<p class="ql-block">The Medicinal Value of Angelonia</p> <p class="ql-block">香彩雀屬（Angelonia）植物全世界約30種，原產於熱帶美洲，過去歸於玄參科（Scrophulariaceae），現在已經移到車前科（Plantaginaceae）。其中，狹葉香彩雀（Angelonia angustifolia） 和柳葉香彩雀（Angelonia salicariifolia）在世界各地廣泛栽培。二者均為多年生草本，亞灌木狀。葉對生，長方形至披針形，邊緣具刺狀疏鋸齒（狹葉香彩雀的葉較窄，邊緣鋸齒不明顯）。花腋生，花萼 5裂，花冠伸展, 5裂，裂片不規則。今年香港花卉展覽的主角香彩雀其實就是二者的栽培品，其花色多樣，鮮艷奪目。香彩雀全年均可開花，以夏季為盛，適合在林緣、草地、濕地、淺水處，或在花壇、花台種植栽培。</p> <p class="ql-block">Native to tropical America, there are about 30 species in the genus Angelonia in the world. Previously included in the figwort family (Scrophulariaceae), the genus Angelonia has now been removed into the plantain family (Plantaginaceae). Among them, Angelonia angustifolia and Angelonia salicariifolia are widely cultivated as ornamentals all over the world. Both species are herbaceous and somewhat bushy perennials. Their leaves are opposite and are oblong to lanceolate in shape with toothed margins (leaves of Angelonia angustifolia are narrower with scarcely toothed margins). Flowers are axillary. The calyx is 5-parted and the corolla is spreading and is irregularly 5-lobed. In fact, the theme flower of the Hong Kong Flower Show 2024 represents cultivars of these species. Diverse in color, bright and showy flowers of Angelonia are in full bloom all year long especially in the summer. Angelonia is suitable for planting in forest margins, grasslands, wetlands, and shallow places in or around ponds, as well as in parterres and pots.</p> <p class="ql-block">作為世界花卉市場受到廣泛歡迎的觀賞植物，香彩雀的藥用價值並未得到重視。現代研究表明，香彩雀屬植物含桃葉珊瑚苷和香彩雀苷等環烯醚萜苷類成分以及羽扇豆醇等三萜類成分。其中，桃葉珊瑚苷和羽扇豆醇是重要的天然產物，前者具有抗炎和保肝等生理活性，後者具有抗癌，抗氧化，抗炎和抗菌等生理活性。事實上，狹葉香彩雀也是尼加拉瓜和巴西等地的傳統草藥，在當地民間用作抗炎劑。特別值得注意的是，其栽培品也富含羽扇豆醇（乾燥根的羽扇豆醇含量9.14 mg/g，乾燥地上部分的羽扇豆醇含量1.33 mg/g），是提取羽扇豆醇的理想的資源植物。</p> <p class="ql-block">As a popular ornamental plant in the international flower markets, the medicinal value of Angelonia is somehow ignored. Modern research has indicated that plants in the genus Angelonia contain iridoid glycosides (such as aucubin and angeloside) and triterpenoids (such as lupeol). Being important natural products and bioactive compounds, aucubin has anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective properties, while lupeol has anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. As a matter of fact, Angelonia angustifolia is an indigenous and traditional folk medicinal that has been used in Nicaragua and Brazil as an anti-inflammatory agent. It is particularly noteworthy that Angelonia angustifolia cultivar is rich in lupeol (9.14 mg/g in dried root and 1.33 mg/g in dried aerial part), and can be used as an ideal source for the extraction of lupeol.</p> <p class="ql-block">以上資料僅供參考，如有疑問，宜諮詢註冊中醫師或中藥師。</p><p class="ql-block">The above information is for reference only. Please consult a licensed Chinese medicine practitioner or pharmacist for further information.</p> <p class="ql-block">注：修訂版刊於香港花卉展覽2024（2024年3月15日～24日）場刊：https://www.hkflowershow.hk/en/hkfs/2024/index.html</p>