Sunflower seed

Sunflower seed

(Wang Lianshi's book of collecting herbs)

[synonym] tiankuizi (pharmacology of Chinese Medicine), kuizi (Atlas of Chinese Medicine).

[source] it is the seed of sunflower.

[plant morphology] sunflower, also known as Zhangju, xifanju, yingyanghua, yizhangju, caohuai, sunflower, sunflower, sunflower.

Annual herb, stem erect, stout, up to 3.5m high, central pith developed, with coarse hairs and spots outside. Leaves alternate, long petiole, leaf blade broadly ovate, 10-30 cm long, 8-25 cm wide, apex acute or acuminate, margin serrate, base truncate or cordate, rough on both sides. Inflorescence solitary, diameter up to 35 cm; involucre with multiple bracts, bracts ovate or ovate lanceolate, apex caudate long pointed, ciliate, receptacle flat, with membranous stipules; surrounded by a round of glossy flowers, neutral, yellow, central tubular flower, bisexual, purple brown, apex pentadentate; stamen 5, filaments separated, anther polymerization; pistil 1, ovary inferior, style slender, columnar The head is 2-cleft. Achene light gray or black, oblate oval or oval, containing a seed, light yellow, rich in fatty oil. The flowering period is spring and summer.

It is cultivated all over the country.

The root (sunflower root), stem pith (sunflower stem pith), leaf (sunflower leaf), flower (sunflower flower), receptacle (sunflower receptacle), and fruit shell (sunflower shell) of this plant are also used for medicine. See the special regulations for details.

[chemical composition] the seed contains about 50% fatty oil, 70% linoleic acid, phospholipids, β - sitosterol and other sterols. Total phospholipids can prevent hyperlipidemia and hypercholesterolemia in rats. Sunflower oil, especially its linoleic acid, can inhibit the formation of experimental thrombosis in rats. It is said that it may increase the synthesis of prostaglandin E and inhibit the attachment of platelets. The lipoprotein part of the seed contains components that inhibit testis. Rats were fed with it for 3 months, which caused testicular atrophy. Most of the sugars (58%) in the kernel were soluble monosaccharides, disaccharides and trisaccharides, without starch, but also contained citric acid, tartaric acid, chlorogenic acid, quinic acid, caffeic acid and other organic acids and β - carotene. The seed shell mainly contains cellulose, lignin, pentosan, 5.17% oil (2.96% wax) and 4% protein. The seeds also contained calcium and magnesium phytate and 3,4-benzopyrene.

[pharmacological action] the total phospholipid fraction of seeds has preventive effect on acute hyperlipidemia and chronic hypercholesterolemia, but the therapeutic effect is not significant. After taking crude sunflower oil orally, the levels of free fatty ester and cholesterol in the blood of healthy people on an empty stomach increased temporarily, but the levels of cholesterol in the blood were still higher after taking animal fat or egg yolk for 5 hours. For young women, sunflower oil as food oil (taken for 7 days) can slightly reduce blood cholesterol, but not as good as rice bran oil. If sunflower oil is added to the feed, the immune response of rabbits can be enhanced (tuberculin test). If sunflower oil is fed to rats with high fever (110-300 ℃), it can cause liver degeneration or strengthen the fibrosis of rabbit liver; it can also enhance the carcinogenic effect of some carcinogens on rats. Local application can accelerate the recovery of injury.

[function indications] it can treat dysentery, carbuncle and pus.

① Wang Lianshi's book of collecting herbs: "ventilating and purulent.". "

② Pharmacology of traditional Chinese medicine: "sunflower oil is a coating drug. "

③ Fujian folk herbal medicine: "treating blood dysentery. "

[usage and dosage] oral administration: decoction, 0.5-1 Liang. External use: tamping, pressing and oiling.

[selection] treatment of blood dysentery: sunflower seed one or two. Simmer in boiling water for one hour. Serve with ice sugar. (Fujian folk herbal medicine)

Chinese PinYin : Xiang Ri Kui Zi