1. Product Overview

  • Source and Preparation: Derived from the bile of domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domestica) through filtration, drying, and pulverization. It appears as a yellow or grayish-yellow powder with a slightly fishy odor, bitter taste, and hygroscopic properties.
  • Main Components: Contains bile acids (e.g., chenodeoxycholic acid), bilirubin, lecithin, cholesterol, and inorganic salts (sodium, potassium, calcium, etc.).
  • Storage Conditions: Must be stored in a sealed, light-protected container in a cool, dry place to prevent moisture absorption and deterioration.

2. Physicochemical Properties

  • Appearance: Grayish-yellow powder with a bitter taste and no distinct odor.
  • Solubility: While not explicitly stated, similar bile extracts are slightly soluble in water but readily soluble in organic solvents like ethanol.

3. Pharmacological Effects

  • Clearing Heat and Moistening Dryness: Alleviates dry-heat-induced cough, asthma, and excessive thirst by clearing lung heat and regulating lung qi.
  • Detoxification and Anti-inflammatory: Inhibits Gram-positive bacteria growth, treats throat inflammation, and reduces abscesses.
  • Bile Secretion and Liver Protection: Regulates bile flow, improves jaundice, and alleviates liver-gallbladder damp-heat symptoms.
  • Metabolic Regulation: Assists in lowering blood pressure, calming nerves, and alleviating neurogenic hypertension.
  • Additional Effects: Antioxidant, anti-allergic, and regulatory effects on intestinal disorders (e.g., diarrhea, constipation).

4. Application Fields

  • Pharmaceuticals:
    • Used in traditional Chinese medicines like Liver-protecting Tablets, Nao Li Qing Pills, and Rhinitis Relief Tablets.
    • Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API).
    • Treats jaundice, red/swollen eyes, whooping cough, and asthma.
  • Health and Daily Chemicals: Incorporated into formulations for lipid regulation and intestinal function improvement.

5. Production and Supply

  • Main Manufacturer: Qinghai Xiadu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. supplies the raw material.
  • Market Specifications: Commonly packaged in 1kg aluminum foil bags or 25kg cardboard drums.

6. Precautions

  • Contraindications: Prohibited for pregnant/lactating women, patients with severe liver/kidney dysfunction, or biliary obstruction.
  • Adverse Reactions: May cause diarrhea, nausea, or elevated transaminase levels; long-term use requires liver function monitoring.
  • Compatibility Advice: Typically used in combination with other herbs (e.g., Coptis chinensis, Scutellaria baicalensis) for enhanced efficacy; limited effectiveness when used alone.