ephedrae herba + armeniacae semen amarum

EAC is a research-stage herbal combination consisting of Ephedrae Herba (the dried stems of *Ephedra sinica* Stapf.) and Armeniacae Semen Amarum (the dried seeds of *Prunus armeniaca* L. var. ansu Maxim.). It is being investigated for the treatment of acute lung injury (ALI). The combination works by targeting multiple inflammatory pathways, specifically inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasome pathways. EAC has been shown to suppress MyD88-mediated NF-κB activation, NLRP3 inflammasome assembly, caspase-1 activation, and Gasdermin D (GSDMD)-mediated pyroptosis. These actions lead to a significant reduction in the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β and IL-18. The primary bioactive components of EAC include amygdalin, ephedrine, and pseudoephedrine. Research on this combination is being conducted at Ningxia Medical University and was published in the Journal of Asian Natural Products Research in 2025.

Other names

Ephedrae Herba and Armeniacae Semen Amarum combinationMa Huang and Ku Xing Ren combination