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

Wednesday, 13 November 2013

Chinese Herbs – Dong Kui Zi or Qing Ma Zi (Semen Malvae)

Dong Kui Zi or Qing Ma Zi is also known as Cluster Mallow Fruit. The bitter, cold and with laxative property herb has been used in TCM to urinary tract infection, edema, constipation, dysentery, gonorrhea, boils, bronchitis, cystitis, and cataract, etc., as it calms urinary pain on urinary, promotes lactation, moistens the Intestines, etc., by enhancing the functions of large intestine, small intestine and bladder channels

Ingredients

1. Protein
2. Anthocyanin
3. Monoa
4. Sucrose
5. Maltose
6. Etc.
Health Benefits
1. Antitumor activities
In the investigation of four short-term in vivo and in vitro tests were used to further confirm the antitumor activities of MCP, a vegetable powder, prepared from Malva crispa L. (i) In the H22 hepatoma-transplanting test, found that MCP had antitumor action, but MCP residue did not show such action, (ii) In the micronucleus (MN) test, MCP significantly decreased MN frequency. (iii) In the cancer cell culture systems, the MCP fat-soluble extract revealed inhibitory effects on the growth and proliferation of the human hepatoma and the gastric cancer cells in a dose-response manner. (iv) In the colony formation test, MCP also altered the morphology of human gastric cancer cells, according to “In vivo and in vitro studies on the antitumor activities of MCP (Malva crispa L. Powder)” by Huang CY, Zeng LF, He T, Wang CJ, Hong JR, Zhang XQ, Hou YH, Peng SS.(1)
2. Anti-complementary activity
In the assessment of the controlled Smith degradation of MVS-VI, the major acidic polysaccharide having remarkable anti-complementary activity isolated from the seeds of Malva verticillata L., found that the core structural features of MVS-VI include a backbone chain composed of beta-1,3-linked D-galactose residues. The majority of galactose units in the backbone carry side chains composed of beta-1,3- and beta-1,6-linked D-galactosyl residues at position 6. The controlled Smith degradation products showed considerable anti-complementary activity, according to “Constituents of the seed of Malva verticillata. VIII. Smith degradation of MVS-VI, the major acidic polysaccharide, and anti-complementary activity of products” by Tomoda M, Asahara H, Gonda R, Takada K.(2)
3. Anti-complementary and hypoglycemic activities
In the testing anti-complementary activity of seven polysaccharides and peptidoglycans obtained from the seeds of Malva verticillata were, found that mainly composed of beta-1,3-linked D-glucan and of alpha-1,5-linked L-arabino-beta-3,6-branched D-galactan, and the latter is essentially alpha-1,5-linked L-arabino-beta-3,6-branched D-galactan. Further, considerable activities were observed for MVS-IIIA and MVS-IVA. Both glycans possess arabino-3,6-galactan moieties accompanying alpha-1,3-linked L-arabinopyranosyl, beta-1,4-linked D-xylosyl, and alpha-1,4-linked D-galacturonic acid units. In addition, the major neutral polysaccharide (MVS-I), the major peptidoglycan (MVS-V), and the polysaccharide-rich fraction (MVS-V-CH) obtained from MVS-V were tested for hypoglycemic activity. MVS-I especially showed remarkable activity, and MVS-V-CH also exhibited significant activity, according to “Anti-complementary and hypoglycemic activities of the glycans from the seeds of Malva verticillata” by Tomoda M, Shimizu N, Gonda R, Kanari M, Yamada H, Hikino H.(3)
4. Mononuclear phagocyte (reticuloendothelial) system
In the assessment of an acidic polysaccharide, designated as MVS-IVA, isolated from the seeds of Malva verticillata, found that MVS-IVA showed a remarkable reticuloendothelial system potentiating activity in the carbon clearance test. Chemical and spectroscopic studies demonstrated that the polysaccharide is rich in alpha-L-arabinofuranose residues and possesses mainly an alpha-1,5-linked L-arabino-beta-3,6-branched-D-galactan structure accompanied with rhamnogalacturonan type units, according to “Characterization of an acidic polysaccharide from the seeds of Malva verticillata stimulating the phagocytic activity of cells of the RES” by Gonda R, Tomoda M, Shimizu N, Kanari M.(4)
5. Etc.

Side Effects

1. Do not use the herb in cause of qi or spleen deficiency with loose stool

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.