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

Tuesday, 5 November 2013

Chinese Herbs– Long Kui (Herb Solani nigri)

Long Kui is also known Solanum Nigrum. The bitter, slightly sweet, cold and s toxic herb has been used in TCM as anti-pyretic, diuretic, anti cancers agent and to treat acute kidney inflammation, chronic bronchitis, etc., as it clears heat, eliminates toxins, invigorates blood, reduces swelling, promotes urination, etc., by enhancing the functions of lung, liver and stomach channels.

Ingredients
In the investigation to study of Nutraceuticals properties of Solanum nigrum and the results obtained compared with Chinese chive and Roselle plant, the seeds contain oil (36.5%), dietary fibre (1.3%) and crude protein (7%). Vitamin analysis in mg/kg (DW) indicated that seed contains thiamine (3.5), riboflavin
(1.8) and niacin (36.2). The most abundant fatty acids were linoleic (65.45%) and palmitic (10.19%) present in seeds. Seeds contain Fe (3.8), Ca (73) and Zn (14) in mg/100g (DW). The calorific value (kcal/100 g sample) for leaves (60.70); berries (73.98) and for seed (126.84). Anti nutritional factors in mg/100g (DW) for seeds were found at parity with Chinese chive and Roselle plants e.g. trypsin (1.01±0.74), phytic acid (0.13±0.32) and tannins (0.17±0.09) were moderate(a)

Health benefits
1. Antioxidant and antihyperlipidemic effect
In the study to evaluate the Solanum nigrum fruit extract (SNFEt) for its antioxidant and antihyperlipidemic activity against ethanol-induced toxicity in rats, in the lipid profiles, the levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoproteins (LDL), very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), free fatty acids (FFA), and phospholipids were significantly elevated in the ethanol-induced group, whereas, the high density lipoproteins (HDL) were found to be reduced in the plasma, and the phospholipid levels were significantly decreased in the tissues. Supplementation of SNFEt improved the antioxidant status by decreasing the levels of TBARS and altering the lipid profiles to near normal(1) 2. Hepatocarcinoma cell
In the searching for an effective agent against HCC progression, we prepared a polyphenolic extract of Solanum nigrum L. (SNPE), a herbal plant indigenous to Southeast Asia and commonly used in oriental medicine, to evaluate its inhibitive effect on hepatocarcinoma cell growth, found that found 1 µg mL(-1) SNPE-fed mice showed decreased tumor weight and tumor volume by 90%. Notably, 2 µg mL(-1) SNPE resulted in almost complete inhibition of tumor weight as well as tumor volume. In line with this notion, SNPE reduced the viability of HepG(2) cells in a dose-dependent manner. HepG(2) cells were arrested in the G(2)/M phase of the cell cycle; meanwhile, the protein levels of cell CDC25A, CDC25B, and CDC25C were clearly reduced.(2)
3. Prostate cancer
In the study to investigation of weather a polyphenolic extract derived from ripe berries of Solanum nigrum (SN) differentially causes cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in various human prostate cancer cells without affecting normal prostate epithelial cells, showed that SN treatment (5-20 µg/ml) resulted in a dose-dependent G2/M phase arrest and subG1 accumulation in the CA-HPV-10 but not in the PZ-HPV-7 cell line. Our results, for the first time, demonstrate that the SN extract is capable of selectively inhibiting cellular proliferation and accelerating apoptotic events in prostate cancer cells. SN may be developed as a promising therapeutic and/or preventive agent against prostate cancer.(3)
4. Estrogenic activity
In the study to evaluate the estrogenic potential of S. nigrum fruits by in vitro and in vivo assays, showed that At low concentration (40 μg/ml), SNGF induced a dose-dependent increase in MCF-7 cell proliferation, while higher extract concentrations (80-320 μg/ml) caused progressive cell growth inhibition. The competitive binding assay using ³H-E₂ suggests that this effect is mediated by estrogen receptor.(4)
5. Antiviral activity
In the study to search for anti-HCV plants from different areas of Pakistan, found that Methanol and chloroform extracts of Solanum nigrum (SN) seeds exhibited 37% and more than 50% inhibition of HCV respectively at non toxic concentration. Moreover, antiviral effect of SN seeds extract was also analyzed against HCV NS3 protease by transfecting HCV NS3 protease plasmid into liver cells(5)
6. Etc.

Side Effects

1. Do not use the raw fresh part of plant and unripe fruit as they are poisonous and can cause dilated pupils, dizziness, nausea, dry mouth and tongue, loss of ability to
talk, loss of consciousness.

2. Do not use the herb in case of spleen deficiency

3. 2. Do not use the Ling Kui in newborn, children or if you are pregnant or
breast feeding with out approval first with the related field specialist

4. Etc.