The origin and modern research progress of Stachys sieboldii Miq.
Stachys sieboldii Miq.is a common dual-use food and medicine,and as a vegetable,which has been recorded in Song Dynasty poetry.It was first listed as a"medicinal herb"in the Yuan Dynasty.Stachys sieboldii Miq.is also known as"Grass Stone Silkworm",but"Grass Stone Silkworm"does have its own characteristics.In LI Shizhen's"Compendium of Materia Medica",it is recorded that the grass silkworm and sweet dew seed are the same medicine,resulting in the occurrence of foreign objects with the same name.At present,research in academia on honeydew seeds,grass silkworms,etc.mostly focuses on honeydew seeds used as vegetables in daily life.Stachys sieboldii Miq.is rich in chemical components,including organic components such as amino acids,peptides,proteins,polysaccharides,saponins,tannins,as well as inorganic components such as potassium(K),phosphorus(P),sulfur(S),magnesium(Mg),calcium(Ca),and it is the plant with the highest content of stachyose.The study found that the polysaccharide in this product has obvious inhibitory effect on tumor cells such as liver cancer cells,bladder cancer cells,and other pharmacological effects such as anti-oxidation and anti fatigue.At present,research on Stachys sieboldii Miq.mainly focuses on cultivation and extraction of stachyose,while there is relatively little research on its chemical components and pharmacological effects,and its application research is still in its early stages.In this paper,the origin,chemical composition,traditional efficacy,modern pharmacological effects and application of Stachys sieboldii Miq.were reviewed,in order to provide reference for its further research and development.