相传神农尝百草以救众生，佛祖悯神农辛劳而派罗汉下凡相助，有一罗汉立誓要灭尽人间灾难方回天界，立誓完毕，其化身为果，被后人尊称罗汉果，蕴意罗汉所修之果。后世有诗为颂：“罗汉甘甜胜蔗糖，食医两用是良方。金秋结实园中碧，盛夏开花陌上香。通便滑肠尝玉液，利咽止咳饮琼浆……”
罗汉果，别名拉汗果、光果木鳖、金不换、假苦瓜等，为葫芦科多年生藤本植物罗汉果Siraitia grosvenorii (Swingle) C. Jeffrey ex A. M. Lu et Z. Y. Zhang的干燥果实，其道地产地为广西桂林，被列为“桂十味”之一。罗汉果素有“长寿之果”、“神仙果”、“中医圣果”、“养生之王”等美誉，药食同源，具有清热润肺、利咽开音、润肠通便等诸多功效，具有显著的降糖效果，同时作为天然甜味剂，在食品、药品、保健品等领域应用广泛。
本期让我们一起来探秘罗汉果这味神奇中药吧！
Luo-Han-Guo, also known as La-Han-Guo, Guang-Guo-Mu-Bie, Jin-Bu-Huan, and Jia-Ku-Gua, refers to the dried fruit of Siraitia grosvenorii (Swingle) C. Jeffrey ex A. M. Lu et Z. Y. Zhang, a perennial vine plant belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family. Its authentic origin is Guilin, Guangxi province in China. Luo-Han-Guo is highly acclaimed for its various health benefits and is commonly regarded as the "Fruit of Longevity," "Divine Fruit," "Holy Fruit of Traditional Chinese Medicine," and the "King of Health Preservation." As a medicinal and edible homologous Chinese medicine, Luo-Han-Guo possess multiple properties such as heat-clearing and lung-moistening, throat-soothing and voice-opening, and intestine-moistening and bowel-relieving. Additionally, it demonstrates remarkable hypoglycemic effects, and is used as a natural sweetener. Consequently, it is extensively applied in the food, pharmaceutical, and health product industries.
图为罗汉果（左为干燥果实，右为新鲜果实）0
性味归经与药典收录
罗汉果，甘，凉；归肺、大肠经。
1977年罗汉果始载入《中国药典》，随后历版《中国药典》皆有收录。
此外，罗汉果被首批列入中华人民共和国卫生部公布的《既是食品又是药品的物品名单》。
1. Pharmacopoeia Inclusion and Categorization
With a sweet taste and a cool nature, Luo-Han-Guo is attributed to the lung and large intestine meridians, according to traditional Chinese medicines.
In 1977, Luo-Han-Guo was first included in the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China, and it has been consistently listed in every subsequent editions of the book. Additional, it was listed in the initial list of Items that are Both Food and Medicines, published by the Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China.0
罗汉果的性状及质量检测
罗汉果秋季果实由嫩绿色变深绿色时采收，晾数天后，低温干燥。本品呈卵形、椭圆形或球形，长4.5〜8.5 cm，直径3.5〜6 cm；表面褐色、黄褐色或绿褐色，有深色斑块和黄色柔毛，有的具6〜11条纵纹；顶端有花柱残痕，基部有果梗痕；体轻，脆，果皮薄，易破。气微，味甜。
以干燥品计算，用高效液相色谱法测定罗汉果中指标成分的含量，《中国药典》（2020版）规定罗汉果中罗汉果皂苷V的含量不得少于0.5%。
2. Characteristics and Quality Control of Luo-Han-Guo
Luo-Han-Guo is harvested during the autumn season when the fruits turns from tender green to dark green. After a few days of airing, they undergo low-temperature drying. The dried fruits exhibit an ovoid, elliptical, or spherical shape, measuring 4.5 to 8.5 cm in length and 3.5 to 6 cm in diameter. Their surface appear brown, yellowish-brown, or greenish-brown, displaying dark spots and yellowish soft hairs, with some fruits featuring 6 to 11 longitudinal stripes. There is a remnant of the stigma at the top, while a scar left by the pedicel at the base. The fruit is lightweight, brittle, and has thin skin, making it easily breakable. It has a subtle aroma and a sweet taste.
According to the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China (2020 edition), the content of the compound mogroside Ⅴ is specified as the indicator component for Luo-Han-Guo, and its quantity is determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. Calculated on a dry basis, the content of mogroside Ⅴ in Luo-Han-Guo should not be less than 0.5%.
