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

Friday, 1 November 2013

Chinese Herbs – Ma Tou Ling or Tian Xian Teng (Fructus aristolochia)

Ma Tou Ling is also known as Birthwort fruit. The bitter and cold herb has been used in TCM to treat coughs, phlegm, wheezing, blood in phlegm, with lung heat; hypertension, dizziness, etc., as it clear lung heat, lung heat, tonifies Yin, etc. by enhancing the functions of lung and large intestine channels.
Ingredients
1. Aristolochic acid
2. Aristolochine C32H32N2O18
3. Magnoflorine
4. Etc.

Health Benefits
1. Antimicrobial activity
In the study of the antimicrobial activity of Ishwarane, a common constituent of Aristolochia indica and Bixa orellana, found that the essential oil inhibited the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa UCH 655 strain at 5 mg/mL on which standard antibiotic drugs were ineffective(1).
2. Etc.

Side Effects
1. Do not use the herb in case of spleen deficiency
2. Do not use the herb in case of cough as a result of cold and deficiency or weakness
3. Do not use the herb in newborn, children or if you are pregnant or breast feeding without first consulting with the related field specialist.
4. Etc.

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Sources
(1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16041738

Chinese Herbs – Ting Li Zi (Semen Descurainiae seu Lepidii)

Ting Li Zi is also known as Pepperweed/Tansymustard Seed. The acrid, bitter and cold herb has been used in TCM to treat whooping cough, pleurisy, idiopathic pneumothorax, pulmonary edema, ascites, acute nephritis, etc., by enhancing the functions of lung, heart, liver, stomach and bladder channels.

Ingredients
1. Stophanthidin
2. Evomonoside
3. Helvticoside
4. Evbioside
5. Erysimoside
6. Glucosinolates,
7. Benzyl isothiocyanate
8. Allyl isothiocynatge
9. Allyl isothiocyanate
10. 3-butenyl isothiocyanate
11. Etc.

Health Benefits
1. Phytotoxicity and antioxidant activity
In the study to evaluate the possible in vitro phytotoxic effects of 27 flavonoids on the germination and early radical growth of Raphanus sativus L. and Lepidium sativum L., 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test confirms the antioxidant activity of luteolin, quercetin, catechol, morin, and catechin. The biological activity recorded is discussed in relation to the structure of compounds and their capability to interact with cell structures and physiology. No correlation was found between phytotoxic and antioxidant activities(1).
2. Immunomodulatory activity
In the study to evaluate the immunomodulatory activity of protein extracts (PEs) of 14 Moroccan medicinal plants, found that the first group represented by Citrullus colocynthis, Urtica dioica, Elettaria cardamomum, Capparis spinosa and Piper cubeba showed a significant immunosuppressive activity. The second group that showed a significant immunostimulatory activity was represented by Aristolochia longa, Datura stramonium, Marrubium vulgare, Sinapis nigra, Delphynium staphysagria, Lepidium sativum, Ammi visnaga and Tetraclinis articulata(2).
3. Airways Disorders
in the study of Pharmacological Basis for the Medicinal Use of Lepidium sativum in Airways Disorders,
indicated that bronchodilatory effect of Lepidium sativum is mediated through a combination of anticholinergic, Ca(++) antagonist and PDE inhibitory pathways, which provides sound mechanistic background for its medicinal use in the overactive airways disorders(3).
4. Antidiarrheal and antispasmodic activities
in the study to provide the pharmacological basis for the medicinal use of Lepidium sativum in diarrhea using in vivo and in vitro assays, found that Lepidium sativum seed extract possesses antidiarrheal and spasmolytic activities mediated possibly through dual blockade of muscarinic receptors and Ca(++) channels, though additional mechanism(s) cannot be ruled out and this study explains its medicinal use in diarrhea and abdominal cramps(4).
5. Etc.

Side Effects
1. Do not use the herb in case of whooping cough and cough as a result of lung qi or spleen deficiency
2. Do not use the herb in newborn, children or if you are pregnant or breast feeding without first consulting with the related field specialist.
3. Etc.

