胡子七，中药名。为毛茛科铁筷子属植物铁筷子Helleborus thibetanus Franch.【H.chinensis Maxim.； H.viridis L.var.thibetanus（Franch.）Finet et Gagnep.】的根及根茎。具有清热解毒、活血散瘀、消肿止痛的功效。主治膀胱炎、尿道炎、疮疗肿毒、跌打损伤。
Hu-zi-qi, name of Chinese Medicinal Material. the root and rhizome of Helleborus thibetanus Franch. (syn. Helleborus chinensis Maxim.; Helleborus viridis L. var. thibetanus (Franch.) Finet et Gagnep.), a plant in the Ranunculaceae family. It has the functions of clearing heat, detoxifying, promoting blood circulation, dispersing blood stasis, reducing swelling, and relieving pain. It is used to treat cystitis, urethritis, sores, swelling, bruises, and injuries.

功效作用 Efficacy and Functions

清热解毒；活血散瘀；消肿止痛。
Clearing heat and detoxifying; promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis; reducing swelling and relieving pain.

主治 Indications

主膀胱炎；尿道炎；疮疗肿毒；跌打损伤。
Mainly used for cystitis; urethritis; sores, swelling, and toxins; injuries from falls and blows.

用法用量 Dosage and Administration

内服：煎汤，3-6g；或泡酒。外用：适量，鲜品捣烂敷。
Internal use: decoction, 3-6g; or soak in alcohol. External use: appropriate amount, crush the fresh product and apply as a poultice.

化学成分 Chemical Composition

根含铁筷子甙。
The root contains hellebrin (catalpol-like glycoside).

药理作用 Pharmacological Effects

强心作用，铁筷子醇提取物能使在位和离体蛙心停跳于收缩期，对猫心电图的影响也类似于洋地黄，起效较迅速。铁筷子醇提物强心作用的生物效价：鸽单位69.16+/-1.8mg/kg；猫单位50.36+/-3.4mg/kg；豚鼠单位64.49+/-3.4mg/kg。与已研究过的国产强心植物比较，猫单位介于福寿草和械柳皮之间，较圆蒴黄麻、长蒴黄麻、夹竹桃叶、海果、神速寿草为弱；较黄花竹桃叶、械柳皮为强。已证明其强心作用的有效成分为铁筷子甙（去葡萄糖嚏根草甙，desglucohellebrin），其安全范围与毒毛花苷G、地高辛相似。
The positive inotropic effect of Hellebrin extract from Adonis coerulea can cause the frog heart to stop beating during both in vivo and in vitro systole. Its effect on cat electrocardiograms is similar to that of digitalis, and it takes effect relatively quickly. The biological potency of Hellebrin extract in terms of positive inotropic effect is as follows: 69.16+/-1.8 mg/kg in pigeons, 50.36+/-3.4 mg/kg in cats, and 64.49+/-3.4 mg/kg in guinea pigs. When compared with domestically studied cardiac plants, the potency in cats falls between Adonis amurensis and Stellera chamaejasme, weaker than Adonis amurensis, Stellera chamaejasme, Nerium oleander leaves, Gelsemium elegans, and Adonis vernalis, but stronger than Nerium oleander leaves and Stellera chamaejasme. It has been demonstrated that the effective component responsible for its positive inotropic effect is hellebrin glycoside (desglucohellebrin), and its safety range is similar to that of ouabain and digoxin.

加工炮制 Processing and Preparation

采收加工：秋季采挖，除去茎叶、杂质，洗净，晒干或鲜用。
Harvested in autumn, remove stems, leaves, and impurities, wash, then sun-dry or use fresh.

植物学信息 Botanical Information

植物种属：毛茛科铁筷子属植物铁筷子。
Plant species: Helleborus thibetanus Franch., belonging to the Ranunculaceae family.

形态特征 Morphological Characteristics

铁筷子，多年生草本，高30-50cm。根状茎直径约4mm，密生肉质长须根。茎直立，无毛，上部分枝，基部有2-3个鞘状叶。基生叶1-2，无毛；叶柄长20-24cm；叶片卵形或五角形，长7.5-16cm，宽14-24cm，掌状3裂，中央全裂片倒披针形，宽1.6-4.5cm，在下部以上叶缘有密锯齿；侧全裂片扇形，不等3全裂，具短柄；茎生叶较基生叶为小，中央全裂片狭椭圆形，侧全裂片不等，2-3深裂；近无柄。花两性，通常1朵生于茎或枝端，在基生叶刚抽出时开放，无毛；萼片5，花瓣状，椭圆形或狭椭圆形，长1.1-2.3cm，宽0.5-1.6cm，粉红色，至果期变绿色，宿存；花瓣8-10，圆筒状漏斗形，具短柄，长5-6mm，腹面稍2裂，淡黄绿色；雄蕊多数，长4.5-10mm，花丝狭线形，花药椭圆形，长约1mm；心皮2-3，长约1cm，花柱与子房近等长。蓇葖果扁，长1.6-2.8cm，宽0.9-1.2cm，有横脉，种子椭圆形，扁，长约4-5mm，宽约3mm，光滑，有1条纵肋。花期4月，果期5-6月。
Helleborus thibetanus is a perennial herb, 30–50 cm tall. The rhizome is about 4 mm in diameter, densely covered with fleshy, long roots. The stem is erect, glabrous, branched at the upper part, with 2–3 sheath-like leaves at the base. Basal leaves are 1–2, glabrous; petiole 20–24 cm long; blade ovate or pentagonal, 7.5–16 cm long, 14–24 cm wide, palmately 3-lobed; the central lobe is oblanceolate, 1.6–4.5 cm wide, with densely serrated margins above the base; lateral lobes are fan-shaped, unequally 3-parted, with short petioles. Stem leaves are smaller than basal leaves, with narrowly elliptic central lobes and unequal lateral lobes that are 2–3 deeply divided; nearly sessile. Flowers are bisexual, usually solitary at the stem or branch apex, opening when basal leaves just emerge, glabrous; sepals 5, petaloid, elliptic or narrowly elliptic, 1.1–2.3 cm long, 0.5–1.6 cm wide, pink, turning green in fruit, persistent; petals 8–10, tubular-funnel-shaped with short claws, 5–6 mm long, slightly bilobed ventrally, pale yellow-green; stamens numerous, filaments narrow-linear, anthers elliptic, ca. 1 mm long; carpels 2–3, ca. 1 cm long, styles nearly as long as ovaries. Follicles are flattened, 1.6–2.8 cm long, 0.9–1.2 cm wide, with transverse veins. Seeds are elliptic, flattened, 4–5 mm long, 3 mm wide, smooth, with one longitudinal rib. Flowering in April, fruiting in May–June.

分布区域 Distribution Area

分布于陕西、甘肃、湖北、四川。
Distributed in Shaanxi, Gansu, Hubei, and Sichuan.

生长环境 Growing Environment

生于海拔1100-3700m的山地林中或灌木丛中。
Grows in mountain forests or shrublands at altitudes of 1100–3700 meters.