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

Wednesday, 6 November 2013

Chinese Herbs– Lang Du (Radix Stellerae Chamaejasmis)

Lang Du is also known as River radis euphordiae lantu. The acrid, slightly bitter and sweet netrual and toxic herb has been used in TCM to get rid of worms, treat swelling, relieve pain in stochmach, etc., as its eliminates Phlegm, get rid of roundworms, calms pain, etc., by enhancing the function of lung, liver and kidney channels.

Ingredients

1. Fischeriana A，B
2. Euphol
3. Saponins
4. Glycosides
5. Sterol
6. Tannins

7. Etc.

Health Benefits

1. Anti tumor activity

In the investigation of The daphnane-type diterpene gnidimacrin, isolated from the root of the Chinese plant, Stellera chamaejasme L., showed significant antitumor activity against murine leukemias and solid tumors in an in vivo system. In K562, a sensitive human leukemia cell line, gnidimacrin induced blebbing of the cell surface, which was completely inhibited by staurosporine at concentrations above 10(-8) M, and arrested the cell cycle transiently to G2 and finally the G1 phase at growth-inhibitory concentrations(1)

2. Aphis craccivora and Pieris rapae

In the study of the root powder of Stellera chamaejasme extracted with chloroform to obtain chromatographed several times with silica gel columns and finally one pure natural product found that it had good insecticidal activity against Aphis craccivora and Pieris rapae. Its median lethal concentrations (LC50) (24 h after treatment) were 14.81 and 47.68 mg L(-1), respectively. This is the first time that the insecticidal activity of thymol against A. craccivora and P. rapae(2)

3. Prostate cancer

In the evaluation of Neochamaejasmin A ( 1), a biflavonoid isolated from the roots of a traditional Chinese medicine, Stellera chamaejasme L. for it anti prostate caner effects, found that Treatment of LNCaP cells with low doses of 1 (< or =6.25 microg/mL) suppressed DNA-binding activities of the transcription factors NFkappaB and AP-1 to the promoter of cyclin D and also inhibited expression of the cell cycle regulatory proteins cyclin D, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and nucleolin, thus arresting cells in G 1 phase of the cell cycle. A lengthy exposure with higher doses of 1 (> or =12.5 microg/mL) revealed the production of reactive oxygen species, dissipation of the mitochondrial membrane potential, up-regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21, and induction of cell apoptosis(3)

4. Free radical scavenging activities

In examination of the free radical scavenging action of some medicinal herbs growing in Mongolia. The aqueous extract of nine herbs Chamenerion angustifolium (Ch.ang), Equisetum arvense (Eq.arv), Gentiana decumbens (Gn.dec), Geranium pratense (Gr.pra), Lomatogonium carinthiacum (L.car), Nonea poulla (N.pl), Phodococcum vitis-idaea (Ph.v), Sphallerocarpus gracilis (Sph.gr), Stellera chamaejasme (St.cha), showed that extracts of Ch.ang, Gn.dec, Gr.pra, L.car, N.pl, Ph.v, Sph.gr and St. cha possess strong scavenging action of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, superoxide and hydroxyl radicals. On the other hand, the radical scavenging action of Eq.arv was low. Extracts of N.pl and Ph.v markedly inhibited the CL generated from rat liver microsomal cytochrome P450 system whereas the CL was moderately inhibited by Eq.arv, Gn.dec, Gr.pra, L.car and St.cha(4)

4. Anti- leukemia

In the observation of Gnidimacrin, a diterpene compound, isolated from the methanol extract of Stellera chamaejasme L, indicated that a significant antitumor activities against mouse leukemia P-388 and L-1210 in vivo. At the dosages of 0.02-0.03mg/kg ip, the in increase in life span (ILS) was 70% and 80%, respectively. Gnidimacrin was also active against murine solid tumors in vivo, such as Lewis lung carcinoma, B-16 melanoma and colon cancer 26. It showed ILSs of 40%, 49% and 41% at the dosages of 0.01-0.02mg/kg ip, respectively. Gnidimacrin strongly inhibited cell proliferation of human cancer cell lines such as leukemia K562, stomach cancers Kato-III, MKN-28, MKN-45, and mouse L-1210 by the MTT assay and colony forming assay in vitro(5)

6. Etc.

Side Effects

1. Do not use the herb if you are experience body weakness

2. Over doses can cause toxicity

3. Do not use Land Du in new born, children or if you are pregnant or breast feeding without first consult with your doctor or related field specialist.

4. Etc.