Eucommiaceae

Eucommiaceae is family of dicotyledonous flowering plants comprising the single species Eucommia ulmoides in the order Garryales. The bark has medicinal properties and is valued especially by the Chinese. People believe it can “nourish the kidney and reinforce the Yang.” In China, extracts of the aerial parts of this plant have been widely used in famous botanical tonics and antirheumatic supplements for more than 2000 years. In vitro and in vivo studies indicated that monomer compounds and extracts from Eucommia ulmoides possess wide-ranging pharmacological actions, especially in treating hypertension, hyperlipemia, diabetes, obesity, sexual dysfunction, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, aging, lupus-like syndrome, and immunoregulation.