Chinese Ephedra

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Chinese Ephedra
• Chinese joint-fir

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. Following the subclass Gnetidae, it is placed in the order Ephedrales and the family Ephedraceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Ephedra, specifically the species Ephedra sinica.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across specific regions of Northern Asia. In the territory of Siberia, it can be found in both Buryatiya and Chita. Its range extends into the Russian Far East, specifically within the Primorye region. Within China, the species is located throughout Inner Mongolia. Finally, it is also widely distributed across the Manchuria region of China.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Ephedra sinica is characterized by its classification as a chamaephyte, a growth form that allows it to thrive in the arid and often harsh environments of Central Asia. As a perennial shrub, its life cycle involves a specialized strategy of maintaining low-growing, woody stems that stay close to the ground, protecting the plant's vital buds from extreme temperature fluctuations and desiccating winds. This life history begins with seed germination in sandy or rocky substrates, followed by a slow developmental period where the plant establishes a robust, deep-reaching root system essential for water acquisition in desert ecosystems. Throughout its existence, the plant exhibits a cyclic pattern of seasonal growth, utilizing its specialized photosynthetic stems to minimize moisture loss while undergoing reproductive phases that produce small, inconspicuous cones. The ability to persist through prolonged droughts and extreme thermal shifts is a direct result of its life form, which balances structural resilience with the ability to regrow from protected subterranean or near-surface buds following periods of environmental stress.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Morphology

The morphology of Ephedra sinica is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically functioning as a self-supporting shrub. It is a terrestrial species, lacking any aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies, and does not exhibit epiphytic behavior. As an independent organism, it does not act as a parasite, relying instead on its own structural integrity. The plant's architecture is defined by its woody stems, which provide the necessary stability for its shrubby habit, ensuring it remains self-supporting without the need for climbing or liana-like growth mechanisms.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ephedra sinica is characterized by specialized adaptations to arid and semi-arid environments, most notably through its photosynthetic pathway, which utilizes the C3 mechanism. Despite living in water-limited habitats where C4 or CAM pathways are common evolutionary responses, this species maintains C3 photosynthesis, relying on efficient stomatal regulation and anatomical modifications to mitigate transpirational water loss. Its physiological processes are closely tied to its unique morphology, where the green, photosynthetic stems take over the primary role of carbon fixation typically performed by leaves. The plant exhibits significant metabolic activity related to the synthesis of various alkaloids, which are integrated into its physiological defense and survival strategies. Furthermore, its water-use efficiency is governed by a complex interplay of osmotic adjustment and specialized vascular structures that facilitate nutrient and water transport under high thermal and evaporative stress.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ephedra sinica has 3 reported plant parts identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem, root, leaf.

Stem

1. Genomics data
2. Journal of Asian natural products research
3. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology

Root

1. International immunopharmacology
2. Genomics data
3. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
4. Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology
5. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology

Leaf

1. Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology

Chemicals

Ephedra sinica has 164 reported phytochemicals identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Ephedrine, PSEUDOEPHEDRINE, Flavonoids, kaempferol, (+)-Pseudoephedrine.

Ephedrine

1. Dr. Duke
2. PloS one
3. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
4. Biomedical chromatography : BMC
5. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

PSEUDOEPHEDRINE

1. Dr. Duke
2. PloS one
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
4. Environmental science and pollution research international
5. Journal of natural medicines

Flavonoids

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Environmental science and pollution research international
3. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
4. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology

kaempferol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Environmental science and pollution research international
3. Natural product research

(+)-Pseudoephedrine

1. Dr. Duke
2. American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists

(-)-Ephedrine

1. Dr. Duke
2. American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists

(-)-methylephedrine

1. Dr. Duke
2. American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists

Ephedrine hydrochloride

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Herbacetin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

Methylephedrine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of natural medicines

Activities

Ephedra sinica has 581 reported activities identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiasthmatic, Antioxidant, Diuretic, Stimulant, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor.

Antiasthmatic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
3. Phytochemistry

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Environmental science and pollution research international

Diuretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Stimulant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemistry

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AChE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AP-1-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Ephedra sinica has 22 reported investigations on conditions identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include obesity, asthma, COVID-19, antiasthmatic, arthralgia.

Obesity

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. American family physician
3. PloS one
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. International journal of environmental research and public health

Asthma

1. Briefings in bioinformatics
2. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Covid-19

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Antiasthmatic

1. Phytochemistry

Arthralgia

1. Journal of natural medicines

Arthritis

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Bronchial asthma

1. Journal of natural medicines

Cold

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Cough

1. International immunopharmacology

Edema

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Preparations

Ephedra sinica has 22 reported preparations identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Mahuang, Mahuanggen, Ephedra sinica Dispensing Granules, Ephedra sinica extract, GGEx18.

Mahuang

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Journal of separation science

Mahuanggen

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Journal of separation science

Ephedra sinica dispensing granules

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Ephedra sinica extract

1. Environmental science and pollution research international

Ggex18

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Acidic polysaccharides

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Alkaloid extract (swj)

1. International immunopharmacology

Crude drug specimens

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fenjian decoction

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica