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

Sunday, 10 November 2013

Chinese Herbs – Gou Ji (Rhizoma Cibotii Barometz)

Gou Ji is also known as cibota or cibotum. The bitter, sweet and warm herb has been used in TCM to treat achy loin and knees, rheumatoid arthritis, urinary incontinence, etc., as it tonifies Liver and Kidneys, strengthens knees and lower back, expels Wind, disperses Dampness, etc., by enhancing the functions of kidney and liver channels.

Ingredients
1. Pterosin
2. Onitin-2’-O-β-D-glucoside
3. Onitin-2’-O-β-D-alloside
4. Etc.

Health Benefits
1. Osteoclast formation
In the investigation of the isolation of Eight compounds (1-8) from a methanol extract of Cibotium barometz rhizomes including two new furan derivatives, cibotiumbarosides A (1) and B (2), and a new glycoglycerolipid, cibotiglycerol (4), found that compounds 2-5 each showed inhibition of osteoclast formation with no affect on BMM cell viability, according to “Inhibitors of osteoclast formation from rhizomes of Cibotium barometz” by

Cuong NX, Minh CV, Kiem PV, Huong HT, Ban NK, Nhiem NX, Tung NH, Jung JW, Kim HJ, Kim SY, Kim JA, Kim YH.(1) 2. Osteoarthritis
In the study of SHINBAR, a purified extract from a mixture of 6 oriental herbs (Ledebouriellae Radix, Achyranthis Radix, Acanthopanacis Cortex, Cibotii Rhizoma, Glycine Semen, and Eucommiae Cortex) used in traditional medicine for treatment of several inflammatory diseases and bone disorders, found that the potential anti-(osteo)arthritic property of SHINBARO can be due to the downregulation of inflammatory mediators such as iNOS, COX-2, and TNF-α, the increase of pain threshold in the peripheral system, the activation of alkaline phosphatase in osteoblasts, the suppression of proteoglycan degradation, and the inhibition of MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities as demonstrated by in vitro and in vivo experimental studies, acc0rding to “SHINBARO, a new herbal medicine with multifunctional mechanism for joint disease: first therapeutic application for the treatment of osteoarthritis” by Lee SY, Kwon HK, Lee SM.(2)
3. Chronic glomerulonephritis
In the identification of the effects of Shen Yan Ling” (SYL), a compound herbal preparation consisting of 16 ingredients: Herba Ecliptae, Radix Rhemanniae, Rhizoma Cibotii, Radix Angelica Sinensis, Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong, Radix Paeoniae Rubra, Rhizoma Diosocoreae, Poria, Radix Sanguisorbae, Radix Rubiae, Herba Portulacae, Fructus Gardeniae, Herba Cirsii Japonici, Herba Cephalanoploris, etc., found that SYL was shown to have therapeutic effect for Masugi’s nephritis models. It has also been used with satisfactory results in the treatment of 314 cases of chronic glomerulonephritis of the common type with manifestations of Yin deficiency and endogenous heat, according to “Experimental and clinical studies of “Shen Yan Ling” in treatment of chronic glomerulonephritis” by Wang SQ, Du XR, Lü HW, Wang TL, Li H.(3)
4. Osteoporosis and bone loss
In the observation of the therapeutic effect of Bushen Qiangdu Recipe (BSQDR), consisting of cibotii rhizoma, antler, prepared rehmannia root, epimedium herb, rhizoma drynariae, teasel root, eucommia bark, pangolin scales, etc., on osteoporosis and bone loss in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), found that BSQDR showed significant effect in treatment of AS. It could regulate the bone metabolic level in patients, attenuate the immune inflammatory response, improve the spine and joint activities functions, increase bone formation, reduce bone resorption, thereby, enhancing the BMD, showing significant therapeutic effect on osteoporosis in AS patients, according to “[Effect of bushen qiangdu recipe on osteoporosis and bone loss of patients with ankylosing spondylitis].[Article in Chinese]” byWang H, Yan XP, Kong WP.(4)
5. Etc.

Side Effects

1. No not use Gou Ji in case of urinary difficulty or heat as a result of yin deficiency

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.