Sources
(1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22754304
(2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22301818
(3) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22291849
(4) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22006354

Chinese Herbs – Tong Cao (Medulla Tetrapanacis papyriferis)

Tong Cao is also known as Ricepaperplant Pith. The sweet, bland, slightly cold and nontoxic herb has been used in TCM as auto-immune system and anti-oxidant, diuretic agent and to promote the flow of breast milk, etc., as it clears Heat, eliminates Water, promotes lactation, etc. by enhancing the functions of lung and stomach channels.

Ingredients
1. Inositol
2. Arabinose
3. Lactose
4. Galacturonic acid
5. Etc.

Health Benefits
1. Anti-HIV activity
In the study of four oleanane-type triterpenes, 3alpha,21beta,22alpha-trihydroxy-11,13(18)-oleanadien-28-oic acid (1), 3-epi-papyriogenin C (2), 21-O-acetyl-21-hydroxy-3-oxo-11,13(18)-oleanadien-28-oic acid (3) and 3beta-hydroxy-21-oxo-11,13(18)-oleanadien-28-oic acid methyl ester (4), together with four known triterpenes, were isolated from Tetrapanax papyriferus (Hook) K. Koch Papyriogenin A (8)found that exhibited anti-HIV activity and low cytotoxicity in acutely infected H9 lymphocytes(1).
2. Etc.

Side Effects
1. Do not use the herb in case of Yin and Qi deficiency without damp heat
2. Do not use the herb in newborn, children or if you are pregnant or breast feeding without first consulting with the related field specialist.
3. Etc.

Sources
(1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17289094

Chinese Herbs – Tu Fu Ling (Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae)

Tu Fu Ling is also known as Smilax. The sweet, bland, cool and non-toxic herb has been used in TCM to treat leptospirosis, acute dysentery, acute or chronic inflammation of kidneys, mercury toxin, psoriasis, fungal infection, etc., as it expels toxins, disperses Dampness, softens the joints, etc. by enhancing the functions of stomach and kidney channels.

Ingredients
1. β-sitosterol palmitate
2. β-sitosterol
3. Daucosterol
4. 1-O-hexadecanoyl-3-O-β-D-galactop yranosyl-glycerol,4
5. Astilbin
6. Quercetin
7. Taxilfolin
8. Quercetin-4′-O-β-D-pyranglucoside
9. Isoastilbin
10. Etc.

Health Benefits
1. Irritant contact dermatitis
in the study to determine whether this topical CHM extract exerts preventive and/or therapeutic effects, we assessed its efficacy in both allergic contact dermatitis and irritant contact dermatitis murine models, found that CHM extract could provide an alternative regimen for the prevention and treatment of irritant contact dermatitis(1).
2. Arthritis
In the study to examine the therapeutic effects of astilbin, a flavanoid isolated from Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae, on arthritis and to compare it with cyclosporine A (CsA), showed that stilbin may act as an efficient therapeutic agent for arthritis like CsA but with less toxicity. Its mechanism includes a selective suppression on lymphocyte functions via reducing MMP and NO production(2).
3. Immunomodulatory activity
In the study to examine the activity of Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae (RSG) and its mechanism on the secondary inflammation of adjuvant arthritis (AA) , found that the administration of RSG (400 and 800 mg/kg) during the later phase significantly inhibited the swelling of the adjuvant-non-injected footpad of AA rats. The lipopolysaccharide-induced production of IL-1, TNF and NO by peritoneal macrophages was significantly reduced. In contrast, the extract significantly recovered the decrease in weight gain of the AA rats and Concanavalin A-induced T lymphocyte proliferation and IL-2 production by their splenocytes, while prednisolone (10mg/kg) showed a significant aggravation(3).
4. Anti-inflammatory activity
in the study to evaluate the aqueous extract from Rhizoma smilacis glabrae (RSG) (RSG ext) inhibition in the effector phase of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) without suppressing humoral immune response, found that RSG ext may act as a therapeutic agent of immunoinflammatory diseases through a selective suppression on the cellular immune response involved in inflammations as well as through a direct anti-inflammatory mechanism including inhibiting PGE2(4).
5. Etc.

