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

Thursday 14 November 2013

Chinese Herbs – Di Yu (Radix Sanguisorbae officinalis)

Di Yu is also known as Garden Burnet Root. The bitter, sour, astringent and slightly cold herb has been used in TCM to treat diarrhea, hemorrhoids, urination, bleeding and excessive bleeding, ulcer, etc., as it cools Blood, stops bleeding, expels toxins, etc., by enhancing the functions of large instestine channel.
Ingredients
1. Glycoside I
2. Glycoside II
3. Betulinic acid
4. Pomolic acid -28-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside
5. Suavissimoside R
6. Sanguisorbigenin
7. Phenolic compound
8. Gallic acid
9. (+)-catechin
10. (+)-gallocatechin
11. Procyanidin B-3
12. b-glucogallin
13. 1,2,3,6-tetra-O-galloyl-b-D-glucose
14. Etc.
Health Benefits
1. Breast cancer and angiogenesis
In the analyzing Sanguisorba officinalis L. (SA) effects on human breast cancer utilizing in vitro and in vivo methodologies, found that SA inhibited proliferation, induced S phase arrest and triggered mitochondrial pathway apoptosis in both cancer cells. Angiogenesis experiments revealed that SA inhibited VEGF expression in both cancer cell lines. Meanwhile, the proliferation, tube formation and migration abilities of endothelial cells were also inhibited. In vivo experiments demonstrated that SA reduced tumor size and neoangiogenesis in both cancer xenografts. Gallic acid and ellagic acid were finally identified as bioactive compounds in SA, according to “Effect of Sanguisorba officinalis L on breast cancer growth and angiogenesis” by Wang Z, Loo WT, Wang N, Chow LW, Wang D, Han F, Zheng X, Chen JP.(1)
2. Anti-hyperlipidemic effects
In the investigation of anti-hyperlipidemic effects of a chemically modified triterpenoid glycoside (ZYM-201 sodium succinate) isolated from Sanguisorba officinalis in rats in which hyperlipidemia had been induced by dietary administration of cholesterol and cholic acid, found that ZYM-201 sodium succinate could play a role in modulating hyperlipidemic conditions, which could be used as a valuable remedy for the treatment of relevant disorders such as atherosclerosis and vascular diseases, according to “Modulatory effects of ZYM-201 sodium succinate on dietary-induced hyperlipidemic conditions’ by Choi J, Yu T, Cha BC, Rhee MH, Yoo ES, Kim MY, Lee J, Cho JY.(2)
3. Neurodegenerative disorders
In the review, part II in a series (part I focuses on Parkinson’s Disease) that addresses the value of natural product chemistry in the discovery of medicines for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, indicated that More than sixteen plant species, including Ginseng, Celastrus paniculatus, Centella asiatica, Curcuma longa, Ginkgo biloba, Huperzia serrata, Lycoris radiate, Galanthus nivalis, Magnolia officinalis, Polygala tenuifolia, Salvia lavandulaefolia, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Coptis chinensis, Crocus sativus, Evodia rutaecarpa, Sanguisorba officinalis, Veratrum grandiflorum and Picrorhiza kurvoa, are discussed as potential sources of active extracts. In addition, more than sixty secondary metabolites are under evaluation for their efficacy on controlling symptoms and to impede the development and progression of AD, according to “The role of natural products in the discovery of new drug candidates for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders II: Alzheimer’s disease” by
da Rocha MD, Viegas FP, Campos HC, Nicastro PC, Fossaluzza PC, Fraga CA, Barreiro EJ, Viegas C Jr.(3)
4. Anti-asthmatic effect
In the evaluation of the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of S. officinalis ethanolic extract (SOEE) in a murine ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma model, found that inflammatory cell infiltration and mucus hypersecretion were inhibited by SOEE. In addition, OVA-induced increases in reactive oxygen species were attenuated by SOEE. All these effects were correlated with heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) induction by SOEE. These results indicate that SOEE has therapeutic potential against bronchial asthma associated with allergic diseases that is due, at least in part, to HO-1 upregulation, according to “Anti-asthmatic effect of Sanguisorba officinalis L. and potential role of heme oxygenase-1 in an ovalbumin-induced murine asthma model” by Lee NH, Lee MY, Lee JA, Jung DY, Seo CS, Kim JH, Shin HK.(4)
5. Antioxidant activity
In the review of the recent publication by Ou et al. identified a close relationship between in vitro antioxidant activity and classification of Chinese herbs as yin or yang in 45 Chinese herbs, scientist reported that for the first time antioxidant properties of many Chinese herbs. High antioxidant herbs were identified as Spatholobus suberectus vine (1990 micromol TE/g), Sanguisorba officinalis root (1940 micromol TE/g), Agrimonia pilosa herb (1440 micromol TE/g), Artemisia anomala herb (1400 micromol TE/g), Salvia miltiorrhiza root (1320 micromol TE/g) and Nelembo nucifera leaf (1300 micromol TE/g). Antioxidant capacity appears to correlate with the flavors of herbs identified within the formal TCM classification system and may be a useful guide in describing their utility and biochemical mechanism of action. according to “Antioxidant activity of 45 Chinese herbs and the relationship with their TCM characteristics” by Liao H, Banbury LK, Leach DN.(5)
6. Anti wrinkle
In the examination of the potential of a Sanguisorba officinalis root extract as an active ingredient for wrinkle-care cosmetics, found that a significantly different effect (p<0.05) of the test formulation from that of the placebo. This result suggests that ziyuglycoside I isolated from S. officinalis root extract could be used as an active ingredient for cosmetics, according to “Anti-wrinkle activity of ziyuglycoside I isolated from a Sanguisorba officinalis root extract and its application as a cosmeceutical ingredient” by Kim YH, Chung CB, Kim JG, Ko KI, Park SH, Kim JH, Eom SY, Kim YS, Hwang YI, Kim KH.(6)
7. Anti allergic effects
In the investigation of the antiallergic activity of the natural disaccharide, 5-O-alpha-D-(3-C-hydroxymethyl)lyxofuranosyl-beta-D-(2-C-hydroxymethyl)arabinofuranose using both in vivo and in vitro experimental models from Sanguisorba officinalis, found that the compound markedly diminished both coronary flow reduction and histamine release on challenge to the antigen. These data demonstrate that this antiallergic natural disaccharide, according to “Antiallergic activity of a disaccharide isolated from Sanguisorba officinalis” by Park KH, Koh D, Kim K, Park J, Lim Y.(7)
Side Effects
1. Do not use the herb in newborn, children or if you are pregnant or breast feeding without consulting first with the related field specialist
2. Etc.