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

Wednesday, 6 November 2013

Chinese Herbs – Ku Lian Zi (Fructus Meliae Toosendan)

Ku Lian Zi or Ku Lain Pi or Chuan Lian Zi also known as Melia. The bitter, cold and slightly toxic herb has been used in TCM to relieve pain, treat fungal infection, get rid of worms, etc., as its expels worms and parasites, promotes qi flow, clears dampness-heat and liver fire, etc., by enhancing the functions of bladder, liver, small intestine and stomach channels.

Ingredients
1. Tridecane
2. Toosendanin
3. Neoazedarachin A, B, D
4. Toosendansterol A, B (in leaves)
5. Toosendanin
6. Neoazedarachin A, B, D
7. Toosendansterol A, B (in leaves)
8. Loliolide
9. Toosendanoside
10. Kulinone (melianone)
11. Kulactone
12. Kulolactone
13.Meliantriol
14. β-Sitosterol
15. Isotoosendanin
16. 21-O-methyltoosendapentol
17. Lipomelianol Lipomelianyl 3-O-stearate
18. Laurate
19. 21-Oacetyltoodendantriol
20. Etc.

Health Benefits
1. Anti-inflammatory and antalgic action
In the ecaluation of samples were extracted from Fructus Meliae Toosendan using petroleum ether (I), ethyl acetate (II), 80% alcohol (III) or water (IV) for its medical effects, found that the sample II 40 g/kg significantly decreased the writhing response induced by acetic acid and relieved mice foot pain induced by formaldehyde, inhibited the swelling of mice ear induced by dimethylbenzene, but also has serious acute toxicity.(1)
2. Anti-neuraminidase activity
In the investigation of the anti-NA activity of the TCMs and the anti-influenza A virus effects of the NA inhibitory TCMs in vitro and in vivo, found that Five TCMs, Duchesnea indica (Andr.) Focke [Fragaria indica Andr.], Liquidambar formosana Hance., Lithospermum erythrorhizon Sieb. et Zucc., Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc., and Prunella vulgaris L., exerted potent inhibitory activity towards NA. These TCMs in the range of 25-250 μg/mL had the ability to reduce virus-induced cytopathic effect (CPE) and the virus yield in MDCK cells. Melia toosendan significantly reduced death rate and prolonged mean day to death (MDD) of the viral infected mice, according to “Evaluation of the anti-neuraminidase activity of the traditional Chinese medicines and determination of the anti-influenza A virus effects of the neuraminidase inhibitory TCMs in vitro and in vivo.(2)
3. Anti cancers
In the determination of Toosendanin, a triterpenoid derivative isolated from Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc., for its effect on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines [SMMC-7721(p53+) and Hep3B (p53-)] , results from the immunohistochemistry for Bcl-2, Bax, as well as for Fas showed that the anticancer effects of toosendanin were induced via apoptosis in a mitochondria-dependent manner, which confirmed the findings in the in vitro experiment, according to “Toosendanin inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cells by inducing mitochondria-dependent apoptosis”by He Y, Wang J, Liu X, Zhang L, Yi G, Li C, He X, Wang P, Jiang H. (3)
4. Antioxidant and anticancer activities
In the observation of a novel water-soluble polysaccharide pMTPS-3, obtained from Melia toosendan Sieb. Et Zucc fruit by hot-water extraction and ethanol precipitation for its antioxidant and nati cancer activities, showed that The purified pMTPS-3 was revealed to have notable scavenging activity against DPPH radical in a concentration-dependent manner and present a moderate inhibition of superoxide radicals with an IC(50) (5.6mg/ml), and potent inhibiting power for hydroxyl radical compared with crude polysaccharide. Further, it exhibited strong inhibition effect in vitro on the growth of human gastric cancer BGC-823 cells, according to “Physico-chemical characterization, antioxidant and anticancer activities in vitro of a novel polysaccharide from Melia toosendan Sieb. Et Zucc fruit.He L, Ji P, Gong X, Li W, Cheng J, Qian H, Song X.(4)
5. Etc.
Side Effects
1. Since the herb is slightly toxic, overdoses can cause liver toxicity(a)
2. Do not use the herb in newborn, children or if you are pregnant or breast feeding with out approval first with the related field specialist
3. Etc