Side Effects
1. Do not use the herb with tea
2. Do not use the herb in case of liver and kidney Yin deficiency
3. Do not use the herb in newborn, children or if you are pregnant or breast feeding without first consulting with the related field specialist.
4. Etc.

Sources
(1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22004502
(2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14504671
(3) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12576202
(4) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9425621

Chinese Herbs - Tu Jing Pi (Cortex Pseudolaricis)

Tu Jing Pi is also known as Golden Larch Bark. The acrid , warm and toxic herb has been used in TCM as contraceptive, anti fungal agent and to treat liver tumor, parasite etc., as it expels worms and parasites, relieves itching, etc. by enhancing the functions of lung and spleen channels.

Ingredients
1. Pseudolaric acid）A、B、C、D、E
2. Demethylpseudolaric acid B
3. B pseudolaric acid A-β-D-glucoside
4. Pseudolarifuroic
5. Betulinic acid
6. β-sitosterol
7. β-sitosterol-β-D-glucoside
8. Etc.

Health benefits
1. Anti fungal activity
Crude extracts from a number of medicinal herbs have been shown to exhibit antifungal activities in vitro, including cortex moutan, cortex pseudolaricis, rhizoma alpiniae officinarum, rhizoma coptidis, clove and cinnamon, anemarrhena cortex phellodendri, ramulus cinnamomi, and Chinese gall adue to the presence of berberine, palmatine, allincin, pseudolaric acid A and B, magnolol, honokiol, and galangin compouds in the herbs(1).
2. Scavenging activity
In the study to evaluate the protective effects of Chinese herbs against ONOO(-)-induced biomolecule damage, showed that the potency of scavenging activity was in the following order: Apis cerana Fabricius (Propolis) > Rosmarinus officinalis L (Rosemary) > Pseudolarix amabilis (Nelson) Rehd. (Pine Bark PE) > Echinacea Moenck. (Echinacea); the remaining twenty-eight herbs performed unsatisfactorily for their scavenging activity(2).
3. Etc.

Side Effects
1. Do not use the herb in newborn, children or if you are pregnant or breast feeding without first consulting with the related field specialist.
2. Etc.

Sources
(1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21441482
(2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%20Pseudolarix%20amabilis%20%28Nelson%29%20Rehd.

Chinese Herbs– Wang Bu Liu Xiang (Semen Vaccariae)

Wang Bu Liu Xiang is also known as Vaccaria seed. The acrid, sweet, bitter and neutral herb has been used in TCM anti tumors, contraceptive agent and to expel gall bladder stone, promote mense, unrination, etc., as it moves Blood, benefits menstruation, romotes lactation, etc. by enhancing the functions of liver and stomach channels.

Ingredients
1. 1, 8-dihydroxy-3, 5-dimethoxy-xanthon-7-carboxylic acid
2. Sapxanthone
3. Vacsegoside
4. Gypsogenin
5. D-glucose
6. L-arabinose
7. , D-xylose
8. L-fucose L
9. LL-rhamnose
10. Etc.

Health Benefits
1. Weight reduction, changes to waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio
In the study to test the efficacy of different materials used in an auricular acupressure program on weight reduction, changes to waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio, indicated that treatment with Semen Vaccariae group showed a more effective weight loss over the short term. Given that auricular acupressure is a safe and cost-effective treatment for weight loss, our results suggest that auricular acupressure is a reasonable option for the treatment of overweight and obesity in young adults(1)
2. Chronic uncomplicated rachialgia
In the study to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of treatment with auriculopressure, in the primary healthcare sector, carried out by trained healthcare professionals via a 30-hour course with patients with chronic uncomplicated rachialgia, stated that the study will contribute to developing evidence on the use of auriculotherapy using Semen vaccariae [wang bu liu xing] for the treatment of uncomplicated chronic rachialgia(2).
3. Tinnitus
In the study to examine tinnitus treatment with combined traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine (For the controls, only western medicines such as valium, nicotinic acid, mixture bromides, vitamin B Co, ATP and carbamazepine (if 100 mg of lidocaine added to 50% glucose solution intravenously was effective) were taken orally. For TCM-WM group patients, besides the drugs used above, herbal decoctions were given twice a day, and observed for 5 days per therapeutic course. The medicinal herbs consist of: Rhizoma Gastrodiae, Ramulus Uncariae cum Uncis, Poria cocos, Flos Chrysanthemi, Akebia quinata, Radix Polygoni Multiflori, Fructus Liquidambris, Radix Rehmanniae, Rhizoma Alismatis, Radix Scrophulariae, Fructus Lycii, Radix Glycyrrhizae, Semen Plantaginis and Semen Vaccariae) showed that the therapeutic results of TCM-WM group was better than those of the controls(3).
4. Etc.

