Aralia high or Manchurian (lat. Aralia elata) is a low medicinal plant of the Araliaceae family. It has two life forms - tree and shrub. In Russia, this plant is otherwise called the devil or thorn tree.
In some biological reference books, the Manchurian aralia is distinguished as a separate species. The genus name "aralia" is of Native American origin (it was coined by the Indian tribes).
Biological Description
Aralia can reach a height of 3 to 7 meters. This is a deciduous plant with a straight, slightly branched trunk, covered with dark brown bark (gray in young trees), on which short and thick sharp spikes are located. The latter are also present on the petioles of the leaves. The diameter of the trunk of a tree can reach 20 cm. The shrub form is much less common.
This plant has panicle inflorescences, which are usually located at the top of the trunk. The ovary consists of 5 nests. The flowers are small, yellowish-white, with petals oblong-ovate andrelatively long non-fused stamens.
The leaves of high aralia are very large (from 40 to 80 cm), doubly pinnate (less often three times), arranged horizontally on long (up to 20 cm) petioles, stipules are absent. Each leaf blade consists of 2-4 opposite lobes, numbering from 3 to 13 leaflets with serrated edges. Leaf arrangement - next, spiral.
Aralia high blooms in August, and fruiting occurs in September. The fruits are spherical in shape and usually contain 5 seeds, which are flattened laterally. Reproduction occurs through seeds or root offspring. The color of ripe fruits is dark purple or black-blue.
The root system is pivotal (the main root is well expressed), branched. In addition to the usual adventitious roots, there are rhizomes. The roots are shallow, moving away from the trunk in a radial direction.
In the photo, high aralia looks like a very beautiful tree with a kind of sprawling crown up to 3 meters in diameter, shaped like a fern or a palm tree. The foliage of the crown is bright green and very dense.
The life expectancy of a high aralia is 25 years, of which 7-8 fall on fruiting. Flowering begins in the 5th year of plant development.
Habitat Halo
Aralia high is common in the following geographical areasregions:
- Japan;
- China;
- Far East;
- Peninsula Korea;
- Primorsky Territory;
- Kuril Islands;
- Sakhalin.
Under natural conditions, aralia grows mainly in the undergrowth of mixed forests, in fern fir forests or bamboo stone birch forests. Prefers well-lit places, can grow both singly and in groups.
Position in systematics
In the classification system of plants, Aralia high (Manchurian) occupies the following systematic position:
- Kingdom - plants.
- Department - angiosperms.
- Class - dicots.
- Family - Araliaceae.
- Genus and species - Aralia high.
In addition to this plant, the Aralia genus includes 34 more species, among which there are trees, shrubs and perennial grasses. The shrub form of Manchurian Aralia is a plant with several vertical trunks.
Chemical composition
Aralia high is a plant with a high content of biologically active substances, which determines its pharmacological value. The following chemical compounds were found in it:
- alkaloids;
- flavonoids;
- coumarins;
- saponins;
- cardenolides;
- steroids (sitosterol, stigmasterol);
- essential oil;
- triterpenoids;
- aliphatic hydrocarbons and their esters;
- cerebrosides;
- organicacids;
- fatty oil;
- vitamins (B, C);
- higher fatty acids.
The main medically valuable component is triterpenoids (triterpene glycosides), which are derivatives of oleanolic acid. Aralia roots contain many compounds of this group, including:
- 4 types of aralosides (A, B, C in the core and G in the root bark);
- acandoside D;
- araloside A methyl ester;
- 6 varieties of oleanosides (B, D, F, G, H, I);
- 2 oleanolic acid glucopyranoside;
- silphoside A;
- narcissiflorin.
The content of aralosides in the roots is 4.5-9.4%, in the trunk - 2.8-4.7%, and in the bark - 4.8-7.5%. Triterpene glycosides are also present in fruits and leaves. The roots contain not only biologically active compounds, but also a large amount of minerals.
Decorative qualities and cultivation features
Aralia high is an ornamental tree and shrub that is actively used in landscape design. Beautiful hedges are obtained from this plant; both group and single planting are used in parks. On a private plot, it can be grown for decorative purposes or for medicinal raw materials.
Aralia high has high frost resistance (it tolerates temperature well - 45 ° C). However, in severe winter conditions, annual shoots may suffer. This plant is shade-tolerant and undemanding to soils, but it is betterdevelops on fertile soil in good light and moderate humidity. However, in regions with very hot summers, it is better not to plant aralia on a site located in the open sun. In this case, it is desirable that a certain part of the day the plant is in the light, and the rest of the time in the shade.
Important advantages of growing Manchurian aralia as an ornamental plant are very fast growth (up to 25 cm per year) and undemanding care. The main labor activities are carried out during planting and reproduction.
