Thursday 31 October 2013

Chinese Herbs – Xing Ren (Semen Pruni Armeniacae)

Xing Ren is also known as Apricot Seed. The warm, bitter and slightly toxic herb has been used in TCM to treat coughing and asthma, expelling phlegm, promote bowel movements, etc., as it Calms cough and dyspnea, moisten the Intestines, promotes bowel movement, etc. by enhancing the functions of lung and large intestine channels.

Ingredients
1, Amygdalin
2. Emulsin
3. Amygdalase
4. Prunase
5. Estrone
6.  α-estradiol
7. Desmasterol
8. Etc.

Health Benefits
1. Liver steatosis
In the study to investigate the protective effect of 10 % and 20 % apricot-containing feed on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic steatosis and damage, found that apricot feeding had beneficial effects on CCl4-induced liver steatosis and damage probably due to its antioxidant nutrient (beta-carotene and vitamin) contents and high radical-scavenging capacity. Dietary intake of apricot can reduce the risk of liver steatosis and damage caused by free radicals(1).
2. Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities
In the vitro study of antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of methanol and water extracts of sweet and bitter apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) kernels, showed that the most effective antibacterial activity was observed in the methanol and water extracts of bitter kernels and in the methanol extract of sweet kernels against the Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. Additionally, the methanol extracts of the bitter kernels were very potent against the Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli (0.312 mg/mL MIC value). Significant anti-candida activity was also observed with the methanol extract of bitter apricot kernels against Candida albicans, consisting of a 14 mm in diameter of inhibition zone and a 0.625 mg/mL MIC value(2).

3. Etc.
Side Effects
1. Do not use the herb in newborn, children or if you are pregnant or breast feeding without first consulting with the related field specialist.
2. Etc.

Sources
(1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19822030
(2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19330262

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