Side Effects
1. Do not use the herb in newborn, children or if you are pregnant or breast feeding without first consulting with the related field specialist.
2. Etc.

Sources
(1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22809026
(2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18601750
(3) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2766421

Chinese Herbs – Wei Ling Xian (Radix Clematidis)

Wei Ling Xian is also known as Clematis Root. The acrid, salty, warm, slightly bitter and mildly toxic herb has been used in TCM to treat rheumatoid arthritis, gouts, pain in the lower back and limb, strokes, headaches, promote urination, etc., as it expels Wind-Damp, promotes circulation in the channels eliminates painful obstruction, etc. by enhancing the functions of bladder and liver channels.

Ingredients
1. Oleanolic aicd
2. Anemonin
3. Anemonol
4. Protoanemonin
5. Clematis chinensis
6. Hederagenin
7. Protoanemonin
8. Prosapogenine
9. Etc.

Health Benefits
1. Breast cancer
According to the report of Noh EM and research team at the Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, the expression of MMP-9 and cell invasion in response to TPA was increased, whereas TPA-induced MMP-9 expression and cell invasion was decreased by Radix Clematidis (RCE). Moreover, RCE suppressed NF-κB activation in TPA-treated MCF-7 cells. Thus, RCE is a potent inhibitor of TPA-induced MMP-9 expression and markedly blocks the NF-κB pathway in MCF-7 cells(1).
2. Human dermal fibroblasts
Western blot analysis and real-time PCR revealed RCE inhibited UVB-induced MMP-1 and -3 expressions in a dose-dependent manner. UVB-induced NF-kappaB activation was completely blocked by RCE pretreatment. These findings suggest that RCE prevents UVB-induced MMP expression through inhibition of NF-kappaB activation. In conclusion, RCE is a potential agent for the prevention and treatment of skin photoaging(2).
3. Depigmentation
In the study to obtain potential skin whitening agents from traditional Chinese herbs, we tested changes of melanin content in melanocyte cell lines after treatment with extracts of 90 traditional Chinese herbs., showed that among them, 9 herb extracts to be promising skin whitening agents. Among them, water extract of Galla Chinensis and ethanol extract of Radix Clematidis exhibited higher depigmentation activity and caused lower tyrosinase activity in cell culture assays and are worthy to be further studied(3).
4. Type 1 diabetes
S treptozotocin (STZ) a naturally occurring chemical can cause damage to the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas which can lead to type I diabetes. Treatment of RINm5F insulinoma cells with interleukin-1beta and interferon-gamma reduced cell viability; however, RCE protected the cells from this cytokine-mediated viability reduction in a concentration-dependent manner. Additionally, incubation with RCE resulted in a significant suppression of cytokine-induced nitric oxide (NO) production, which was correlated with reduced levels of the inducible form of NO synthase (iNOS) mRNA and protein. The molecular mechanism by which RCE inhibited iNOS gene expression appeared to involve inhibition of NF-kappaB activation(4).
5. Etc.

Side Effects
1. Do not use in case of Qi and blood deficiency
2. Overdose may cause kidney damage
3. Do not use the herb in newborn, children or if you are pregnant or breast feeding without first consulting with the related field specialist.
4. Etc.