Siberian Cocklebur Fruit, Fruit of Siberian Cockleblur
Xanthii Fructus, Fructus Xanthii
Cang Er Zi

About

Properties in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Pungent; bitter; warm; toxic

Part(s) used

Fruit

Potential toxicity/side effects

Slightly toxic

Functions/effects it is traditionally believed to have

To dispel wind and damp, and to relieve nasal obstruction.

Conditions/symptoms it is traditionally used to treat

1. lowering blood sugar, with similar mechanism as phenethyl biguanide ( dbi ). 2. its chief poisonous component is rhamnose. the toxic effects in rats, guinea-pigs and rabbits by different routes of administration are similar. ld50 is 0.93g/kg in mice.