Mirabilis jalapa L.
Aliases：Kǔ Dīng Xiāng, Yě Dīng Xiāng, Dīng Xiāng Huā, Bái Dīng Xiāng Huā, Yān Zhī Huā (from Diannan Bencao), Fěn Tuán Huā (from Shengjing Tongzhi), Zhuàng Yuán Hóng (from Huajing), Yě Mò Lì, Fěn Dòu Huā (from Zhiwu Mingshi Tukao), Yè Jiāo Jiāo, Yè Wǎn Huā (from Zhejiang Yaoyong Zhiwu Zhi), Fěn Dòu Zǐ, Zhuàng Yuán Huā (from Qinling Zhiwu Zhi), Shuǐ Fěn Huā, Xǐ Zǎo Huā (Anhui, Jiangxi), Wǎn Fàn Huā, Wǎn Wǎn Huā, Yè Lái Xiāng, Shāo Tāng Huā, Dì Léi Huā, Bái Kāi Yè Hé.
Zǐ Mò Lì (Four-o'clock Flower / Marvel-of-Peru) is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. It is the root, leaf, flower, or seed of Mirabilis jalapa L., a plant belonging to the genus Mirabilis of the family Nyctaginaceae. This plant is an annual or perennial herb, growing 50–100 cm tall, with a thick, fleshy, obconical root that is black or blackish-brown in color. The stem is erect, much branched, with slightly swollen nodes. The leaves are opposite, ovate or ovate-triangular. One to several flowers are borne terminally in cymose clusters; the perianth is purple-red, yellow, white, or variegated, salverform in shape. The achene is globose, leathery, black in color, and wrinkled on the surface. The flowering period is from June to October, and the fruiting period is from August to November. The medicinal value of Zǐ Mò Lì was first recorded in Diannan Bencao (Materia Medica of Yunnan).
Efficacy & Actions
Root: Clears heat and promotes diuresis; detoxifies and activates blood circulation. Some sources also record that it dispels wind-dampness and nourishes Yin. Leaf: Clears heat and detoxifies; dispels wind and drains dampness; activates blood circulation. Flower: Moistens the Lung and cools the blood. Seed (fruit): Clears heat and resolves maculae; promotes diuresis and detoxifies.
Indications
Root: Indicated for heat strangury (painful urinary dribbling due to heat), turbid urine (leukorrhea or turbid discharge), edema, red and white vaginal discharge (leukorrhea with blood), swollen and painful joints, carbuncles and toxic swellings, breast abscess (mastitis), and traumatic injuries. It may also be used for sore throat and hemorrhoids. Leaf: Indicated for carbuncles, sores, and toxic swellings, scabies and tinea, and traumatic injuries. Flower: Indicated for hemoptysis (coughing up blood). Seed (fruit): Indicated for facial spots and moles, and impetigo (pustular skin infection).
Modern Pharmacology
Antitumor effects: Extracts of four-o'clock flower root have shown inhibitory activity against various tumor cell lines. Its tuberous root has anticancer effects. Anti-inflammatory effects: Root extracts of four-o'clock flower have shown inhibitory effects on LPS-induced macrophage inflammation models. Antibacterial effects: Exhibits antibacterial activity. Hypoglycemic effects: Exhibits antidiabetic and blood glucose-lowering effects. Antiviral effects: Exhibits antiviral activity. Antifertility effects: Exhibits antifertility and contraceptive effects. Insecticidal effects: Exhibits insecticidal activity. Hepatoprotective effects: Extracts of four-o'clock flower have shown certain protective effects against ethanol-induced hepatocyte damage.
Ingredients
Root: Contains alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, trigonelline, rotenoid compounds, chrysophanol, physcion, mirabijalone A, boeravinone C, aurantiamide acetate, tricosanoic acid monoglyceride, vanillic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and others. Seed: Contains resins, starch, and others.
Usage & Dosage
Root: For oral administration: decoct in water, 15–30 g (dried product); 30–60 g for fresh product. Adult dosage: 15–30 g. For external use: apply an appropriate amount of fresh root, crushed and applied topically. Leaf: For external use: apply an appropriate amount of fresh leaf, crushed and applied topically, or crush and extract the juice for external application. Seed (fruit): For external use: apply an appropriate amount, remove the outer shell, grind into powder and apply; or decoct in water for washing. Flower: For oral administration: 60–120 g of fresh flower, crush and extract the juice for consumption.
Contraindications
Contraindicated during pregnancy—the root, stem, and seeds of four-o'clock flower all have purgative and abortifacient effects. Use with caution in patients with Spleen-Stomach deficiency cold. Should not be taken in raw powder form. The root and seeds are toxic—accidental ingestion may cause numbness of the lips and skin, pain, dulled tactile sensation, as well as neurotoxic reactions such as headache, dizziness, tinnitus, and hearing loss. Not suitable for consumption during menstruation—as four-o'clock flower has blood-activating effects, consumption during menstruation may cause dysmenorrhea due to uterine cold, excessive menstrual bleeding, prolonged menstrual periods, and other side effects.
Selected Formulas
For tonsillitis (empirical formula) Take fresh Zimoli (Mirabilis jalapa) root, crush and extract the juice. Drop the juice onto the affected area of the throat, twice daily. For cervical erosion (empirical formula) Take 37.5g of fresh white Zimoli root tuber (with rough outer skin removed), 18.8g of Banzhilian (Scutellaria barbata), 18.8g of Banlangen (Isatis root), and 11.3g of Baiying (Solanum lyratum). Decoct in water and drink. For acute mastitis (empirical formula) Take an appropriate amount of fresh Zimoli root, crush and apply externally.
Daily Consumption
As a tea: Four-o'clock flower can be steeped in water and drunk as a tea substitute. Consuming it in summer can help clear heat and reduce internal fire.
Medicinal Parts
The root, leaf, flower, and seed (fruit) are all used medicinally. The root is the main medicinal part.
Selection & Storage
Root: Excavate from October to November, wash clean of sand and mud. Use fresh, or remove all rhizome remnants and fibrous roots, scrape off the rough outer bark, remove all black spots, slice, and immediately dry in the sun or dry over a fire to prevent blackening. Leaf: Harvest when the leaves are lush and before the flowers bloom, wash, and use fresh. Seed (fruit): Harvest when the fruits are mature from September to October, remove impurities, and dry in the sun. Flower: Harvest when in full bloom from July to September, use fresh or dry in the sun. Dried products: Store in a ventilated, dry place, sealed, and protected from moisture.
