Ningpo figwort

Ningpo figwort (Scrophularia ningpoensis), also called Chinese figwort, is a perennial plant of the family Scrophulariaceae (the figwort family).

Description

The plant reaches 1 m by 0.4 m. Its flowers are hermaphrodite, insect-pollinated and the plant usually flowers in May.

Medical interest

This plant is a known to Chinese medicine for as long as 2000 years. Its root is harvested in autumn in Zhejiang province and neighboring areas, then dried for later use. Taken at small doses, the root acts as a heart tonic, but large doses depress heart's functioning. It is also used internally as an antipyretic. Besides, the plant's root have diverse other medical effects, such as antibacterial and antifungal, antiphlogistic, diuretic, febrifuge, haemolytic, hypoglycaemic, restorative, sialogogue as well as vasodilator.