Ce produit n'est pas destiné à diagnostiquer, traiter, guérir ou prévenir toute maladie. Ces déclarations n'ont pas été évaluées par la Food and Drug Administration.
Ces informations sont fournies à titre éducatif uniquement et ne remplacent pas un avis médical professionnel, un diagnostic ou un traitement. Consultez toujours votre professionnel de santé avant d'utiliser des plantes, surtout si vous êtes enceinte, allaitez, prenez des médicaments ou avez une condition médicale.
Ephedra intermedia works through its active alkaloids, primarily ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, which act as sympathomimetic agents. These compounds stimulate alpha and beta-adrenergic receptors, mimicking the effects of adrenaline. This mechanism causes bronchial smooth muscle relaxation, blood vessel constriction, and increased heart rate. These actions explain its effectiveness as a bronchodilator for asthma and as a decongestant for nasal congestion (Evidence Level: C/Mechanistic).
Is Ephedra intermedia safe to take during pregnancy?
Ephedra intermedia is considered unsafe during pregnancy and should be strictly avoided. The herb contains ephedrine alkaloids that can cross the placenta, potentially causing fetal tachycardia, distress, or premature uterine contractions. These compounds may also elevate maternal blood pressure, posing significant risks to both the mother and developing fetus. Medical herbalists strongly contraindicate its use while pregnant or breastfeeding (Evidence Level: D).
What drugs interact with Ephedra intermedia?
Ephedra intermedia poses significant interaction risks. Combining it with MAO inhibitors can trigger hypertensive crises. Concurrent use with other stimulants, such as caffeine or decongestants, increases the risk of hypertension and arrhythmias. It may reduce the efficacy of beta-blockers and antihypertensive medications. Due to these potentially dangerous cardiovascular interactions, individuals taking heart medications or psychiatric drugs should avoid this herb entirely (Evidence Level: C/D).
What is the correct dosage for Ephedra intermedia?
The traditional adult dosage for Ephedra intermedia is 2 to 9 grams of dried stem daily, typically prepared as a decoction. In terms of standardized alkaloid content, this equates to approximately 15 to 30 mg of ephedrine equivalent. Dosage must be carefully monitored due to the narrow therapeutic window and potential for toxicity. Long-term use is discouraged, and treatment should cease once symptoms improve (Evidence Level: Traditional/C).
What are the side effects of taking Ephedra intermedia?
Common side effects of Ephedra intermedia include tachycardia (rapid heart rate), elevated blood pressure, insomnia, and nervousness. Users frequently report appetite suppression and anxiety. Serious adverse events, such as cardiac arrhythmias or stroke, are rare but possible, particularly with overdose or prolonged use. Individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions, hyperthyroidism, or anxiety disorders are at higher risk for severe complications and should avoid use (Evidence Level: C).
Fiche d'information compilée à partir de PubMed
Cette fiche a été compilée à partir de résumés PubMed (NIH) avec l'assistance d'une IA. Chaque affirmation factuelle est citée par un article PubMed réel (voir la liste des sources). Elle n'a pas encore été révisée par un humain — confirmez auprès d'un professionnel de santé avant utilisation.
Compilé à partir de 30 articles PubMed · modèle : gemma4:31b
Résumé
Ephedra intermedia is a medicinally significant plant found in arid and semi-arid ecosystems across Central and South Asia [PMID:40092909], commonly used in traditional medicine for respiratory conditions and weight loss [PMID:36641108, 15633802].
Contexte
Ephedra intermedia is a gymnosperm species that grows in desert and grassland ecosystems, with significant distributions in China, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan [PMID:36840134, 40092909]. It is one of the species used to produce Ephedrae herba (Mahuang) [PMID:36641108].
Usages traditionnels
It is traditionally used for treating colds, bronchial asthma, nasal congestion [PMID:36641108], and is used in Pakistani folk medicine for asthma and bronchitis [PMID:28386582], as well as for weight loss [PMID:15633802].
Composés actifs
The plant contains ephedrine alkaloids, specifically (-)-ephedrine and (+)-pseudoephedrine [PMID:15684485, 29720825, 28842339]. Other identified constituents include flavonoids, glycosides, and specific compounds such as (7S,8R)-4,7,8-dihydroxy-9,9-dimethyl-chroman and 4-hydroxy-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)butan-1-one [PMID:38257345, 39938660, 39301610].
Mécanisme d'action
Ephedra intermedia may curb food desire by suppressing neuropeptide Y (NPY) expression in the hypothalamus [PMID:15633802]. Non-alkaloidal fractions, such as herbacetin, may inhibit c-Met tyrosine kinase activity [PMID:28154329]. In polyherbal formulations (Gangjihwan), it is associated with the inhibition of fat accumulation via modulation of lipogenic transcription factors SREBP1C, PPARγ, and C/EBPα [PMID:28842339].
Preuves cliniques
Preuve DObesity/Fat Accumulation
Polyherbal compositions containing E. intermedia (Gangjihwan) inhibited fat accumulation in high-fat diet-induced obese mice and 3T3-L1 adipocytes [PMID:28842339, 28602867].
Preuve DPulmonary Injury
Specific isolated compounds from E. intermedia (compound 6) exhibited a significant protective effect against LPS-induced injury in human pulmonary epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) in vitro [PMID:38257345].
Sécurité et effets indésirables
Ephedra Herb (including E. intermedia) can cause adverse effects such as palpitation, excitation, insomnia, and dysuria, which are traditionally attributed to ephedrine alkaloids [PMID:31685738].
