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

Saturday 16 November 2013

Chinese Herbs – Bai tou weng (Radix Pulsatillae)

Bai tou weng is also known as Chinese pulsaiilla root. The bitter and cold herb has been used in TCM as antibiotic, anti parasites, anti cancer and to kill sperms and treat endotoxic toxemia, etc., as it clears Heat, Expels poison, Cools Blood, etc. by enhancing the functions of large intestine, liver, stomach channels

Ingredients
1. Pulchinenoside A , B, C, D
2. saponin1, 2,
3. betulinic acid,
4. betulinicacid3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosid
5. 3-oxobetulinicacid, daucosterol
6. Protoanemonin, anemonin
7. Okinalin
8. Okinalein
9. Etc.
Health Benefits
1. Renal arteries relaxation
Anemoside A(3), a lupane-type triterpenoid saponin of the roots of Pulsatilla chinensis(Bai Tou teng) has exerted the produces relaxation in rat renal arteries through multiple mechanisms, according to the study of “Anemoside A3-induced relaxation in rat renal arteries: role of endothelium and Ca2+ channel inhibition” by Zhang DM, Lin SM, Lau CW, Yiu A, Wang J, Li Y, Fan CL, Huang Y, Ye WC.(1)
2. Immunological activities
Saponins (PCS) from the roots of Pulsatilla chinensis ahs exhibited an effect on Th1 and Th2 helper T cells and could be used as a vaccine adjuvant to increase immune responses with proper doses, according to the study of “Isolation and evaluation of immunological adjuvant activities of saponins from the roots of Pulsatilla chinensis with less adverse reactions” by Sun Y, Liu J, Yu H, Gong C.(2)
3. Anti-Acne
Quinone type compound, pulsaquinone 1, isolated from the aqueous ethanol extract of the roots of Pulsatilla koreana(Bai tou weng)have exhibited the antimicrobial activity against an anaerobic non-spore-forming gram-positive bacillu and fungi, according to the study of “Anti-acne activities of pulsaquinone, hydropulsaquinone, and structurally related 1, 4-quinone derivatives’ by Cho SC, Sultan MZ, Moon SS.(3)
4. Cognition-enhancing and neuroprotective effects
Extract hederacolchiside-E .from the root of Pulsatilla koreana (Bai tou Weng) has been found to have prominent abilities to reverse scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment in rats and might be a good therapeutic candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, according to the study of “Cognition-enhancing and neuroprotective effects of hederacolchiside-E from Pulsatilla koreana” by Han CK, Choi WR, Oh KB.(4)
5. Antitumor activity
Saponins, acid 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1–>2)-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)]-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside isolated from the root of Pulsatilla koreanaoleanolic has exhibited the most potent cytotoxic activity against the human solid cancer cell lines, according to the study of “Antitumor activity of Pulsatilla koreana saponins and their structure-activity relationship’ by Bang SC, Lee JH, Song GY, Kim DH, Yoon MY, Ahn BZ.(5)
6. Cytotoxic and antiangiogenic activities
Petroleum ether fraction of Pulsatilla koreana (Bai tou weng) has exerted the inhibitory effect on the tube-like formation of human umbilical venous endothelial (HUVE) cells and strong cytotoxic activity against five tumor cell lines, such as Lewis lung carcinoma cells, according to the study of “Deoxypodophyllotoxin; the cytotoxic and antiangiogenic component from Pulsatilla koreana’ by Kim Y, Kim SB, You YJ, Ahn BZ.(6)
7. Etc.
Side Effects
1.There are no known side effects
2. Please consult with your doctor or related field specialist before applying the herb Bai tou weng