Ephedra plant pdf file

The vegetative plant body contains roots, stem and leaves and shows xerophytic characters. This is true with most herbs, but especially with ephedra, since other plant constituents can help buffer or. The fda regulates ephedrine, the synthesized form of ephedra. It has been used in traditional chinese medicine for more than 2,000 years. The species of ephedra are presented here in alphabetical order for three reasons.

Ephedra sinica es mahuang is a wellknown plant due to its widespread therapeutic uses. Herba ephedrae consists of the dried stem or aerial part of ephedra sinica stapf or other ephedrine containing ephedra species ephedraceae 15. According to the arizonasonora desert museum, these are conifers more primitive than pine trees. Native americans made flour and a coffeelike beverage from the seeds. This file contains additional information such as exif metadata which may have been added by the digital camera, scanner, or software program used to create or digitize it.

They often grow on shores or sandy places where they get a lot of sunlight. Who monographs on selected medicinal plants volume 1. The various species of ephedra are widespread in many lands, native to southwestern north americasouthern europenorthern africasouthwest and central asianorthern china and western south america. Ephedra l ephedra or mormontea usda forest service. Ma huang has been used in traditional chinese medicine for 5,000. Ephedra contains several additional alkaloids that undergo analogous reductions to form amphetamine and n,ndimethylamphetamine. The actual quantity may also differ considerably from that stated. The characters of the male plant described here seem to apply to a taxon other than e.

Transcriptome profiling of khat catha edulis and ephedra. Ephedra is considered toxic and should be used with caution. Other herbs and ingredients, including caffeine, may also be added to ephedra supplements. The various species of ephedra are widespread in many lands, native to southwestern north america, southern europe, northern africa, southwest and central asia, northern china and western south america. Ephedrae herba is defined as the stem of ephedra sinica. The plant in this photo is ephedra i dont know which species as there are several, commonly known as mormon tea. Ephedra profile ephedra ephedra sinica, also known as mahuang, is an herbal stimulant drug composed of two active compounds pseudoephedrine and ephedrine that are ingredients in many overthecounter products. Ephedra is one of the phenomenal medicinal plants used in traditional. Ephedra ephedra sinica plant profiler sigmaaldrich. The shrubs were approximately 10 years old at the time of harvest.

Ephedra, genus of 65 species of gymnosperm shrubs of the family ephedraceae. The genus ephedra is one such important group of medicinal plants. Ephedra species are found naturally in many places, like southwestern north america, southern europe, northern africa, southwest and central asia, northern china and western south america ephedra species often grow in the temperate zone. The molecular structure of ephedra resembles that of amphetamine, a stimulant. The ephedra plant has been identified as an excellent source of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, both of which can be chemically reduced to form the widely abused illicit drug methamphetamine. These species grow in dry climate over wide areas of the northern hemisphere including north america,europe, north africa, and south west and central asia. Ephedra products contain ephedra haulm or extracts of ephedra haulm and their ephedra alkaloid content differs widely. Pharmacological effects depend on the phytocomposition of individual ephedra species. The following databases may contain further information on this name.

Mormon tea a widely used medicinal plant arizona daily. Ephedrine is used for temporary relief of shortness of breath. Ephedras are dioecious, with male and female cones occurring on separate plants. Please click on any button to follow a link to that database. Ephedra grass is grown and cultivated in many parts of china and india on governmentowned farms. Ephedra is a plant based substance from the herb ephedra sinica. Pdf the preliminary phytochemical analysis of ephedra alata indicated the presence of cardiac glycosides, reducing sugars, flavonoids. In the four corners area, ephedra viridis almost always grows upright to about 5 feet tall and wide.

The ephedra plant is a perennial evergreen that stands 1 foot high, on average. A new species of ephedra ephedraceae, ephedrales from india article pdf available in phytotaxa 2182. China is the worlds largest exporter of bulk ephedrine. Ephedra compacta attains a height of about 30 cm and e. Most ephedra supplements contain a standard extract of 68% ephedrine alkaloids. This herb is brewed as tea and could be found in the form of pill supplements. Ephedra is a low stalky shrub with jointed green to brown stems and tiny unnoticeable leaves. Recently, it is used to promote weight loss and bodybuilding community. Some dozen or so species occur in the western united states, with three ephedra viridis, ephedra cutleri, ephedra torreyana common in the four corners area. Ephedra is an evolutionally isolated group and is the only genus in the order ephedrales. The aim of this study was to measure the total alkaloids content tac, total phenolics content tpc, and total flavonoids content tfc and determine their relationship in dry herb of ephedra major. Ephedraknown in much of north america as mormon teacomprises.