罗汉果苷Ⅴ的化学结构0
罗汉果的化学成分
罗汉果的化学成分主要包括三萜、黄酮、多糖、氨基酸及油脂类。
葫芦烷型四环三萜罗汉果苷类化合物是罗汉果的主要化学成分，也是其主要活性成分。罗汉果苷类化合物大多具有甜味，其中罗汉果苷Ⅳ、Ⅴ及赛门苷I的甜度相当于蔗糖的300倍以上。迄今已从罗汉果中鉴定的三萜类化合物包括赛门苷Ⅰ、罗汉果苷ⅠA、罗汉果苷ⅡA1、罗汉果苷Ⅱ E、罗汉果苷Ⅲ、罗汉果苷Ⅳ、罗汉果苷Ⅴ、11-氧化-罗汉果苷Ⅴ、罗汉果苷Ⅲ E、罗汉果二醇苯甲酸酯、光果木鳖皂苷I、11-氧化-罗汉果苷IA1、罗汉果苦苷A、异罗汉果苷V等近40个；其中罗汉果苷Ⅴ被作为罗汉果的指标成分进行质量检测。
罗汉果中的黄酮苷元以槲皮素和山柰酚为主，已发现的黄酮类成分有罗汉果黄素、山柰酚-3,7-α-L-二鼠李糖苷、山柰苷等十余个；罗汉果中的多糖已初步证实为鼠李糖、阿拉伯糖、木糖、半乳糖、葡萄糖和葡萄糖醛酸等组成的酸性杂多糖；罗汉果干果中含有除色氨酸外的17种氨基酸，以天冬氨酸和谷氨酸含量最高，而罗汉果鲜果中维生素C含量高达313～510 mg/100 g。
The chemical constituents of Luo-Han-Guo primarily include triterpenes, flavonoids, polysaccharides, amino acids, and lipids. Among them, cucurbitane-type tetracyclic triterpenoids are the main chemical components and the primary active ingredients of Luo-Han-Guo. Most of these glycosides possess a sweet taste, with sweetness levels of mogroside Ⅳ,Ⅴ and siamenoside Ⅰ equivalent to more than 300 times that of sucrose. To date, around 40 triterpenoids have been identified from Luo-Han-Guo, including siamenoside I, mogroside Ⅰ A, mogroside Ⅱ A1, mogroside Ⅱ E, mogroside Ⅲ, mogroside Ⅳ, mogroside Ⅴ, 11-oxo-mogroside Ⅴ, mogroside Ⅲ E, mogroester, grosmomoside I, 11-oxo-mogroside I A1, mogroside A, iso-mogroside Ⅴ, and others. Among them, mogroside Ⅴ is used as the reference compound for quality control of Luo-Han-Guo.
The flavonoids in Luo-Han-Guo are mainly composed of quercetin and kaempferol. There are over ten flavonoids have been identified, including kaempferol-3-O-α-L-rhamnosyl-7-O-[β-D- glucopyranosyl-(1-2)-α-L-rhamnoside, quercetin-3,7-α-L-dirhamnoside, kaempferol glycosides, and others. Polysaccharides from Luo-Han-Guo have been preliminarily confirmed to be acidic heteropolysaccharides composed of rhamnose, arabinose, xylose, mannose, glucose, and glucuronic acid. Expert for tryptophan, 17 amino acids have been identified from Luo-Han-Guo, with aspartic acid and glutamic acid present in rich amounts. Additionally, the fresh fruit of Luo-Han-Guo has a high vitamin C content, ranging from 313 to 510 mg/100 g.
罗汉果的药理活性
罗汉果具有清热润肺、利咽开音、滑肠通便等功效，临床上用于治疗肺热燥咳、咽痛失音、肠燥便秘诸症。现代药理学研究表明，罗汉果具有抗菌、抗炎、抗病毒、保肝、调节糖代谢/脂代谢等药理活性。其中，以罗汉果苷Ⅴ为代表的罗汉果苷类化合物是罗汉果的甜味成分，是罗汉果止咳、平喘、祛痰、通便的主要活性成分，也是罗汉果调节糖代谢和脂代谢的活性成分之一；罗汉果中的多糖类成分被认为是其抗肿瘤、增强免疫、降血糖、调血脂的主要活性成分。
Luo-Han-Guo is known for its therapeutic effects of clearing heat, moistening the lungs, soothing the throat, and promoting bowel movements. In clinical practice, it is used to treat conditions such as lung heat with dry cough, sore throat and loss of voice, and dryness in the intestines leading to constipation. It has been revealed by modern pharmacological studies that Luo-Han-Guo exhibits various pharmacological activities such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, hepatoprotective, and regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. Mogrosides, representative by mogroside V, are the sweet-tasting components of Luo-Han-Guo. They are the main active ingredients responsible for the antitussive, bronchodilatory, expectorant, and laxative properties of Luo-Han-Guo. Additionally, they play a significant role in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism. On the other hand, the polysaccharide components in Luo-Han-Guo are believed to be the main active constituents responsible for its anticancer, immunomodulatory, blood glucose-lowering, and lipid-lowering effects.
