Lindera aggregata is a plant species belonging to the Lindera

Lindera

Lindera is a genus of about 80-100 species of flowering plants in the family Lauraceae, mostly native to eastern Asia but with three species in eastern North America. The species are shrubs and small trees; common names include Spicewood, Spicebush, and Benjamin Bush.-Overview:They are dioecious,...

genus.

Other names

Engl.: evergreen lindera, Japanese evergreen spicebush.

TCM: trad.烏樂, simpl. 乌药 or 乌乐, pinyin : wūyào.

Bot. syn.: Benzoin strychnifolium (Sieb. & Zucc.) Kuntze, Daphnidium strychnifolium Sieb. & Zucc., Laurus aggregata Sims, Lindera eberhardtii Lecomte, Lindera strychnifolia (Sieb. & Zucc.) Fern.

Use

乌药, radix lindera, is present in the Kampo herb list

Kampo herb list

Kampō medicine is the Japanese study and adaptation of Traditional Chinese medicine. In 1967, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare approved 4 kampo medicines for reimbursement under the National Health Insurance program. In 1976, 82 kampo medicines were approved by the Ministry...

. It is an ingredient in the traditional Chinese medicine pill Chaihu Shugan Wan

Chaihu Shugan Wan

Chaihu Shugan Wan is a blackish-brown honeyed pill used in Traditional Chinese medicine to "disperse stagnated liver-qi, to activate the flow of qi, to relieve distension and pain." It is used in cases where there is "stagnation of liver qi, distension of chest and hypochondria, indigestion, and...

 against "stagnation of liver qi, distension of chest and hypochondria, indigestion, and acid eructation", and in the Lindera Combination Teapills (simpl. 天台乌药丸, trad. 天臺烏藥丸, pinyin : tiāntái wūyào wán), a Chinese classic herbal formula

Chinese classic herbal formula

Chinese classic herbal formulas are a form of Chinese herbology, where herbs are combined for greater efficiency, compared to individual herbs. They are the basic herbal formulas that students of Traditional Chinese medicine learn...

.

Biochemistry

An A type proanthocyanidin

A type proanthocyanidin

A type proanthocyanidins are a specific type of proanthocyanidin, which are a class of flavanoid. Proanthocyanidins fall under a wide range of names in the nutritional and scientific vernacular, including oligomeric proanthocyanidins, flavanoids, polyphenols, condensed tannins, and OPCs....

 trimer (epicatechin-(4β→8,2β→O→7)-entcatechin-(4β-8)-catechin) can be found in Lindera aggregata. This compound shows cytoprotective action against ethanol-induced gastric injury.

Four alkaloids (boldine

Boldine

Boldine is an alkaloid that can be found in the boldo tree and in Lindera aggregata....

, norboldine, reticuline

Reticuline

Reticuline is a chemical compound that can be found in Lindera aggregata. It is also one of the alkaloids found in opium.-Metabolism:3'-hydroxy-N-methyl--coclaurine 4'-O-methyltransferase uses S-adenosyl methionine and 3'-hydroxy-N-methyl--coclaurine to produce S-adenosylhomocysteine and...

 and linderegatine) can also be found in L. aggregata.