Green ephedra was traditionally used as a beverage and medicine. Known to the chinese as ma huang, this herb, evergreen in nature, has a history of being used in traditional medicines for over 5,000 years in the communities of india and china, or to brew herbal tea as. Complementary and alternative medicine penn state hershey. Plant symbol epvi alternative names green ephedra, jointfir warning. Descriptions and articles about the ephedra, scientifically known as ephedra alata in the encyclopedia of life. Ephedra products are currently sold overthecounter in various forms such as tablets and capsules. In the western hemisphere, ephedra occurs in desert areas in the southwestern united states, in parts of mexico, and in a wide area in south america. Mar 18, 2020 hi kelly, as long as you give full sun and a welldrained soil you can grow true mahuang in texas, the humidity doesnt matter.

True ephedra sinica is fairly short, flowering to about 18 inches. Native americans and mormon pioneers drank a tea brewed from an ephedra, called mormon tea. In the united states, ephedrine alkaloids are derived from the ephedra sinica, or ma huang plant. Ephedra is an evergreen shrublike plant native to central asia, and mongolia. Ephedra also referred to as ma huang is a plant material that contains numerous alkaloids, including lephedrine and dpseudoephedrine. Ephedra viridis coville mormon tea subordinate taxa. The cones of ephedra viridis do not appear every year, and on the years that they do they are only present for about a 2 week period sometime between april and june. Content of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine in three species of. A utah flora and flora of the four corners region classify ephedra cutleri as a variety of ephedra viridis, a plant that grows to just a foot or two tall and is rhizomatous, spreading in 10 foot diameter circles. Ephedra the ephedra family, ephedraceae, has but one genus, ephedra. Ephedra is a genus of nonflowering seed plants belong. Ephedra is a genus of gymnosperm shrubs, the only genus in its family, ephedraceae, and order, ephedrales.

The plant is a common site as you travel deep into the canyon and can be found growing along the trails as well as in arbitrary locations about the various outcrops in the neverending maze of rock. Ephedra is a shrub that is native to pakistan, china, and northwestern india. Second, it appears that the species occurring in north america belong to at least three wholly different groups within the genus, but this is not. Green ephedra mormon tea is a dioecious, scraggly shrub rarely more than 60 cm to 150 cm high.

Ephedrine can be produced by chemical synthesis and in its pure form. Supplements containing ephedra extracts are a popular herbal stimulant. Meaning, reproduction and economic importance gnetales. Ephedrine is one of the most commonly used noncatecholamine sympathomimetic drugs in the perioperative period. Herba ephedrae consists of the dried stem or aerial part of ephedra sinica stapf or other ephedrinecontaining ephedra species ephedraceae 15. Since the cones are only present for a limited time, the plant has a very small window of opportunity for pollination to occur. When it comes to ephedra, the alkaloids of ephedrine in the plant matter are in its natural free base form, and is soluble in most solvents. Ephedra notes ephedra history herba ephedrae consists of.

Purpose of assessment the federal office of consumer protection and food safety bvl, in collaboration with the als working party on dietary foods, nutrition and classification issues, has compiled a hit list of 10 substances, the consumption of which may pose a health risk. The naked seeds are the features, which places ephedra with the classical group, the gymnosperms. Ephedra simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Ebert, in pharmacology and physiology for anesthesia second edition, 2019. Ephedra history herba ephedrae consists of the dried stem or aerial part of ephedra sinica, or other ephedrinecontaining species. Aug 05, 2019 chemical investigations of ephedra in the early 20th century resulted in the isolation of the alkaloids ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, which were identified as the major pharmacologically active compounds in the aboveground portions of the plant. Ephedra viridis is the most common ephedra in our area, but any one of the three. Preparation of the right microsite is particularly important for a plant of this nature, which must maintain a dry, warm crown during the growing season lest the crown begin to rot.

It may be combined with herbs containing caffeine such as guarana or with other substances in these supplements. The risk assessment of the plants was carried out on the basis of the guidance on safety. The ephedra sinica plants used in this study were germinated from seeds acquired from. The alkaloids ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are active constituents of e. Riedl notes that ephedra lomatolepis has seed cones light brown and dry when mature, with bracts free as in e. Seasonal variation of alkaloids contained in ephedra sinica herba in inner mongolia. The plant, which thrives in sunny, dry climates, is also found in the southwestern united states. People have used ephedra for centuries in china for colds, fever, flu, headaches, asthma, nasal congestion, and wheezing. Ephedra, botanically known as ephedra sinica, is a popular plant with medicinal properties and the use is widely known all over the world. Ephedra nevadensis is an american species of ephedra that can be found growing in many of the dry areas of the country, including the grand canyon.

