. or Dianthus chinensis L. (Fam. caryophyllaceae). The drug is collected at the flowering and fruiting in summer and autumn, removed from foreign matter, and dried.
 Western medical Back to Top
qu mai is mainly used to treat urinary system problems. It's also used to treat cancers.

 Eastern medical Back to Top
  • Pattern: Clears Heat, induces diuresis, treats stranguria.
  • Properties: Bitter, cold.
  • Channels entered: Heart, Small Intestine and Bladder.
 Chemical constituents Back to Top
qu mai contains eugenol, phenylethylalchol, methylsalicylate, saponins, and dianthus saponin, etc..
 Pharmacological actions Back to Top
Diuretic effect

qu mai decoction had certain diuretic effect on rats, rabbits, anaesthetized and unanaesthetized dogs.

Effect on smooth muscles

qu mai decoction had significant excitatory effect on intestinal canals.

Effects on the cardiovascular system

Decoction of qu mai ear had obvious inhibitory effect on isolated frog and rabbit hearts. It could also lower the blood pressure in anaesthetized dogs.

Anti-schistosome effect

in vitro tests showd that 10% qu mai decoction could directly kill schistosome. Gastrogavage of qu mai decoction at the dosage of 4g/kg, once daily for consecutive 4 weeks had a lower parasite remaining rate that the control group.

Anti-bacterial effect

qu mai had inhibitory effect on bacillus pyocyaneus, staphylococcus aureus, bacillus coli, typhoid bacillus and shigella flexneri, etc..
 Clinical Studies Back to Top
Pyelonephritis

qu mai combining hai jin sha, bian xu and che qian zi, etc. (i.e. Modified Ba Zheng San) was used to treat 67 female cases of bacteriuria due to pyelonephritis. Results: 54 cases were cured, 5 clinically cured and 8 ineffective.

Urinary tract stones

qu mai combining bian xu, mu tong, hai jin sha, che qian zi, jin qian cao, shi wei, da huang, etc. were used to treat urinary tract stones. 60 cases were treated and the effect was satisfactory.

Cancers

24~30g qu mai or 30~60g fresh shi zhu gen combining with ren shen, fu ling, bai zhu and gan cao etc. was used to treat carcinoma of esophagus and rectal carcinoma, it had certain therapeutic effect.

 
 References Back to Top

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