图为罗汉果中三萜类化合物的骨架类型0
罗汉果的食药应用
众所周知，食品添加剂阿斯巴甜（甜味剂）因具有致癌风险而被逐步禁用。而罗汉果作为天然甜味剂，尤其是以罗汉果苷Ⅴ为代表的罗汉果苷类，其甜度相当于蔗糖的300倍以上，并且在体内不会被吸收，不产生热量，可作为阿斯巴甜的理想替代品，具有极为广阔的应用前景。
此外，罗汉果具有一定的降糖活性，临床应用更为广泛。现代药理学研究表明，高能量食物的过量摄取和运动的缺乏是2型糖尿病及相应心血管疾病发病的主要原因。腺苷酸活化蛋白激酶（AMP-activated protein kianse，AMPK）是预防和治疗2型糖尿病的一个重要靶点，其激动剂能够促进糖代谢。实验证实罗汉果提取物能够激活AMPK，启动细胞内生成ATP的分解代谢通路而关闭消耗ATP的合成代谢通路，同时可以减轻胰岛细胞的损伤，进而有效促进胰岛素分泌，降低血糖。
除临床使用外，罗汉果调味品、罗汉果膏、罗汉果茶、罗汉果糖浆等相关产品在市场上不断涌现，罗汉果原药材及其提取物制作的饮品、调味品等产品畅销国内外，颇受市场欢迎。
As is well-known, the food additive aspartame (a sweetener) has been gradually phased out due to its potential carcinogenic risks. On the other hand, Luo-Han-Guo, as a natural sweetener, particularly represented by mogrosides V, exhibits a sweetness level over 300 times that of sucrose. Additionally, these mogrosides are not absorbed by the human body and do not contribute to caloric intake. As a result, Luo-Han-Guo holds great promise as an ideal alternative to aspartame, offering vast potential applications.
Furthermore, Luo-Han-Guo demonstrates interesting hypoglycemic activity. It has been revealed by modern pharmacological research that excessive intake of high-energy foods and lack of physical activity are the main factors contributing to the onset of type 2 diabetes and related cardiovascular diseases. Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) serves as a crucial target for the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes, as its activation promotes glucose metabolism. It was confirmed by experiments that Luo-Han-Guo extracts can activate AMPK, initiating the breakdown pathway for intracellular ATP generation while inhibiting the synthetic pathway that consumes ATP. Simultaneously, the extracts can alleviate damage to pancreatic beta cells, thereby effectively promoting insulin secretion and reducing blood glucose levels.
Except for its clinical applications, Luo-Han-Guo related products, such as flavorings, Luo-Han-Guo paste, Luo-Han-Guo tea, and Luo-Han-Guo syrup, have been continuously emerging in the market. Beverages and seasoning products made from Luo-Han-Guo as the raw material or its extracts are enjoying strong demand both domestically and internationally, gaining significant popularity in the market.
总之，罗汉果药食同源，营养丰富，药效明显，甜味显著，被誉为“长寿之果”、“果中之王”、“养生之王”，罗汉果及其提取物已在食品、药品、保健品领域广泛应用。随着人们健康意识的提升，伴随大健康产业的发展，罗汉果提取物及其相关产业市场前景必将更加广阔！
In conclusion, as a medicinal and edible homologous Chinese medicine, Luo-Han-Guo possess abundant nutrients and remarkable medicinal effects, earning it the reputation of the "Fruit of Longevity," the "King of Fruits," and the "King of Health Preservation" etc., resulting in Luo-Han-Guo and its extracts being widely applied in the fields of food, pharmaceuticals, and health products. With the increasing awareness of health consciousness and the development of the wellness industry, the market prospects for Luo-Han-Guo extracts and related industries are bound to be more and more promising.
