Wednesday 30 October 2013

Popular Chinese Herbs – Zhu Ma Gen (Radix Boehmeriae)

Zhu Ma Gen is also known as White Ramie Root. The bitter, sweet, slippery, cool and non toxic herb has been used in TCM as anti cancer, diuretic, anti fungal agent and to treat gonorrhea,  infections of urinary tract, inflammation of  the anus, prolapse of the rectum, inflammation of the uterus, and vagina yeast infection, etc., as it cools Blood, stops bleeding, clears Heat, prevents miscarriage, expels toxins, etc., by enhancing the functions of heart and liver channels.
Ingredients
1. Chlorogenic acid
2. Emodin
3. Tormentic acid
4. Hederagenin
5. Maslinic acid
6.  2alpha-hydroxyursolic acid
7. Trans-p-hydroxycinamic acid
8. 2,4,4′-trihydroxychalcone
9. Rutin
10. Etc.

Health Benefits
1. Antifungal activities
In the study of three new unsaturated fatty acids, (Z)-9,10,11-trihydroxy-12-octadecenoic acid (1), (Z)-7,8,9-trihydroxy-10-hexadecenoic acid (2) and (Z)-12-keto-7,8,9-trihydroxy-10-hexadecenoic acid (3) were isolated from the roots of Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaudich, along with a known unsaturated fatty acid, (E)-8,11,12-trihydroxy-9-octadecenoic acid (4), showed that the three new compounds showed some antifungal activities by agar assay(1).

2. Inhibition of hepatitis B virus
In the study to explore the anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) effects of Boehmeria nivea (B. nivea) root extract (BNE) by using the HepG2 2.2.15 cell model system, showed that different doses of BNE, the reduced HBeAg was correlated with the inhibition of HBV DNA. The anti-HBV effect of BNE was not caused by its cytotoxicity to cells or inhibition of viral DNA replication and RNA expression.

Side Effects
No Side effect is known

 

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