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

Thursday 7 November 2013

Chinese Herbs– Chuan Hu Lian (Rhizoma Picrorhizae)

Chuan Hu lian is also known as Figwortflower. The bitter and cool herb has been used in TCM to as antibiotic and anti-amoeba, anti palette coagulation agent and treat heat toxicity, indigestion, diabetes, inflammation of intestine, diarrhea caused by bacterial infection, high fever, restlessness and insomnia, etc., as it clears Heat, dries Dampness, disperses Fire, expels toxins, etc., by enhancing the functions of heart, large intestine, liver, and stomach channels.
Ingredients
1. Erberine C20H17NO32.
2. Colchicine C21H25NO53.
3. Coptisine C19H15NO54.
4.Worenine C21H15NO45.
5.Palmatine C22HC24 H24O5 N.OHO5NOH6.
6.Jatrorrhizine
7. Magnoflorine
8. Etc.
Health Benefits
In the investigation of acrude methanol extract of Picrorhizae Rhizoma, the dried underground parts of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora PENNELL and it potentiates the nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced neurite outgrowth from PC12D cells, showed that Picrosides did not exhibit neurotrophic activity but caused a marked enhancement of the NGF-mediated neurite outgrowth from PC12D cells. The pharmacological data suggest that picrosides I and II enhance neurite outgrowth from PC12D cells, probably by amplifying a step in the NGF-receptor-mediated intracellular signaling pathway, according to “Nerve growth factor-potentiating compounds from Picrorhizae Rhizoma” by Li P, Matsunaga K, Ohizumi Y.(1)
2. Immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects
In the evaluation of the extracts of the rhizomes of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora Pennell (Scrophulariaceae) for their in vitro and in vivo immunomodulatory properties, found that Diethyl ether extracts showed potent inhibitory activity towards the classical pathway of the complement system, the respiratory burst of activated polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and mitogen-induced proliferation of T-lymphocytes. Furthermore, such extracts showed anti-inflammatory activity towards carrageenan-induced paw edema. No effects were observed in experimentally induced arthritis in mice, according to “Immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activity of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora” by Smit HF, Kroes BH, van den Berg AJ, van der Wal D, van den Worm E, Beukelman CJ, van Dijk H, Labadie RP.(2)
3. Free radical scavenging
In the assessment the free radical scavenging potential of P. kurrooa and the antioxidant activity of P. kurrooa extract, showed that The extract (1 mg/ml) showed marked protection (up to 66.68%) against peroxidation of liver phospholipids. Besides, reduced glutathione showed very encouraging activity. The extract also exhibited significant scavenging activity. Thus augmenting the wide use of plant in the indigenous system of medicine, which may partly be due to antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity of the extract, according to “Free radical scavenging potential of Picrorhiza kurrooa Royle ex Benth” by Govindarajan R, Vijayakumar M, Rawat AK, Mehrotra S.(3)
4. Neurodegenerative disorders
In the evaluation of Apocynin (4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-acetophenone), a constituent of the Himalayan medicinal herb Picrorhiza kurroa which is regarded as an inhibitor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-oxidase, a superoxide-producing enzyme, indicated that the aim of in study is to give an overview of current literature on the neuroprotective effects of apocynin in the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. Particular attention is given to in vivo studies, according to “The neuroprotective effects of apocynin” by Simonyi A, Serfozo P, Lehmidi TM, Cui J, Gu Z, Lubahn DB, Sun AY, Sun GY.(4)
5. Antioxidant and anti-neoplastic activities
In the investigation of The antioxidant and anti-neoplastic activities of aqueous extracts of P. kurroa rhizome, showed that the antioxidant efficacies of the extracts were studied employing radical scavenging assays (DPPH· and ·OH), ferric reducing antioxidant property (FRAP) and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) assay for testing inhibition of lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of the extracts was tested by XTT assay in MDA-MB-435S (human breast carcinoma), Hep3B (human hepatocellular carcinoma) and PC-3 (human prostate cancer) cell lines. The ability of the extracts to induce apoptosis was also investigated. Both extracts exhibited promising antioxidant potentials. The extracts were also observed to be cytotoxic at the tested dosage and were able to target cells towards apoptosis, according to “Antioxidant and anti-neoplastic activities of Picrorhiza kurroa extracts” by Rajkumar V, Guha G, Kumar RA.(5)
6. Etc.
Side effects
1. Do not use the herb in cases of wind heat and wind cold causes of cold and flu
2. Do not use the Huang Lian in newborn, children or if you are pregnant or breast feedign with out approval first with the related field specialist
3. The herb may cause allergic effect, gastrointestinal discomfort and skin rash
4. Overdoses may cause acute deprivation of oxygen of the brain due to cardiac function and decrease of heme and blood cells
5. Etc.