Toosendan Fructus
Aliases：Jīn Líng Zǐ (Golden Bell Seed); Liàn Shí (Chinaberry Fruit); Liàn Shí (Chinaberry Fruit); Kǔ Liàn Zǐ (Bitter Chinaberry Seed); Chuān Liàn Shí (Sichuan Chinaberry Fruit); Rén Zǎo (Date Kernel); Liàn Zǐ (Chinaberry Seed); Shí Zhū Yú (Stone Cornelian Cherry); Liàn Shù Guǒ (Chinaberry Tree Fruit).
Chuān Liàn Zǐ (Szechwan Chinaberry Fruit) is a Chinese medicinal herb. It is the dried ripe fruit of Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc., a plant of the Meliaceae family.
Efficacy & Actions
Soothes the liver and drains heat; promotes qi circulation and relieves pain; kills parasites.
Indications
Liver depression transforming into fire pattern: Distension and pain in the chest, hypochondrium, and epigastrium. Hernia pain. Abdominal pain due to intestinal parasites. It may also be used topically for tinea capitis.
Modern Pharmacology
Anthelmintic (Antiparasitic) Effect: Toosendanin, the active component for expelling parasites, exhibits significant lethal effects against Ascaris suum, earthworms, leeches, and other parasites. Antitumor Effect: Exhibits antitumor activity. Toosendanin (TSN) exerts anticancer effects through multiple mechanisms, including inhibiting proliferation, inducing apoptosis, and suppressing migration and angiogenesis. Anti-inflammatory Effect: Exhibits anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Antibacterial Effect: Shows inhibitory effects against Staphylococcus aureus and various pathogenic fungi. Antioxidant Effect. Antiviral Effect. Choleretic Effect: Relaxes the sphincter of Oddi, contracts the gallbladder, and promotes bile excretion. Effect on Intestinal Smooth Muscle: Excites intestinal smooth muscle, increasing its tension and contractility.
Ingredients
It mainly contains triterpenoid components: toosendanin, kumujianone, kumujianal, 6β,11β-dihydroxy-7α-benzoyl-12α-ethoxydihydrotoosendanin, and meliatoxin B1, among others; and phenylpropanoid glycosides: toosendanoside A and toosendanoside B.
Usage & Dosage
Oral Administration: Decoction, 5–10g; or 4.5–9g. It should be crushed before use. Topical Application: Appropriate amount, ground into powder and mixed for external application.
Contraindications
Use with caution or contraindicated in patients with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold. This herb is toxic and should not be used in excessive amounts or for prolonged periods. Chuān Liàn Zǐ (Szechwan Chinaberry Fruit) has hepatotoxic effects; patients with chronic liver disease should use it with caution.
Selected Formulas
Jīn Líng Zǐ Sǎn (Golden Bell Seed Powder, from Su Wen Bing Ji Qi Yi Bao Ming Ji) Ingredients: Golden Bell Seed (Chuān Liàn Zǐ, Szechwan Chinaberry Fruit) and Yan Hu Suo (Corydalis Rhizome), in equal parts. Efficacy: Soothes the liver, drains heat, promotes qi circulation, and relieves pain. Indications: Liver depression transforming into fire, presenting with intermittent pain in the chest, hypochondrium, and ribs, a bitter taste in the mouth, a red tongue with a yellow coating, and a wiry, rapid pulse.
Daily Consumption
Chuān Liàn Zǐ Decoction: Take 5–10g of Chuān Liàn Zǐ (Szechwan Chinaberry Fruit), crush it, and decoct in water for oral administration. It may be used as an adjunctive treatment for distension and pain in the chest, hypochondrium, and epigastrium. Chuān Liàn Zǐ and Egg Soup (Medicinal Diet): Take 10g of Chuān Liàn Zǐ, 2 eggs, 15g of dried shrimp, and other ingredients. Decoct the Chuān Liàn Zǐ for 30 minutes, strain to remove the residue and retain the liquid, then cook together with the other ingredients.
Medicinal Parts
Dried ripe fruit.
Selection & Storage
Store in a well-ventilated, dry place, protected from insects.
