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

Tuesday, 5 November 2013

Chinese Herbs – Lian Qiao (Fructus Forsythiae Suspensae)

Lian Qiao is also known as forsythia fruit. The bitter, cool, and slightly acrid herb has been used in TCM as antibiotic, anti inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antiemetic agent and
protect liver, stop vomiting, enhance blood circulation, promote urination, etc. as it clears heat and toxin, nodules, expels externally contracted wind, etc., by enhancing the functions of heart, liver and gall bladder channels.

Ingredients

1. Frsythin

2. Mtairesinoside

3. Btulinic acid

4. Pyillygenin

5. Piresinol

6. Etc.

Health Benefits

1. Antimicrobial activity

In the investigation of twenty traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) for their antimicrobial activity against four common oral bacteria, including Fructus forsythiae suspensae showed that thirteen TCMs demonstrated antimicrobial activity against Porphyromonas gingivalis, including Cortex magnoliae officinalis, Cortex phellodendri, Flos caryophylli, Flos lonicerae japonicae, Fructus armeniaca mume, Fructus forsythiae suspensae, Herba cum radice violae yedoensitis, Herba menthae haplocalycis, Pericarpium granati, Radix et rhizoma rhei, Radix gentianae, Ramulus cinnamomi cassia and Rhizoma cimicifugae. Cortex phellodendri showed antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus mutans, while Radix et rhizoma rhei was effective against Streptococcus mitis and Streptococcus sanguis. Fructus armeniaca mume had inhibitory effects against Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus mutans and Porphyromonas gingivalis in vitro(1)

2. Blood lipid lowering effects

In the investigation of a primary methanol extract (F-ME), secondary butanol-soluble fraction (F-BU), and lignans prepared from forsythia fruit (Forsythia viridissima L.) and added to 0.5% (w/w) cholesterol diets for male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 121 +/- 12 g, showed that Arctiin isolated from the forsythia fruit reduced cholesterol and triglyceride contents in cultured HepG2 cells at 0.01-0.1 microM. These results indicated that the forsythia lignan, arctiin is effective on improving blood lipid status without a significant hepatotoxicity and is to be utilized for the functional foods for lipid-lowering action(2)

3. Antioxidant and antibacterial activity

In the examination of Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl. used in traditional medicines in Asia to treat gonorrhoea, erysipelas, inflammation, pyrexia, ulcer and other diseases, showed that Forsythiaside was found to possess strong antioxidant and antibacterial activity but forsythin was much weaker. Owing to these properties, the study can be further extended to exploit the possible application of forsythiaside as an alternative antioxidant and antibacterial agent of natural origin(3)

4. Antipyretic effects

In the evaluating antipyretic efficacy of Chinese herbal medicines based on UV spectra fingerprints, the aqueous extracts, volatile oils and mixtures of the extracts and oils of the four herbs, plus Ibuprofen suspension (IS), Shuanghuanglian oral liquid (SHL), mixture of SHL and the volatile oils of FL and FF, were used for subject samples to do antipyretic experiments on rats, found that efficacy sequence of the 15 calibrating and 4 validating CHM samples, defined by the first canonical correlative variable U(1) of their UV spectra, was consistent with that given by pharmacological experiments(4)

5. Anti inflammatory effect

In the elucidation of the anti inflammatory effect of 70% methanol extract obtained from the dried fruit of Forsythia suspensa Vahl and its active principles. F. suspensa, with 70% methanol and freeze-dried to give a powdered extract, found that the methanol extract and the n-hexane fraction (p.o.) showed the antiinflammatory effect and analgesic effect, but the water fraction did not. These results suggested that the antiinflammatory and analgesic activity induced by the methanol extract shifted to the n-hexane fraction and the active principles may be lipophilic compounds(5)

Side Effects

1. Use the herb with caution in case of Faint-Empty pulse and spleen deficiency with with diarrhea and sore

2. Not use the herb in newborn, children or if you are pregnant ot breast feeding without consulting with your doctor or related field specialist.

3. Etc.