Yan Hu Suo (Corydalis yanhusuo)

Yan Hu Suo (Corydalis yanhusuo) is not consumed as a food source and therefore lacks a conventional macronutrient profile (negligible protein, fat, and carbohydrate contribution at typical therapeutic doses of 5–15 g dried tuber or 100–300 mg standardized extract). Its medicinal value derives from its rich alkaloid content. Key Bioactive Compounds: — Tetrahydropalmatine (THP / dl-THP): Primary active alkaloid, typically 0.5–1.5% of dried tuber weight (~5–15 mg per gram of crude herb); responsible for analgesic and sedative effects via dopamine D2 receptor antagonism and modulation of GABA-ergic pathways; oral bioavailability estimated at 40–50%. — Dehydrocorydaline (DHC): ~0.1–0.8% of dried tuber; contributes to anti-inflammatory and antitumor activity; acts on acetylcholinesterase inhibition. — Corydaline: ~0.1–0.5%; analgesic and smooth muscle relaxant; moderate oral bioavailability. — Protopine: ~0.05–0.3%; antispasmodic and mild anti-arrhythmic properties. — Palmatine: ~0.1–0.4%; antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory; structurally related to berberine with moderate bioavailability (~20–30%). — Berberine (trace): ~0.01–0.05%; contributes to antimicrobial and metabolic-supportive effects. — Canadine (tetrahydroberberine): ~0.05–0.2%; sedative and muscle-relaxant effects. Total Alkaloid Content: Approximately 1.5–4.0% of dried tuber weight, comprising over 20 identified isoquinoline alkaloids (protoberberine, protopine, benzylisoquinoline, and aporphine subtypes). Minerals (approximate per 100 g dried tuber): Calcium ~200–400 mg; Potassium ~500–800 mg; Magnesium ~100–200 mg; Iron ~5–15 mg; Zinc ~2–5 mg; Manganese ~1–3 mg. Other constituents: Organic acids, starch (~30–50% of tuber dry weight), small amounts of dietary fiber (~5–8%), and trace essential oils. Bioavailability Notes: THP bioavailability is significantly enhanced when taken with warm water or co-administered with vinegar-processing (cu zhi / 醋制), a traditional preparation method that converts free-base alkaloids to more soluble acetate salts, increasing absorption by an estimated 30–60%. First-pass hepatic metabolism via CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 reduces systemic availability of several alkaloids; vinegar-processed forms show higher peak plasma concentrations. Fat-soluble alkaloids may benefit from co-ingestion with lipid-containing foods.