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

Tuesday, 5 November 2013

Chinese Herbs – Li Lu (Rhizoma et Radix Veratri)

Li Lu is also known as Veratrum root and rhizoma. The acrid, cold and toxic herb has been used in TCM used internally to lower blood pressure, heart and respiration rate, etc. and externally to kills parasites and reduce itching, etc., as it induces vomiting to eliminate Phlegm and Wind, eliminates parasites, etc., by enhancing the functions of liver, lung and stomach channels.

Ingredients

1. Didesacetyl protoveratrine
2. Verazine
3. Neogermbudine
4. Veratroylzygadenine
5.Rubijervine
6. Isorubijervine
7. Veramine
8. Veratrum-alkamine

9. Veramiline
10. 3, 15-diangeloylgermine

11. β-sitosterol
12. β-sitosterylstearate
13.Cerotic acid
14. Stearic acid
15. Zygacine
16. Jervine
17. Veratramine
18. Solanidine
19. Hakurirodine

20. Etc.

Health Benefits

1. Anti-herpetic activity

In a convenient virus-induced cytopathic effect (CPE) inhibition assay woth atempt to find antiviral compounds againstHerpes simplex virus type I (HSV-1) and II (HSV-2) from natural products, showed that several medicinal plants showed potent anti-herpetic activity. Selective indexes (SI) of the EtOAc extract of Caraganae Radix (Caragana sinica) against HSV-1 and HSV-2 were more than 8.06 and 24.79, SI of the MeOH extract ofAcer okamotoanum leaves were 3.92 and 3.51, SI of the CH(2)Cl(2) extract of Veratri Rhizoma et Radix (Veratrum patulum) were 5.49 and 1.31 and SI of the MeOH extract of aerial part of Osmundae Rhizoma (Osmunda japonica) were more than 3.45 and 1.25, respectively(1)

2. Anti cancers

In the investigation of the potential cancer-preventive effects of Resveratrol (trans-3,5,4′-trihydroxystilbene), a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound, was first isolated in 1940 as a constituent of the roots of white Hellebore (Veratrum grandiflorum O. Loes), found that biological activities including antioxidant effects, modulation of carcinogen metabolism, anti-inflammatory potential, antioxidant properties, antiproliferative mechanisms by induction of apoptosis, and cell differentiation are discussed. Some novel information on its modulating effects on cell signaling pathway, metabolism studies, bioavailability, and cancer-preventive efficacy is also provided. Based on these findings, resveratrol may be used as a promising candidate for cancer chemoprevention(2)

3. Inhibition of Platelet aggregation

In the investigation of the Veratrum patulum L. (Liliaceae) used as one source of the Chinese traditional drug “Lilu” which has been used in the treatment of aphasia arising from apoplexy, wind type dysentery, headache, etc. for thousands of years, found that total steroidal alkaloids (VpA) from the herb significantly inhibit the formation of arterial and venous thrombosis and showed different inhibitory effect on the platelet aggregation induced by various agonists with the following potency order: collagen>ADP>thrombin. VpA showed no influence on the coagulation parameters in rat. But VpA decreased the cutting-tail bleeding time in rat(3)

4. Etc.

Side Effects

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

2. Over dose can cause toxicity in central nervous system

3. Do not use the in newborn, children, or if you are pregnant or breast feeding without consulting with your doctor or related field specialist.

4. Etc.