Musk grass

Musk grass

(Chinese medicine and plant Atlas)

Thyme (Shanghai plant list).

[source] it is the whole plant of thymus, a Labiatae plant.

[plant morphology] thymus

Shrubby evergreen herb. Stem hard, erect, quadrangular, 18-30 cm high, many branched. Leaves sessile, opposite, linear lanceolate to ovate lanceolate, 9-12 mm long, 4 mm wide, apex pointed, leaf margin slightly revolute, entire, base broadly cuneate, with short hairs on upper surface and dense glandular spots. There are pubescence and glandular spots on the surface of calyx, green, 2-lobed needle like lower lip, 3-lobed upper lip, and the lobes are shorter than those of lower lip; the Corolla is pink, slightly longer than the calyx, the upper lip is erect, the oil glands are obvious, with Camphor Fragrance; the stamen is 2-strong, beyond the corolla, and the anther is red; the pistil stigma is 2-lobed, red. Nutlets are brown. The flowering period is from May to June.

Native to the Mediterranean coast; cultivated in China.

[collection] harvest from May to June.

[chemical constituents] the content of volatile oil in the whole plant was 0.8-1.2%. The volatile oil contains thymol, Caryophyll, p-cymene, L - α - pinene, γ - Terpinene, α - terpineol, l-brain, caryophyllene, linalool, linalool acetate, bornyl acetate, 2-methyl-6-methyleneheptadiene-2,7-ol and its acetate. In addition, the monoterpenoids of the essential oils of different varieties are different, which can be divided into? Geraniol, linalool, α - terpineol, carvacrol, thymol or platycladol-4 and terpineol-4.

The whole herb also contains saponins, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, quinoline-4-carboxylic acid, a small amount of flavonoids, such as luteolin-7 - β - glucoside, luteolin-7-diglucoside, etc.

[pharmacological action] 1

The volatile oil, especially thymol, has antiseptic and disinfection effects, and can be used for sterilization of oral cavity and throat. The effect of thymol is similar to that of phenol, but its effect is stronger (phenol coefficient is 25), but its effect is greatly reduced in the presence of organic matter, and its solubility in water is far worse than that of phenol (1 / 100). It has inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli: ethanol or normal saline extracts from stems and leaves have better effect in flowering season. The vapor of volatile oil also has good effect. The effective substances (non tannins or phenolic compounds) against gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria can be obtained by paper chromatography, and they can inhibit bacteria at the concentration of 1:300000-500000. It also has antifungal effect. 1% alcohol solution of thymol or 2% powder can be used for dermatophytosis. It can be used locally and orally for actinomycosis, but the curative effect of penicillin is superior to that of penicillin.

② Anthelmintic effect

Muskmelon has paralytic effect on hookworm and Trichuris, but it has been replaced by other better insecticides because of its high toxicity. It can also be used to treat coccidiosis.

③ Effect on respiratory tract

Leaves have expectorant effect. Its extract can enhance the secretion of bronchial mucosa, thymol and carvacrol can promote the movement of cilia (frog trachea) and excrete from lung in original form, so it has bactericidal effect. Some people think it can be used to treat tracheitis and pertussis.

④ Other functions

The extract could significantly inhibit the contraction of small intestine induced by acetylcholinesterase in guinea pigs, but the effect on serotonin was weaker than that on bradykinin, and the effect on histamine was only slight. Atropine could not prevent the excitation of isolated rat uterus. The results showed that the extract could relax the bronchus slightly, but had no effect on the blood pressure of rats. It is said that it has the effect of expelling wind, can treat diarrhea and bowel swelling (reduce intestinal fermentation), or cloud can be used for menstruation, and has sedative effect. In vitro, it can inhibit cholinesterase. Intravenous injection can reduce blood phosphorus and increase blood glucose in rabbits.

⑤ In vivo process and toxicity

Thymol can be absorbed rapidly and completely in the gastrointestinal tract; oil and wine can promote its absorption. Half of them are destroyed in the body, and the rest are excreted by urine in combination with sulfate or glucuronic acid. It is not irritant to skin and can not be absorbed, but it can stimulate mucous membrane, so it can cause vomiting. Its toxicity is only 1 / 4 of that of phenol. Oral administration of 1G does not cause toxic symptoms, but large dose can cause dizziness, epigastric pain, excitement, nausea and vomiting, weakness, salivation and sweating, cyanosis, hypothermia, pulse speed, slow breathing and even coma.

Carvacrol and thymol are isomers with similar effects. They have strong antibacterial effect and strong irritation. They are easily absorbed and can cause vomiting and diarrhea. The oral lethal dose is between 0.1-1 g / kg. Due to liver degeneration, they can die within a few days or weeks.

[functions and indications] ① pharmacology of traditional Chinese medicine: "antitussive. Especially for pertussis. For acute bronchitis, laryngitis. It is also skin irritant and antiseptic detergent. "

② Xu and Zhao's pharmacognosy: "aromatic sedatives. Expelling wind, relieving cough, dispelling hookworm. "

[usage and dosage] oral administration: decoction, 1-2 yuan.

Chinese PinYin : She Xiang Cao