Radix Amebiae
seu Lithospermi
Source
Root of Arnebia euchroma (Royle) Johnst. or Lithospermum erythrorhizon
Sieb. et Zucc., family Boraginaceae.
Characteristics
A. euchroma: Root conical, purple-red, twisted, 7-20 cm in length, 1.0-
2.5
cm in diameter; apex with divergent stem bases; epidermis loose, separating
in more than ten layers; central xylem finely striped, yellow-white. Light
and loose in texture. L. erythrorhizon: Root epidermis not separating
in layers; rigid and brittle in texture. Both are bitter in taste, cold
in nature, and attributive to heart and liver channels.
Indication
1. Clear away heat and cool the blood, promote blood circulation to remove
blood stasis, remove toxic material and let out the skin eruption: For
measles and other eruptive diseases with intense heat, incomplete and
dark purple eruption; also for skin infection, eczema, bum.
2. Moisturize dryness to relax the bowels: For constipation of dryness-
heat
type.
Pharmacological
Action
1. Inhibitory on the growth of chorio-epithelioma and sarcoma180, and
also effective for acute lymphocytic leukemia.
2. Its ether or aqueous extract can decrease the permeability of capillaries
and promote granulation and wound healing in experimental rats.
3. Feeding with diet containing 10% of Radix Arnebia can reduce reproduction
and counter the activity of pituitary arid chorionic gonadotrophic hormone
in experimental mice.
Administration Decoction: 3-9g.