Fructus Gardeniae

Resource: Fruit of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis var.radicans(Thunb.)Makino,family Rubiaceae.
Characteristic: Fruit elliptical,1.5-3.5 cm long,red-yellow,with six winged longitudinal angularities;remnant of sepal at the top;base acuminate and thin,with remnant of fruit stalk.Three pseudo-membranes seen when cut open.Seeds flat-ovate,depp red,numerous and gathering into masses.Bitter in taste,cold in nature,and attributive to liver,lung,stomach and triple-jiao channels.
Pharmacodynamics: 1.Purge sthenic fire to relieve vexation:For febrile diseases with irritability,insomnia,and even high fever,coma and delirium. 2.Clear away heat and promote diuresis:For jaundice and stranguria of dampness-heat type. 3.Clear away heat and toxic materials:For skin infection of intense heat type,erysipelas,burn and conjunctivitis. 4.Cool the blood and stop bleeding:For heat-syndrome with hematemesis,hemoptysis,epistaxis,hematuria,hemafecia,metrorrhagia,etc. 5.Remove blood stasis and alleviate pain:For trauma with local swelling and pain(external use).
Pharmacological: 1.The active components such as crocin,crocetin,genipin,or alcoholic extract protect the liver from carbon tetrachloride and increase biliary secretion.Oral use of its decoction in duce gallbaladder contraction. 2.Oral or intraperitoneal use of its decoction and alcoholic extract exerts a sustained hypotensive effect in anaesthetized and un-anaesthetized animals. 3.Hemostatic.
Usage: Decoction:3-9g.External use:Appropriate amount.