Ephedra

The plants of the kind Ephedra are small shrubs almost always dioïques, very ramified, with the articulated stems. The flowers are small, yellow greenish, the ovules are locked up in an envelope comparable to an imperfect ovary.

If one can meet many species of the kind Ephedra in North America, only one species is notable in France and in Suisse, it is the Raisin of sea ( Ephedra distachya ) named thus because of the edible red fleshy scales which recover seeds. This squat shrub meets in the sandy coastal areas of the west and the south of France.

Properties

This botanical kind is one of rare among the Gymnospermes to produce Alcaloïde S: éphédrine, Pseudoéphédrine, Noréphédrine and Adrenalin.

The species richest in éphédrine are Ephedra sinica and Ephedra nebrodensis .

Use

The Chinese Médecine has used the properties Stimulant are and bronchodilatatrices of Ephedra sinica (My-Huang) for several millenia: the plant belongs to the 365 remedies of the Shen nung PEN Ts' ao king . The éphédrine stimulates the central Nervous system, especially used like relieving congestion nasal and in treatment of the Asthme. Taken by a sportsman apart from therapeutic indications, the éphédrine is regarded as doping substance.

Species

  • Ephedra antisyphilitica Berl. ex A.C. Mey.
  • Ephedra aspera Engelm. ex S. Wats.
  • Ephedra californica S. Wats.
  • Ephedra coryi E.L. Reed
  • Ephedra cutleri Peebles
  • Ephedra distachya L.
  • Ephedra equisetina Bunge
  • Ephedra fasciculata A. Nels.
  • Ephedra foliata Wood
  • Ephedra funerea Coville & Morton
  • Ephedra fragilis Desf.
  • Ephedra gerardiana Wallich ex Stapf
  • Ephedra nevadensis S. Wats.
  • Ephedra pedunculata Engelm. ex S. Wats.
  • Ephedra sinica
  • Ephedra torreyana S. Wats.
  • Ephedra trifurca Torr. ex S. Wats.
  • Ephedra viridis Coville
  • Ephedra X arenicola Cutler
  • Ephedra X intermixta Cutler

See too

  • éphédrine

External bonds

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