Fructus Rosae Laevigatae


Latin Name:
 Fructus Rosae Laevigatae 
Common Name: Cherokee rose fruit  Dried cherokee rose fruits
Scientific Name: Rosa laevigata Michx.
Chinese Name: 金櫻子

Pinyin Name: jin ying zi
The dried ripe fruit of Rosa laevigata Michx., an evergreen climbing shrub plant of family Rosaceae.1
Cherokee rose fruit is mainly distributed in Guangdong, Sichuan, Yunnan, Hubei and Guizhou provinces of China.1
Cherokee rose fruit is sour and astringent in flavor, neutral in nature, and mainly manifests its therapeutic actions in the kidney, bladder and large intestine meridians.1
Cherokee rose fruit contains citric acid, malic acid, tannin, resin, vitamin C, fructose and sucrose. Additionally, the content of saponin is about 17%.2

Cherokee rose fruit astringes seminal and intestinal discharges, arrest excess urination and bowel movements.1

 
•For problems due to spleen deficiency, such as chronic diarrhea and dysentery, cherokee rose fruit can be used alone, or in combination with spleen invigorating and qi replenishing herbs, like pilose asiabell root, largehead atractylodes rhizome and Chinese yam, arresting excess bowel movements and restoring normal defecation. 
   
In addition, cherokee rose fruit is used to treat profuse uterine bleeding, and prolapse of the rectum and uterus. 
 
1. Lipid-lowering Effects 

Animal studies 
Fructus Rosae Laevigatae was shown to reduce serum cholesterol and β-lipoprotein level in rabbits and lower their degree of atherosclerosis.5 

2. Inhibitory Effects on Smooth Muscle Contraction 

Animal studies 
A water extract of Fructus Rosae Laevigatae was shown to reduce the urination frequency in rats, prolong the urination interval and increase the urine volume for each urination episode. In other experiments, it was reported that Fructus Rosae Laevigatae could antagonize convulsive contractions of isolated smooth bladder muscles of rats as well as antagonize the contractive response of a rabbit's aorta caused by nor-adrenaline. It was also shown to inhibit the autonomic contractions of isolated jejunums (a part of the small intestine) in rabbits that were pretreated with acetylcholine and barium chloride.

3. Relieve Diarrhea 

Animal studies 
Rats with diarrhea induced by administration of Rheum palmatum solution were given by gavage a Fructus Rosae Laevigatae water decoction. The herb was stir-fried with bran and processed with honey before the preparation of the decoction. Results showed that the herb had good effects in relieving diarrhea.
 

For decoction, the suggested does of Cherokee rose fruit is 6-12g.1
Not suitable for individuals with excessive heat signs, such as fever, thirst, mouth sores, gum swelling, constipation, urinary difficulty and a red tongue.
  1. Lui Daiquan, ed. Chinese Medicine. Shanghai Scientific and Technical Publishers, 2000-6. 
  2. Li Jiashi, ed. Chinese Medicine Identification. Shanghai Scientific and Technical Publishers, 2000-6. 
  3. Wu Yiluo. Bencao Congxin (New Compilation of Materia Medica), 1757AD. 
  4. Li Shizhen, Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica) 1578AD. 
  5. Jiangsu Modern Medicine College, ed. Pharmacopoeia of Chinese medicine, Volume II. Shanghai Scientific and Technical Publishers 1986?2698.* 
  6. Nan Yunshen & Zhang Lihua, et al. Study of processing of Fructus Rosae. Chinese Herbal Medicine 1995, 18(6): 293.* 
  7. Quoted in "Zhou JG ed. Clinical application and pharmacology of Chinese Medicine. Huaxia Publishing Company Ltd, 1998: 527-528" Tianjin Scientific Technology Publishing, 1999: 1248-1250"
 

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