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

Thursday 14 November 2013

Chinese Herbs – Dong Qua Pi (Exocarpium benincasae)

Dong qua Pi is also known as Chinese Wax Gourd Peel. The sweet and cool herb has been used in TCM as diuretic agent and to treat diabetes,etc., as it resolves edema, etc, by enhancing the functions of spleen and small intestine channels

Ingredients

1. E-2-hexe-nal
2. n-hexenal
3. n-hexyl formate
4. 2, 5-dimethylpyra-zine
5. 2-ethyl-5- methylpyrazine
6. Isomultiflorenyl acetate
7. Glutinol
8. Simiarenol
9. Cucurbita-5,24- dienol
10. 24-ethylcholesta-7,25-dienol
11. 24-ethylcholesta-7,22,25-trienol
12. 24- ethylcholesta-7-enol
13. 24-ethylchol-lesta-7,22-dienol

14. Etc.
Health Benefits
1. Antiulcer effect
In the investigation of the antiulcer activity of Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn. fruit in rats against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage, pylorus ligated (PL) gastric ulcers, and cold restraint-stress (CRS)-induced gastric ulcer models, found that both the extracts produced significant reduction in ulcer index (P < 0.05) in all the models and the results were comparable with that of omeprazole-treated group. Further, significant reduction in vascular permeability (P < 0.05) was observed. In CRS model, MDA content was significantly reduced along with increase in CAT levels as compared to control group, according to ‘ Gastroprotective effect of Benincasa hispida fruit extract” by Rachchh MA, Jain SM.(1)
2. Anti diabetes
In the evaluation of antidiabetic activity of chloroform extracts of Acacia arabica bark, Benincasa hispida fruit, Tinispora cordifolia stem, Ocimum sanctum areal parts and Jatropha curcus leaves, found that test compounds significantly decreases elevated level of serum glucose and also caused to reverse the cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL and LDL values when compared to untreated diabetic rats and suggested that indicates that different test extracts were able to ameliorate the derangements in lipid metabolism caused by diabetes mellitus in alloxan induced diabetic rats towards normal level, according to “Evaluation of antidiabetic and related actions of some Indian medicinal plants in diabetic rats” by Patil RN, Patil RY, Ahirwar B, Ahirwar D.(2)
3. Anti Obesity
In the study of the effect of HDHP including Laminaria japonica Aresch. and Benincasa hispida(Thunb.) Cogn. etc. on antiobesity in rats with hypothalamic obesity, found that HDHP has the effect of anti-obesity, Without any influencing on the function of thyroid gland and metabolism of water and salt. The mechanism is related to the reduction of fat cell size and the accumulation of fat, according to “[Effect of haidonghua powder(HDHP) on hypothalamic obesity in rats].[Article in Chinese]” by

Wang W, Wang WX, Sun BH, Zhao DZ, Gao P.(3) 4. Antioxidant and angiotension
In the investigation of the abilities of antioxidation and inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity of wax gourd pulp, core, seed, and peel prepared by different extraction methods, found that the seed had the lowest Cu2+ -induced low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation percentage and inhibition level of ACE activity among all parts. The higher antioxidant capacity of the seed may result from the higher total phenolics contents and superoxide dismutase activity. The abilities of antioxidation and ACE activity inhibition may provide protective effects against cardiovascular diseases and cancers, according to “Antioxidant and angiotension-converting enzyme inhibition capacities of various parts of Benincasa hispida (wax gourd)” by Huang HY, Huang JJ, Tso TK, Tsai YC, Chang CK.(4)
5. Histamine inhibition
In the investigation of the methanol extract of wax gourd (Japanese name “Tougan”), the fruits of Benincasa hispida COGN. (Cucurbitaceae), found that through bioassay-guided separation, four known triterpenes and two known sterols were isolated as active components together with a flavonoid C-glycoside, an acylated glucose, and a benzyl glycoside. Among the active triterpenes and sterols, two triterpenes, alnusenol and multiflorenol, were found to potently inhibit the histamine release, according to “[Medicinal foodstuffs. XI. Histamine release inhibitors from wax gourd, the fruits of Benincasa hispida Cogn].[Article in Japanese]” by Yoshizumi S, Murakami T, Kadoya M, Matsuda H, Yamahara J, Yoshikawa M.(5)
6. Etc.

Side Effects

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