16珍珠草

珍珠草

Phyllanthus urinaria Linn

为大戟科植物叶下珠 Phyllanthus urinaria L．的干燥全草或带根
全草。主产广东、广西、四川等地，安徽、江苏、浙江、江西、福建、
贵州、云南等地亦有分布。 夏、秋二季采集地上部分或带根全草，洗净
泥土，除去杂质，鲜用捣汁或捣敷。或晒干，切段，生用。具平肝清
热、利水解毒、渗湿、明目的功效

Phyllanthus urinaria is a popular traditional herbal remedy, commonly
used in the areas where it is native and also sold on the Internet. There have
been many investigations into its medicinal virtues and several active
compounds have been found including lignans, ellagitannins, terpenoids,
flavonoids, phenolic compounds and waxes[

As in many species of Phyllanthus, P. urinaria is said to possess
medicinal properties (Ridley, 1897, 1906; Burkill and Haniff, 1930). For
example, Burkill (1935) claimed that a little juice of P. urinaria on a bit of cloth
may be used to clean a child's tongue, or the juice of a few leaves in coconut
milk may be given to stimulate a child's appetite. Further, extracts taken
internally are good at stimulating the kidneys. Ridley (1897) reported that the
Malays used P. urinaria and P. niruri vicariously, internally for diarrhoea,
kidney ailments, gonorrhoea, and syphilis; as an emmenagogue, and after
miscarriage and childbirth, or young leaves for coughs, especially in children.
Recent studies by Nor Azizah (2002) demonstrated an inhibitory effect of
extracts of Phyllanthus spp., including P. urinaria, on the formation and
subsequent aggregation of oxalate crystals in kidneys, perhaps supporting the
earlier belief among Malays that P. urinaria and P. niruri can be used against
kidney ailments. Pounded leaves and stems of P. urinaria and P. niruri were
applied to the head for vertigo after a child's birth in British Malaya (Burkill and
Haniff, 1930). Chinese herbalists stock Phyllanthus plants in the Malay
Peninsula.