Synthèse des preuves
The available evidence consists primarily of phytochemical analyses, ecological modeling, and in vitro or animal studies (Level D). There are no human clinical trials provided in the abstracts.
Sources PubMed
1.PMID: 28822149 (2017) — [Ecology suitability study of Ephedra intermedia]. · Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2.PMID: 36641108 (2023) — Ephedrae herba: A comprehensive review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
3.PMID: 36840134 (2023) — Modeling for Predicting the Potential Geographical Distribution of Three Ephedra Herbs in China. · Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
4.PMID: 15684485 (2005) — Survey on resources of Ephedra plants in Xinjiang. · Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
5.PMID: 40092909 (2025) — From Ecological Niche to Conservation Planning; Climate-Driven Range Dynamics of Ephedra intermedia in Central Asia. · Ecology and evolution
Sources gouvernementales
Aucune monographie gouvernementale directe n'est disponible pour cette plante. Le contenu ci-dessous est généré par IA et n'a pas été vérifié par rapport à une source gouvernementale faisant autorité. Utilisez les liens de recherche pour consulter les sources officielles avant de vous fier à ces informations.
6.PMID: 31685738 (2019) — [The Adverse Effects of Ephedra Herb and the Safety of Ephedrine Alkaloids-free Ephedra Herb Extract (EFE)]. · Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
7.PMID: 38592953 (2024) — Distribution Pattern of Suitable Areas and Corridor Identification of Endangered Ephedra Species in China. · Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
8.PMID: 38257345 (2024) — Six New Compounds from the Herbaceous Stems of Ephedra intermedia Schrenket C. A. Meyer and Their Lung-Protective Activity. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
9.PMID: 38488267 (2024) — Ephedra intermedia Schrenk & C. A. Mey Methanol Extract: Nanoencapsulation by Mini-Emulsion Polymerization and its Release Trend under Simulated Conditions of the Human Body. · Chemistry & biodiversity
10.PMID: 28154329 (2017) — [The Pharmacological Actions of Ephedrine Alkaloids-free Ephreda Herb Extract and Preparation for Clinical Application]. · Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
11.PMID: 39183892 (2024) — Predicting the spatial distribution of three Ephedra species under climate change using the MaxEnt model. · Heliyon
12.PMID: 32934288 (2020) — Concentration of fifteen elements in herbaceous stems of Ephedra intermedia and influence of its growing soil. · Scientific reports
13.PMID: 39938660 (2025) — Chemical constituents from the stems of Ephedra intermedia and their α-glucosidase and AChE inhibitory effects. · Fitoterapia
14.PMID: 30930415 (2019) — Field Survey of Ephedra Plants in Central Asia (1). Characterization of Ephedra equisetina, Ephedra intermedia, and Their Putative Hybrids Collected in the Zaravshan Mountains of Tajikistan. · Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
15.PMID: 39493510 (2024) — Biosynthesis of Copper Oxide-Silver Nanoparticles from Ephedra Intermedia Extract and Study of Anticancer Effects in HepG2 Cell Line: Apoptosis-Related Genes Analysis and Nitric Oxide Level Investigations. · International journal of molecular and cellular medicine
16.PMID: 35247474 (2022) — The effect of Ma-Xin-Gan-Shi decoction on asthma exacerbated by respiratory syncytial virus through regulating TRPV1 channel. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
17.PMID: 28602867 (2017) — Effect of Gangjihwan on hepatic steatosis and inflammation in high fat diet-fed mice. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
18.PMID: 15635242 (2005) — Metabolic fingerprinting of Ephedra species using 1H-NMR spectroscopy and principal component analysis. · Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
19.PMID: 26473988 (2016) — A direct ionization mass spectrometry-based approach for differentiation of medicinal Ephedra species. · Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
20.PMID: 29980710 (2018) — Discrimination of three Ephedra species and their geographical origins based on multi-element fingerprinting by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. · Scientific reports
21.PMID: 15633802 (2004) — Aqueous extract of ma huang suppresses neuropeptide Y expression in food-deprived rat hypothalamus. · The American journal of Chinese medicine
22.PMID: 39301610 (2026) — Three new flavonoid glycosides from the herbaceous stems of Ephedra intermedia. · Natural product research
23.PMID: 21653392 (2004) — Ontogeny of triovulate cones of Ephedra intermedia and origin of the outer envelope ofovules of Ephedraceae. · American journal of botany
24.PMID: 29720825 (2018) — Determination of Five Chemical Markers in DF Formula, the Herbal Composition of Ephedra intermedia, Rheum palmatum, and Lithospermum erythrorhizon, Using High-performance Liquid Chromatography-ultraviolet Detection. · Pharmacognosy magazine
25.PMID: 24069055 (2013) — Effect of Gambisan on the Inhibition of Adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes. · Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
26.PMID: 28842339 (2018) — Gangjihwan, a polyherbal composition, inhibits fat accumulation through the modulation of lipogenic transcription factors SREBP1C, PPARγ and C/EBPα. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
27.PMID: 28386582 (2017) — Preliminary Phytochemical Screening, Quantitative Analysis of Alkaloids, and Antioxidant Activity of Crude Plant Extracts from Ephedra intermedia Indigenous to Balochistan. · TheScientificWorldJournal
28.PMID: 15549666 (2004) — Phylogenetic analysis of the DNA sequence of the non-coding region of nuclear ribosomal DNA and chloroplast of Ephedra plants in China. · Planta medica