Ilex asprella (Gangmei)

Distribution:
Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Jiangxi provinces of China and in hill slopes of whole island of Taiwan.

Properties (characteristics):
Bitter, slightly sweet, cold.
 
Channels meridians) entered:
Liver, kidney.
 
Actions & Indications:
Influenza with fever, thirty, swollen throat, Pnuemonia, suppurative Lung disease, cough due to deficiency, chronic consumption type of infection, injuries from impact, Gout, arthritis, Gonorrhea, boils.

Medical Function:
Antibiotic effect: in vitro studies show that it possesses inhibiting effect on Staphylococcus aureus and Hemolytic streptococcus and some inhibiting effect on β-Hemolytic streptococcus.
Effect on coronary blood flow: injecting with gang mei injectiones (water solution that has been treated with alcohol and NaHSO3) into in vitro heart of guinea pigs showed that the coronary blood flow increase and the contraction of the heart muscle improved. One minute after injection,  the flow amount increased 146%, and contraction of the heart muscle increase 103%.
Protective effect on myocardial ischemia: it can protect myocardial ischemia of rabbits caused by posterior pituitary. It possesses certain therapeutic value on coronary diseases and angina.
 
Chemical Ingredients:
The roots contain triterpenoid saponins, coumarin and small amount of alkaloid. The leaves contain 0.03% of ursolic acid,(C3OH48O3.)
 
Dosage per day:
10 to 30 g. Concentrated extract: 0.5 t 2 g.