Acanthus ilicifolius L.

Acanthus ilicifolius L.

Latin Name: Acanthus ilicifolius L.; Acanthaceae

Synonym Name: Acanthus doloarin Blanco; Acanthus ilicifolius subsp. orientalis Bremek.; Acanthus ilicifolius var. subinteger Nees; Acanthus neoguineensis Engl.; Dilivaria ilicifolia (L.) Juss.

English Name: Spiny Bears Breech, Hollyleaf Acanthus, Holly-leaved Acanthus

Description: Shrubs to 2 m tall, erect. Stems stout, scarcely branched, glabrous, often with stipulelike spines at nodes. Petiole 3-6 mm, thick, glabrous; leaf blade oblong to oblong-lanceolate, 6-14 × 2-5 cm, glabrous, secondary veins 5-7 on each side of midvein, base cuneate, margin pinnatifid and with few large spines, serrate, or subentire, apex truncate. Spikes terminal, to 16.5 cm; bracts broadly ovate, 7-8 mm, caducous; bracteoles ovate, ca. 5 mm, leathery. Calyx posterior and anterior lobes 1-1.3 cm, margin scarious and sometimes crispate, apex emarginate; lateral lobes ovate, ca. 1 cm, margin entire. Corolla white [bluish to pinkish], 3-4 cm; tube ca. 6 mm; lip obovate, 2.2-3 cm, thinly leathery, outside with soft trichomes, apex 3-cleft. Stamens equal; filaments ca. 1.5 cm; anther theca with a line of trichomes on both sides of suture. Style ca. 2.2 cm. Capsule 2.5-3 cm. Seeds light yellow, reniform. Fl. Feb-Mar, fr. Aug-Sep. 2n = 44, 48.

Distribution: Growing on shores or tidal coasts; is one of the major mangrove species. Distributed in Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan and Guangxi. The medicinal materials are mainly produced in Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Guizhou, South Tibet...

Part Used: Medical part: roots or branches and leaves. Chinese name: Laoshule.

Harvest & Processing: Harvested throughout the year. Well washed, cut off and sun-dried.

Chemistry: Roots contain octacosyl alcol and stigmasterol. Leaves contain steroles compounds: sitosterol, stigmast-7-en-3β-ol; terpenold compand: α-amyrin, β-amyrin, lupeol, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid; methylapigenin-7-O-β-D-glucuronopyranoside and apigenin-7-O-glucuronide…

Pharmacology: Anti-leishmania.

Properties & Actions: Taste little bitter, cool in nature. Clearing heat-toxin, dissipating stasis for suppressing pains, reducing phlegm and removing dampness through dieresis.

Indications & Usage: Used for mumps and scrofula, splenohepatomegalia, gastralgia, psoatic strain, cough with congestion, jaundice, whitish and turbid urine. Oral administration: decocting, 30-60g, or stewed with meat. External application: appropriate amount, in powder or fresh products are smashed.

Examples:

 1. Lymphoid tuberculosis, adenolymphitis: ① (spiny bears breech) root 30-60g. Stew with pig bone and eat. Or calcine and grind into powder, prepare with peanut oil and smear externally. ② Spiny Bears Breech 30g, common selfheal and weeping forsythia, 15g each. Decoct in water for oral dose.

2. Hepatitis (with or without jaundice): Whole herb of Spiny Bears Breech 60g, hypericum japonicum thunb. 9g, onehorn ploughpoint 12g, drooping stringbush flower 9g, maolaohu (shanangelica dahurica) 60g. Decoct in water for oral dose.

3. Splenohepatomegalia: Spiny Bears Breech 30g, beautiful phyllodium 12g, drooping stringbush flower 18g. Decoct in water for oral dose.

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