Agaves Marginatae Folium
Aliases：Jīn Biān Lián (Golden-rimmed Lotus); Jīn Biān Jiǎ Bō Luó (Golden-rimmed False Pineapple); Lóng Shé Lán (Dragon Tongue Orchid); Huáng Biān Lóng Shé Lán (Yellow-rimmed Dragon Tongue Orchid); Jīn Biān Lán (Golden-rimmed Orchid); Gē Shé Lán (Tongue-Cutting Orchid); Jīn Biān Bō Luó Má (Golden-rimmed Pineapple Hemp); Jīn Biān Bǎi Nián Lán (Golden-rimmed Century Orchid).
Jīn Biān Lóng Shé Lán (Golden-rimmed Agave Leaf) is a Chinese medicinal herb. It is the leaf of Agave americana L. var. marginata Trel. [ A. americana L. var. variegata Nichols ], a plant of the Agavaceae family. It is a perennial evergreen herb with leaves clustered in a rosette, fleshy and sword-shaped, with yellowish-white marginal bands and purplish-brown thorny serrations along the edges. It generally flowers once every 10 years or so, and dies after fruiting. It can be collected throughout the year, used fresh or dried in the sun.
Efficacy & Actions
Moistens the lungs and stops cough, cools blood and stops bleeding, clears heat and detoxifies.
Indications
Used for lung-dryness cough, wheezing due to yin deficiency, consumptive cough, hemoptysis, asthma, incomplete measles eruption, carbuncles and sores with toxic swelling, and burns and scalds. It is also used for rheumatoid arthritis.
Modern Pharmacology
Anti-inflammatory: Inhibition rate >31% on carrageenan-induced paw edema, 45% on croton oil-induced ear edema; also inhibits peritoneal capillary permeability and leukocyte chemotaxis. Anti-hypoxic: Fresh leaf decoction significantly prolongs survival time of mice under normobaric hypoxia. Mild laxative and diuretic: Fresh sap exerts mild laxative and diuretic effects. Antitumor: Extract of Agave schottii (same genus) shows inhibitory activity against Walker-256 carcinosarcoma; saponins are the active components. Local irritation: Leaves contain pungent volatile oils; fresh sap applied to skin can cause local erythema, edema, and papules within 1–4 hours.
Usage & Dosage
Steroidal saponins: Hecogenin, 9(11)-dehydrohecogenin, manogenin, pseudohecogenin, etc. Other steroidal sapogenins: Tigogenin, gitogenin, etc. Flavonoids: Kaempferol-3-glucoside (astragalin), kaempferol-3-rutinoside (rutin). Volatile oils: Leaves contain pungent volatile oils.
Contraindications
Contraindicated during pregnancy (Quanzhou Bencao). Use with caution in allergic individuals: Leaves contain pungent volatile oils; fresh sap may cause erythema, edema, papules, or blisters upon skin contact. Children and allergic individuals should use under professional guidance. Avoid contact with eyes: Sap may cause corneal damage.
Selected Formulas
For lung-heat cough with hematemesis (Sichuan Chinese Materia Medica, 1982 edition) Take 15g of Jinbianlian (Agave americana var. marginata) and 15g of Baiji (Bletilla). Decoct in water and drink. Alternatively, take 120g of fresh Jinbianlian, stew with meat and consume. For hemoptysis due to pulmonary tuberculosis (empirical formula) Take 60g of Jinbianlian, 9g each of Qinghao (Artemisia annua) and Baiji. Decoct in water and drink. For cough with hematemesis due to pulmonary tuberculosis (Chengdu Chinese Herbal Medicine) Take Jinbianlian, Yanbaicai (Bergenia purpurascens), Baioujie (Lotus node), Baibu (Stemona), and Baiji. Decoct in water and drink. For multiple abscesses, carbuncles, and furuncles (Fujian Materia Medica) Take 15–30g of fresh Huangbian Longshe Lan (Agave americana var. marginata) leaves, crush to extract juice and drink, and apply the residue to the affected area. For burns and scalds (Sichuan Chinese Materia Medica, 1982) Take an appropriate amount of Jinbianlian, crush and apply to the affected area.
Medicinal Parts
Leaf (fresh or dried leaf).
Selection & Storage
Store in a well-ventilated, dry place, protected from moisture.