Planting and care
Before planting high aralia, it is necessary to carefully dig the soil to a depth of 30 cm, and leave to ventilate. Before the event itself, you can moisten the soil if it is too dry, and immediately apply fertilizer to it.
For a seedling, you will need a hole 40 cm deep and 80 cm in diameter, where prepared soil is poured with a 15-cm layer. The plant placed on the bottom must carefully spread the roots, water and sprinkle with soil to the top of the pit. As an additional measure, the soil can be mulched immediately after planting.
Plant care measures come down to periodic loosening of the soil, weed removal and top dressing. Due to the superficial location of the roots, it is absolutely impossible to dig. To give the plant a neater look, you can carry out sanitary pruning of branches in the spring.
The most effective method of plant propagation is cuttings, which are usually formed near the trunk and grow up to 25 cm during the summer period.use as seedlings, which are placed in holes 6 - 10 cm deep. For planting, you need to choose specimens with a well-developed root system.
Propagation by seeds is a more labor-intensive and time-consuming event, since they germinate no earlier than three years after planting.
Application
Among ornamental trees and shrubs, high aralia occupies a special place as a plant with valuable medicinal properties. It is used both in folk and traditional medicine. As a medicinal raw material, various vegetative parts of the plant (roots, bark, leaves) are harvested, each of which has its own pharmacological value. Fruits and buds are also used in folk medicine.
Tinctures, decoctions and medicinal preparations are prepared from high aralia. In addition, the leaves of this plant can be eaten raw and cooked.
Procurement of raw materials
Aralia roots are harvested either in the spring (before the foliage blooms) or in September. They are dug in the direction from the trunk to the periphery. Only specimens with a diameter of 1 to 3 cm are suitable as raw materials. Only plants over 5 years old are acceptable for harvesting.
After digging, the roots are thoroughly cleaned of the earth and roots with a blackened central part, and then dried. The latter can be done in several ways:
- dryer (temperature 60oC);
- well ventilated room;
- open air (dry weather only).
The bark and leaves should only be collected in dry weather duringflowering time or after. Drying of the material should be carried out at a temperature of 50 to 55 degrees.
Healing properties and contraindications of Aralia high
Aralia has many he alth benefits, including:
- anti-inflammatory;
- tonic;
- diuretic;
- sugar-reducing;
- hypotensive;
- tonic;
- breath stimulation;
- cardiotonic effect.
Galeon preparations are made from this plant, which have a strong stimulating effect on the central nervous system. Aralia tinctures and decoctions are widely known. Root extract lowers sugar levels in people with diabetes. A tincture of the bark is used for chronic fatigue syndrome.
The use of medicines based on high aralia has a number of contraindications, which include hyperkenesis, pregnancy and breastfeeding, hysteria, age up to 10 years, epilepsy, insomnia. In all other cases, subject to the dosages, the plant is safe. In order to avoid sleep disturbances, the use of aralia in the evening is not recommended.
Tinctures
Tinctures and decoctions are made from the roots of the plant. To prepare the tincture, pour 20 grams of crushed material with 70% alcohol in a volume of 100 ml. This mixture should be infused for 15 days in a warm, dark place, shaking occasionally. The result should be an amber solution with a pleasant taste and smell.
The use of aralia tincture is advisable for the following pathologies:
- recent traumatic brain injury;
- depression;
- impotence;
- mental and physical overwork;
- recent flu;
- post-influenza arachnoedititis;
- low blood pressure (hypotension);
- asthenia.
This remedy stimulates the central nervous system well.
Tincture drink 30-40 drops with meals 2-3 times a day for two to three weeks. If the body is prone to high blood pressure, the dosage should not exceed 20 drops, and the duration of treatment should be 2 weeks.
Decoctions
Root decoction is useful for disorders such as:
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- cold;
- diabetes;
- inflammation of the mouth;
- kidney disease;
- enuresis.
This tool also has a tonic effect. A decoction is prepared at the rate of 20 grams of raw materials per 1 glass of water. The mixture is boiled for half an hour in a water bath, then cooled for 10 minutes, filtered and squeezed, after which it is brought to the original volume with boiled water.
This decoction should be stored only in the refrigerator and no more than three days. The duration of treatment, as in the case of tincture, is 2-3 weeks. You need to drink a decoction three times a day before meals, one tablespoon each.
Saparal
Saparal is a collection of arolosides from Aralia roots. This drug has the following pharmacological effect on the body:
- reduces excitability;
- increases blood pressure;
- has a stimulating and tonic effect;
- reduces irritability.
As a tonic Saparal is effective in cases of:
- schizophrenia;
- traumatic brain injuries;
- functional disorders of the nervous system;
- cerebrovascular atherosclerosis;
- asthenoneurotic and asthenovegetative syndromes;
- diseases of the peripheral nervous system;
- pathological menopause.
Saparal can also be used in the treatment of periodontal disease.
