Natural Herb Library

Choerospondias Fruit

Chinese
广枣
Pinyin
Guang Zao
Latin
Fructus Choerospondiatis

Known in TCM as Guang Zao (广枣), this sweet and sour, neutral herb enters the Heart and Liver. Traditionally, it regulates qi and activates blood - Guang Zao is used for chest discomfort, qi stagnation, blood stasis, and shortness of breath patterns that affect the Heart region, most often applied for angina, palpitations, and chest pain. Modern research has identified Total among its active constituents.

Part used: Fruit Also known as: Choerospondiatis

TCM Properties

Taste
sweet, sour
Temperature
neutral
Channels
Heart, Liver

Traditional Use

Primary Actions

  • Regulates qi and activates blood - Guang Zao is used for chest discomfort, qi stagnation, blood stasis, and shortness of breath patterns that affect the Heart region.
  • Nourishes the Heart and calms the spirit - traditional indications include palpitations, restlessness, unease, and mild insomnia linked to disturbed Heart qi.
  • Supports regional cardiovascular practice - Tibetan and Mongolian medicine use Guang Zao prominently in heart and circulation formulas.

Secondary Actions

  • Guang Zao sits at the border of TCM, Tibetan medicine, and Mongolian medicine, so its historical use is more regional than many standard Han-school herbs.
  • Modern research interest focuses heavily on cardiovascular flavonoids and polyphenols rather than on broad multi-system tonic claims.

Classic Formulas

  • Guan Xin Shu Tong capsule - modern Mongolian-derived cardiovascular formula pairing Guang Zao with Dan Shen, Ding Xiang, Tian Zhu Huang, and Bing Pian for coronary heart disease patterns with blood stasis.
  • Tibetan and Mongolian tranquility lineages - regional formulas use Guang Zao with calming Heart medicinals for palpitations, chest oppression, and restlessness.

Classical References

  • TCM Wiki describes Guang Zao as sweet, sour, and neutral, used to regulate qi and activate blood, nourish the Heart, and induce tranquilization.
  • Modern review literature traces Guang Zao to early Tibetan medical texts and emphasizes its enduring regional use for cardiovascular disorders.

Modern Research

Active Compounds

  • Total flavonoids - the best-studied cardiovascular fraction of Guang Zao
  • Polyphenols and phenolic acids - major antioxidant constituents
  • Organic acids and amino acids - supportive nutritional and phytochemical fractions
  • Polysaccharides - increasingly studied for metabolic and hematologic effects

Studied Effects

  • Total flavones of Choerospondias axillaris attenuated myocardial interstitial fibrosis and cardiac dysfunction in an infarction model through NF-kappaB-related effects (PMID 25427792).
  • Another experimental study reported preventive effects against ischemia-reperfusion myocardial injury through MAPK-related pathways (PMID 24297260).
  • A 2023 experimental pharmacology study explored Fructus Choerospondiatis against coronary heart disease and highlighted PPAR-gamma-centered mechanisms after identifying multiple constituents (PMID 37353066).

PubMed References

Safety & Interactions

Cautions

  • Most modern evidence is preclinical and cardiovascular-focused, so Guang Zao should not be treated as a substitute for standard care in angina or coronary disease.
  • Its sour, mildly astringent nature is usually individualized in patients with weak digestion or significant damp obstruction rather than used indiscriminately.
  • MSK page not found - drug interaction data not available from Memorial Sloan Kettering integrative medicine database

Conditions