Holistic Health Articles and Research Related to Herbal Medicines, Foods and Phytochemicals : Chinese Herbs

Saturday, 16 November 2013

Chinese Herbs – Bai Qian ( Rhizoma Cynanchi Stauntonii)

Bai Qian is also known as Willowleaf Swallowwort Rhizome, the sweet, acrid and neutral herb has been used in TCM to cough due to influenza, bronchitis, asthma with abundance of phlegm, as it eliminates Phlegm, subdues Qi, calms cough, etc., by enhancing the function of lung channel.
Ingredients
1. Triterpenoid sapogenins

2. Hamcockinol
3. β-sitosterol
4. Fatty acids

5. Etc.
Health Benefits 1. Antitussive, expectorant and anti-inflammatory effects
ethanol extract and ether extract from Bai Qian has demonstarted the activities of Antitussive, expectorant and anti-inflammatory effects, according to the study of “[Antitussive, expectorant and anti-inflammatory effects of rhizoma Cynanchi stauntonii].[Article in Chinese]” by Liang A, Xue B, Yang Q, Fu M, Wang J.(1)
2. Anti-influenza virus
volatile oil of the roots of Bai Qian (Cynanchum stauntonii) had exhibited the activities against influenza virus in vitro (IC50s=64 microg/ml). In in vivo experiment, it prevented influenza virus-induced deaths in a dose-dependent manner, according to the study of “Chemical composition of the volatile oil from Cynanchum stauntonii and its activities of anti-influenza virus” by Zai-Chang Y, Bo-Chu W, Xiao-Sheng Y, Qiang W.(2)
3. Central Nervous system
the water and chloroform-extract compounds from Cynanchum has exerted the inhibitional effect on central nervous sytem.according to the study of “[Hypnotic effect of Chinese materia medica Cynanchum chinese in mice].[Article in Chinese]” by Peng XD, Yan QS, Wang R, Yang WD, Peng JZ.(3)
4. Anti-asthmatic effects
he water, ethanol and ether extracts from Cynanchum glaucescems has shown effectively prevent guinea pigs from asthma induced by acetulcholine and histamine mixture, according to the study of “[Antitussive, expectorant and anti-asthmatic effects of Cynanchum glaucescens (Decne.) Hand. -Mazz][Article in Chinese]” by Liang A, Xue B, Yang Q, Li Z.(4)
5. Analgesic,Anti-inflammatory and Anti-thrombotic Effects
Alcoholic extract of Rhizoma Cynanchi Stauntonii has prolonged the latent period of tail flip response to hot water stimulation and reduced acetic acid-induced writhing frequency,and inhibited xylene-induced swelling of the ear and carrageenin-induced swelling of the planta, according to the sudy of “Study on Analgesic,Anti-inflammatory and Anti-thrombotic Effects of Rhizoma Cynanchi Stauntoni” by Shanxi Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine(5).
6. Etc.
Side Effects
1. Overdosing may cause stomach irritation
2. Since it has shown certain effect in lung, people who are takingasthma or other lung diseases
prescription should consult with their doctors or related field specialist before applying.
3. Etc.