Thursday 31 October 2013

Chinese #Herbs – Xuan Fu Hua (Flos Inulae)

Xuan Fu Hua is also known as Inula Flower. The  acrid, salty, bitter and slightly warm herb has been used in TCM as anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-virus, nti-tumor, anti-oxidation, anti-asthma agent and to treat fullness in chest, asthmatic cough with abundance of phlegm, vomiting, burping, lumps under the chest, etc. by enhancing the functions of lung, spleen, stomach and large intestine channels.

Ingredients
1. Gaillardin
2. Quercetin
3. Quercemeritrin
4. Isoquercitrin
5. Quercetagitrin
6. Huteolin
7.  6-hydroxyluteolin 7-glucoside
8. Quercetin 7-glucuronoglucoside
9.  6-hydroxyluteolin 7-diglucoside
10. Patuletin
11. Etc.

Health Benefits
1. Anti proliferation and apoptosis
In the study to determine the effects of Acetylbritannilactone (ABL), a naturally occurring Inula britannica L., on vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and apoptosis, found that ABL was capable of suppressing the abnormal VSMC proliferation, accompanied by the induction of apoptosis in vivo and in vitro. It suggested that ABL could be considered a pharmacological candidate for the prevention of restenosis after balloon angioplasty(1).
2. Block neointimal hyperplasia
In the study to investigate whether and how the total flavonoid extracts (TFE) from Inula britannica L. block neointimal hyperplasia induced by balloon injury in rats, showed that the inhibitory effect of TFE on neointimal hyperplasia was almost consistent with that of atorvastatin, a positive control. The plasma SOD activity was obviously increased by TFE treatment (P<0.01), while plasma MDA production was markedly decreased by TFE treatment (P<0.05). On day 14 after balloon injury, the carotid arteries showed an increase in O(2)(-) production that was most evident in the neointimal and medial layer of the vessel(2).
3. Anti-inflammatory activity
In the study to investigate the mechanism of action by which a new anti-inflammatory active compound, 1-O-acetylbritannilactone (ABL) isolated from Inula britannica-F., inhibits inflammatory responses in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs),  indicate that ABL is a potent inhibitor of LPS-stimulated VSMC inflammatory responses through blockade of NF-kappaB activity and inhibition of inflammatory gene COX-2 expression(3).
4. Autoimmune diabetes
In the study of  the effects of IB on diabetes in mice induced by multiple low doses of streptozotocin (MLDSTZ), indicated that the degree of insulitis and destruction of beta-cells were reduced by IB treatment. The IFN-gamma production from stimulated splenic T lymphocytes was inhibited by the IB treatment. Moreover, the proportion of IFN-gamma-producing cells in the CD4(+) population, which was increased by MLDSTZ, was significantly decreased by the IB treatment(4).
5. Etc.

Side Effects
1. Du not use the herb in case of chronic cough with Yin deficiency or wind-heat cough
2. etc.
Side Effects
1. Do not use the herb in case of Yin and blood deficiency and leukemia with low white blood cell count.
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/20060605
(2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19559080
(3) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17915214
(4) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12112297

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