Retinervus Citri Reticulatae
Aliases：Tangerine Silk; Tangerine Tendon; Membrane on the Tangerine Pulp; Silk on the Tangerine Pulp.
Juluo (Tangerine Pith) is the name of a traditional Chinese medicine. It is the fibrous bundle groups between the mesocarp and endocarp of Citrus reticulata Blanco and its cultivated varieties, a plant in the family Rutaceae. It is an authenticated variety of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine's Terminology Standardization and Promotion Project. It is recorded in Bencao Qiuyuan (Original Sources of Materia Medica), Bencao Zaixin (New Materia Medica), Zhonghua Bencao (Chinese Materia Medica), and the processing standards for Chinese herbal decoction pieces in various provinces.
Efficacy & Actions
Promotes the flow of Qi and unblocks collaterals; resolves Phlegm and relieves cough.
Indications
Chest pain due to Phlegm stagnating in the collaterals; cough with profuse Phlegm; blood-streaked Phlegm; thirst due to alcohol consumption; chest oppression and hypochondriac pain; intercostal neuralgia.
Modern Pharmacology
Modern pharmacological studies have confirmed that Tangerine Pith possesses the following significant pharmacological activities: Effects on the gastrointestinal tract: It significantly inhibits intestinal motility in rabbits and gastrointestinal motility in anesthetized dogs in vivo. The dietary fiber in Tangerine Pith can also slow the absorption rate of sugar from food, contributing to postprandial blood glucose control. Effects on the cardiovascular system: It excites isolated and in situ frog hearts, enhancing contractility with little effect on heart rate, but excessive doses cause inhibition instead. The rutin contained in Tangerine Pith helps maintain normal vascular elasticity and density, reduces vascular wall fragility and permeability, prevents capillary bleeding, and helps reduce the occurrence of atherosclerosis. Anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antiallergic, antioxidant, and analgesic effects: Tangerine Pith possesses broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antiallergic, and antioxidant activities. Its flavonoid constituents, mainly hesperidin, possess antioxidant and inflammation-reducing effects. Hypoglycemic effect: A study treating non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients with Tangerine Pith found that patients' blood glucose levels were significantly reduced after using Tangerine Pith compared with before. The dietary fiber in Tangerine Pith can delay sugar absorption and positively regulate blood glucose. Laxative effect: Tangerine Pith is rich in dietary fiber and possesses a laxative pharmacological effect. Note: The above pharmacological findings are largely derived from modern experimental studies on Tangerine Pith extracts and constituents such as hesperidin. Dedicated systematic pharmacological research on Tangerine Pith is still ongoing. Traditional actions and indications should remain the primary basis for use.
Ingredients
Tangerine Pith (the vascular bundles of the inner peel) mainly contains the following active constituents: Flavonoids (principal active constituents): Hesperidin, the most abundant active constituent Rutin Quercetin Narirutin 5,7,4′-Trimethoxyflavone Volatile oils: D-Limonene, the principal constituent of the volatile oil β-Myrcene α-Pinene Sabinene Octanal Linalool Terpenoids. Phenolic acids. Dietary fiber: Abundant in Tangerine Pith. Others: Tangerine Pith also contains antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD). Note: Tangerine Pith is rich in hesperidin. As determined by high-performance liquid chromatography, the hesperidin content in Tangerine Pith can reach 581.34 mg/kg. Calculated on a dried basis, the Anhui Provincial Standards for Processing Chinese Herbal Decoction Pieces stipulates that the content of hesperidin (C₂₈H₃₄O₁₅) shall not be less than 5.5%. The flavonoids in Tangerine Pith are mainly hesperidin, quercetin, and narirutin.
Usage & Dosage
Oral use: Decocted in water, 3–9 g; or brewed with boiling water and drunk as a tea substitute.
Contraindications
Contraindicated in individuals with deficiency cold (as recorded in the Heilongjiang Provincial Standards for Processing Chinese Herbal Decoction Pieces). Use with caution in individuals with Spleen-Stomach deficiency cold. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should use it under the guidance of a physician. Not suitable for long-term or high-dose use. Use with caution in individuals with an allergic constitution.
Daily Consumption
Brewed as a tea substitute: Take 3–5 g of Tangerine Pith, brew with boiling water, and drink as a tea substitute. Suitable for individuals with cough and profuse Phlegm, and chest and hypochondriac pain. Tangerine Pith Porridge: Take 5 g of Tangerine Pith and 50 g of japonica rice, and cook into porridge. It helps resolve Phlegm and unblock collaterals. Consumed together with the fruit: When eating tangerines, consume the pith together with the fruit segments to make full use of the nutritional value of its dietary fiber and flavonoid constituents.
Medicinal Parts
Inner peel vascular bundles (pith).
Selection & Storage
Store in a cool, dry place. Protect from mold and insects. Airtight storage is recommended. Avoid direct sunlight.
