Distribution and pharmacological effects of Japanese honeysuckle stem, an evergreen twining shrub: can it lower blood pressure?

Japanese honeysuckle stemis also known as Da Bi Li, Shui Yang Teng, and Qian Jin Teng. It is a perennial semi-evergreen twining shrub with a flowering period from May to July. The fruiting period is from July to October. So,where is Japanese honeysuckle stem distributed? What pharmacological effects does it have? Can it lower blood pressure?

1. Where is Japanese honeysuckle stem distributed?

Japanese honeysuckle stem is distributed in Liaoning, Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Jiangxi, Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Shaanxi, Gansu, and other places. The surface is brownish red or dark brown, with fine longitudinal striations; old branches are smooth, while young branches have pale yellow fuzz; the outer bark easily peels off to reveal a grayish white inner bark. It is hard and brittle, easy to break, with a yellow-white fracture and a hollow center. The odor is faint; old branches taste slightly bitter, while young branches taste bland. Those with a brownish red surface and tender texture are considered the best.

2. What pharmacological effects does it have? Can it lower blood pressure?

1. Anti-inflammatory effect: Japanese honeysuckle stem has significant anti-inflammatory activity, and intramuscular injection can significantly inhibit paw swelling and pleural exudation in rats. Oral administration of luteolin can cause thymus atrophy in young mice, indicating that it can enhance adrenal cortical function, which is related to its anti-inflammatory effect.

2. Anti-allergic effect: Japanese honeysuckle stem has a significant inhibitory effect on type I allergic reactions. The mechanism of its anti-allergic effect is related to its ability to inhibit the release of allergic mediators, competitively antagonize the spasmodic effect of SRS-A and the action of histamine, and directly relieve smooth muscle spasms.

3. Blood pressure-lowering effect: Japanese honeysuckle stem at low concentrations can inhibit the isolated heart, while at high concentrations it can excite the guinea pig heart and accelerate heart rate. Oral administration or intravenous injection has a significant blood pressure-lowering effect in anesthetized cats; large doses can lower blood pressure to shock levels, and even larger doses can cause death in cats due to shock.

4. Other effects: Luteolin has a antispasmodic effect on isolated rabbit small intestine, guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle, and ileum. Japanese honeysuckle stem has antibacterial, antitussive, expectorant, and antiasthmatic effects, has an antispasmodic effect on isolated rabbit small intestine, and has a mild diuretic effect that can increase sodium excretion.