evodia rutaecarpa

Evodia rutaecarpa is a medicinal plant native to China and Korea and is widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for over 2,000 years[1][5][6]. The dried fruit—often called "Evodiae Fructus" or "Wu Zhu Yu"—is the primary part used medicinally. It contains several active compounds including the indole alkaloids evodiamine and rutaecarpine[2][3][5][7]. These constituents are believed to be responsible for its pharmacological effects. Mechanistically: - **Evodiamine** exhibits analgesic (pain-relieving), anti-inflammatory, antitumor/cytotoxicity against cancer cells (including multidrug-resistant lines), cardiovascular protective effects (heart protection), metabolic regulation properties (weight loss/thermogenesis via vanilloid receptor agonism similar to capsaicin)[2][3][4][5][7]. - **Rutaecarpine** has antiplatelet activity by inhibiting phospholipase C and COX-2 inhibition; it also interacts with vanilloid receptors contributing to analgesic effects[1][8]. Traditional uses include treatment of gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhea, vomiting/nausea/GERD/stomach pain/dysentery/lack of appetite; headaches; hypertension; inflammation; amenorrhea/menstrual pain/postpartum bleeding; obesity/metabolic syndrome; infections including parasitic worms[1][4][5]. Modern research supports some of these activities but also highlights potential hepatotoxicity and cardiotoxicity at high doses or with isolated compounds like evodiamine/rutaecarpine[2]. The herb may interact with drug-metabolizing enzymes such as CYP1A2 and can affect metabolism of drugs like caffeine/theophylline[4].

Brand names

Wu Zhu YuGosyuyuSan Cha KuWu-Chu-YuWu-Zhu-Yu

Other names

Evodia FruitEvodiae FructusEvodiamine (main alkaloid)Rutaecarpine (main alkaloid)Tetradium ruticarpum