The microsporophylls are similar to the stamens of the flowering plant. Ephedras role as a precursor in the clandestine manufacture. Ephedras unique and attractive evergreen or gray foliage makes it a desirable species for environmental plantings. Pdf a new species of ephedra ephedraceae, ephedrales. It is also used in preparation of herbal teas keeler 1989. Scientific assessment of ephedra species ephedra spp. The ephedra alkaloids possess 2 adjacent chiral atoms that could generate 4 possible isomers for. Some asian species have been used as a source of the stimulant ephedrine, and many are important in herbal medicine. Pdf a new species of ephedra ephedraceae, ephedrales from. Growth of true mahuang is quite slow, requiring at least 5 years to maturity, and even then not fullsized. Mormon tea genus ephedra is a woody shrub that grows two to five feet high and wide.

Gray ephedra is usually grazed heavily and seems to. Unlike using the isolated or synthesized ephedrine, using the whole plant in alternative medicine is much more effective and rarely gives rise to serious sideeffects. Status please consult the plants web site and your state department of natural resources for this plant s current status, such as, state noxious status and wetland indicator values. Ephedra sinica use of dry plant matter the ethnobotanical. The spread of a single plant can eventually be 2 or more feet, as the plant does send out runners. Ephedra californica and ephedra viridis contain pseudoephedrine, but no ephedrine adams jr. This ephedra extract has been a part of traditional chinese medicine for over 2,000 years in fact, ephedra is one of the oldest plants to be used medicinally by early humans. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. Ephedra species and the plant is browsed by deer, bison, and antelope. Ephedra and ephedrine complementary and alternative.

We know that ingestion of ephedra alkaloidcontaining ephedra haulm represents a risk from. Ephedrine is a natural product of the ephedra plant ephedra sinica, and is a mixedacting, noncatecholamine sympathomimetic with both direct and indirect stimulating effects on. How to extract ephedrine from the ma huang plant quora. The plant list does not attempt to include all infraspecific taxa. Ephedra viridis coville show all show tabs mormon tea general information. Ephedra is a medicinal preparation from the plant ephedra sinica.

Hi kelly, as long as you give full sun and a welldrained soil you can grow true mahuang in texas, the humidity doesnt matter. Fda banned the sale of ephedracontaining supplements on april 12, 2004. Their closest relative is the bizarre welwitschia spp. In august, the flowers bear poisonous, fleshy, red cones resembling berries. One famous species, ephedra sinica, is the source for the chinese supplement ma huang. Nearly leafless, the plant has slender, cylindrical, yellowgreen branches and underground runners. Figure 1 the gymnosperm ephedra sinica, after drawings by h riedl. The aim of this study was to measure the total alkaloids. Ephedra is used in many overthecounter weight loss products.

Ephedra herb uses alternative nature online herbal. California ephedra plant provided various benefits for. The mountain quail eats the seeds of ephedra species and the plant is browsed by deer, bison, and antelope. This is true with most herbs, but especially with ephedra, since other plant constituents can help buffer or improve the actions of the main constituents.

Preparation of the right microsite is particularly important for a plant of this nature, which must maintain a dry, warm crown. Ephedra commonly known as joint pine, joint fir, mormon tea or brigham tea is the only genus in family ephedraceae and order ephedrales. First, no modern monographic treatment has been written for all species of the genus since that of o. Mormon tea ephedra mention of our midjune desert road trip on instagram this morning has compelled me to share a little nugget of knowledge that i gleaned on the trip.

Oct 11, 2015 mormon tea genus ephedra is a woody shrub that grows two to five feet high and wide. Plants of the ephedra family the ephedras produce naked seeds like the pines, but they form on a colored, cuplike structure called a perianth. Ephedra major host is an accepted name this name is the accepted name of a species in the genus ephedra family ephedraceae. Ephedra is an evolutionally isolated group and is the only genus in the order ephedrales division gnetophyta. Mahuang ephedra sinica potted seedling, organic strictly. Several additional species belonging to the genus ephedra have traditionally been used for a variety of medicinal purposes, and are a possible candidate for the soma plant of indoiranian religion. The medicinal significance of ephedra is based on the sympathomimetic properties of ephedrine e alkaloids. Ephedra is a plantbased substance from the herb ephedra sinica. Shruby plant body usually remains less than two metres in height in most of the species. Ephedra ephedra californicaover 50 species of ephedra, or joint fir, can be found growing all around the world. Thus it superficially appears that these plants are an evolutionary link between the conifers and the true flowering plants. How can i extract ephedrine from the ma huang plant. Scientifically called ephedra sinica, it is a plant which has been used for its medicinal purposes for more than 2000 years.

It is the source of ephedrine alkaloids and has an extremely long history of use in china. So far swip has found out that the best way to extract the alkaloids from the plat matter is either of the following. It is also used by some athletes who believe it can improve their performance. Jun 15, 2019 this article is about the genus ephedra. Herbal lore traces the use of ephedra back 5,000 years to china, where the stem of the almost leafless shrub known by its chinese handle ma huang was used to treat colds, asthma and hay fever.