Common Name: Ye Mu Gua

General Information

Stauntonia chinensis is an evergreen climbing shrub with stems that twine into the surrounding vegetation[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for medicinal use.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - southern and eastern China

Habitat

Dense forest on mountain slopes, open forest by streams along valleys, among shrubs; at elevations from 500 - 1,300 metres[]

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Climber
Height	0.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Stauntonia chinensis is native to the warm temperate and subtropical zones of southern China. It is unlikely to be very cold hardy but should withstand short periods when temperatures fall to around -5 to -10°c.
Species in this genus generally grow well in most well-drained but moisture retentive soils in a position sheltered from strong or cold winds. They succeed in full sun and in semi-shade, but grow best if their roots are in a shady position and their stems are allowed to grow into the sun[, ]. This species is fairly drought tolerant[].
The plant is monoecious, producing flat-headed racemes of flowers[].

Edible Uses

We have no specific information on edibility[], but the fruits of all species in this genus are said to be edible with a pulp that can range from sweet and tasty to bland or insipid[]. The oblong fruit is around 7 - 10cm long and 3 - 5cm wide, containing numerous seeds surrounded by a layer of pulp[].

Medicinal

The plant (probably the stem) is analgesic, antiinflammatory, antioxidant and hypoglycaemic[, , ]. It is used primarily as an analgesic to relieve postoperative pain, treat sciatica and supplement anesthesia[]

The plant contains a number of triterpenoid saponins, which are largely responsible for the medicinal properties of the plant[, , ].
At least one of the triterpenoid saponins has shown positive results in the treatment of type two diabetes mellitus[, ].
The triterpene saponins in the stem have been shown to lower blood glucose levels, reduce plasma insulin levels, restore the insulin response, and stimulate glycogen synthesis, leading to an improvement in glucose uptake and of insulin sensitivity in hepatic cells[].
The saponins have also been shown to modulate hyperlipidemia associated with diabetes[].
Caffeic acid esters and bisepoxylignan glycoside in the stem have been shown to be bioactive as antioxidants[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse. The seed can take 18 months to germinate. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer and consider giving them some protection from the cold for their first winter or two outdoors[].
Cuttings.