Chinese Drugs of Plant Origin

Abstract

Alangium chinense (Lour.) Harms. (Alangiaceae) is a medicinal herb found in China. Its leaves, stems, and roots, especially the fibrous roots, are used in folk medicine as an analgesic, antirheumatic, and muscle relaxant. A. chinense is not officially listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Some other Alangium species are also used in folk medicine for the same indications. They are A. platanifolium, A. salviifolium, A. kurzii, A. handelii, and A. chinense var. panciflorum. Among them, A. chinense and A. platanifolium are the species most often used in folk medicine.