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

Saturday 16 November 2013

Chinese Herbs – Bai Shao (Radix Paeoniae Lactiflorae)

Bai Shao also known as White Paeony Root, the bitter sour and cool herb has been used in TCM as anti-spastic, anticonvulsant, analgesic, sedative, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic agent and to owers blood pressure, dilates peripheral blood vessels etc., as it nourishes Blood and liver, preserves the Yin, clams pain;, etc., by promoting the function of liver and spleen channels.
Ingredients
1. Paeoniflorin
2. Paeonol
3. Paeonin
4. Albiflorin
5. Triterpenoids
6. Sistosterol
7. Oxypaeoniflorin
8. Benzoylpaeoniflorin
9. Benzoic acid
10. Gallotannin, pedunculagin
11. 1-O-Galloylpedunculagin
12. Eugeniin, tannin acid, fat
13. Essential oil
14. Resin
15. β sitosterol
16. Etc.
Health Benefits
1. Neuronal diseases
phenolic content of PLE(Bai Shao) has demonstrated the activity of enhancing the cell survival by 10-100 microg/ml of PLE. H(2)O(2) and induced severe apoptosis of the PC12 cells, which Indicated that PLE could be a candidate for a new antioxidant against neuronal diseases, according to the study of “Protective effects of Paeonia lactiflora pall on hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells” by Lee SM, Yoon MY, Park HR.(1)
2. Anti-inflammation and antioxidant
Peoniflorin (PF), extracted from the root of Paeonia lactiflora Pall has exhibited a protective ability against oxidative damage in HUVECs amd may be a candidate medicine for the treatment of vascular diseases associated with oxidative stress, acording to the study of “ Protective effects of peoniflorin against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in human umbilical vein endothelial cells” by Chen T, Guo ZP, Jiao XY, Zhang YH, Li JY, Liu HJ.(2)
3. Rheumatoid arthritis and immunomodulatory effects
Ethanol extract of the root is now known as total glucosides of peony (TGP), inhibited the delayed-type hypersensitivity in immuno-activated mice, and enhanced the delayed-type hypersensitivity in immuno-suppressed mice and paeoniflorin, a chemiical compound of Bai Sahoexerted immunosuppressive effects, according to the study of “Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of paeonia lactiflora pall., a traditional chinese herbal medicine” by
He DY, Dai SM(3)
4. Atherosclerosis
Total glucosides of paeony (TGP) extracted from the roots of Paeonia lactiflora Pall reduce the risk of Atherosclerosis by lowering blood lipids and inhibiting the expression of inflammatory cytokines, according to the study of “Effects of total glucosides from paeony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall) roots on experimental atherosclerosis in rats” by Li J, Chen CX, Shen YH.(4)
5. Bladder cancer
Extracts of Paeonia lactiflora Pall (RPA) has shown to inhibit growth of bladder cancer via induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Treatment of TSGH-8301 cells with RPA resulted in G2-M phase arrest that was associated with a marked decline in protein levels of cdc2, cyclin B1, cell division cycle 25B (Cdc25B) and Cdc25C, accoding to the study of “Paeonia lactiflora Pall inhibits bladder cancer growth involving phosphorylation of Chk2 in vitro and in vivo” by Ou TT, Wu CH, Hsu JD, Chyau CC, Lee HJ, Wang CJ.(5)
6. Diatbetes
TGP, extracted from root of Paeonia lactiflora pall has exerted the ability of preventing diabetes by reducing the oxidative stress increased in the diabetic rat kidneys, according to the study of “Effects of total glucosides of paeony on oxidative stress in the kidney from diabetic rats” by Su J, Zhang P, Zhang JJ, Qi XM, Wu YG, Shen JJ.(6)
7. Antidepressant activity
Total glycosides of peony (TGP) from Bai shao has alleviated depression induced by chronic unpredictable stress as a result of inhibition of monoamine oxidases and the attenuation of oxidative stress in mouse brain, according to the study of “Effects of peony glycosides on mice exposed to chronic unpredictable stress: further evidence for antidepressant-like activity” by Mao QQ, Ip SP, Ko KM, Tsai SH, Xian YF, Che CT.(7)
8. Osteoporosis
Monoterpene glycoside, 6′-O-beta-D-glucopyranosylalbiflorin extract of the roots of Paeonia lactiflora Pall have exhibited the direct stimulatory effect on bone formation, according to the study of “A new monoterpene glycoside from the roots of Paeonia lactiflora increases the differentiation of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells” by Yen PH, Kiem PV, Nhiem NX, Tung NH, Quang TH, Minh CV, Kim JW, Choi EM, Kim YH.(8)
9. Hepatitis B virus
1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose axtracted from Bai Shao has decreased the level of extracellular HBV (IC50, 1.0 microg/ml) in a dose-dependent manner and reduced the HBsAg level by 25% at a concentration of 4 microg/ml, according to the study of “In vitro antiviral activity of 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose against hepatitis B virus” by Lee SJ, Lee HK, Jung MK, Mar W.(9)
Side effects
1. Do not used the herb if you are pregnant or breast feeding without approval by your related filed specialist
2. Bai shao might cause muscle cramps and prevent blood clotting
3. Do not use raw bai shao in case of pain in abdomen or/with diarrhea as a result of spleen deficient). Use chao bai shao (stir fried bai shao) instead, according to the article of “Bai shao yao” by By: Joe Hing Kwok Chu(a)
4. Etc.