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

Saturday 9 November 2013

Chinese Herbs– He Ye (Folium Nelumbinis Nuciferae)

He Ye is also known as Lotus leaf. The bitter, slightly sweet and neutral herb has been used in TCM to treat fever, irritability, excessive sweating, scanty urine, heatstroke, diarrhea, hypertension, edema, etc. as it disperses and elinminate Summer-Heat, disperses Dampness, raises Yang, stops bleeding, etc., by enhancing the functions of heart, liver and spleen channels.
Ingredients
1. Alkaloids
2. Flavonoids
3. Tannins
4. Vitamin A
5. Thiamine (vitamin B1)
6. Riboflavin (vitamin B2)
7. Niacin (vitamin B3)
8. Pantothenic acid (B5)
9. Vitamin B6
10. Folate (vitamin B9)
11. Choline
12. Etc.
Health Benefits
1. Immunomodulatory potential
In the evaluation of the immunomodulatory activity of extract of rhizome (NNRE) and seed (NNSE) of the plant, showed that The TLC and lymphocyte count increased significantly but the neutrophil count was decreased for NNRE and NNSE treated groups compared to the control. A dose-dependent potentiation of DTH reaction induced by SRBC was observed from the extracts. The percentage of neutrophil adhesion to the nylon fiber was increased in NNRE treated groups (63.22 and 62.91%) compared to the NNSE treated group (54.86 and 54.23%). A potential phagocytic response was seen on treatment of the extracts, and significant changes were observed in the formation of formazone crystals, according to “Immunomodulatory potential of rhizome and seed extracts of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn’ by Mukherjee D, Khatua TN, Venkatesh P, Saha BP, Mukherjee PK.(1)
2. Acute and Chronic Restraint Stress
In the evaluation of the antistress activity of Nelumbo nucifera in chronic stress condition, fresh Wistar rats, subjected to cold restraint stress (4 degrees for 1 h) for 7 days after 21 days, found that the extract treated animals showed increase in swimming endurance time and reduced number of writhes in physical and chemical-induced stress models respectively. Treatment groups also reverted back perturbed neurotransmitter levels (norepinephrine, dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine) in brain as well as increase in adrenal gland weights and atrophy of spleen caused by cold chronic stress, according to “Attenuation of Acute and Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Perturbations in Experimental Animals by Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn” by Kulkarni MP, Juvekar AR.(2)
3. Chronic hepatotoxicity
In the investigation of the protective effects of lotus germ oil on liver and kidney damage by carbon tetrachloride-induced chronic hepatotoxicity in mice, found that lotus germ oil could inhibit the conversion of super-coiled pBR322 plasmid DNA to the open circular form and apoptosis of hydrogen peroxide-induced PC-12 cells. The result of this study suggested that the lotus germ oil could be recognized as powerful “functional oil” against oxidative stress, according to “Protective effects of lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn) germ oil against carbon tetrachloride-induced injury in mice and cultured PC-12 cells” by Lv L, Jiang C, Li J, Zheng T.(3)
4. Insulin secretion and blood glucose levels
In the evaluation of The effects of lotus leaf methanolic extract (NNE) on insulin secretion and hyperglycemia were investigated.in vitro and in vivo, suggested that NNE and its active constituent catechin are useful in the control of hyperglycemia in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus through their action as insulin secretagogues, according to “Extract of lotus leaf ( Nelumbo nucifera ) and its active constituent catechin with insulin secretagogue activity” by Huang CF, Chen YW, Yang CY, Lin HY, Way TD, Chiang W, Liu SH.(4)
5. Anti-obesity effect
In the investigation of determination of the pharmacological mechanism of the anti-obesity effect of Nelumbo nucifera leaves extract (NNE) and the effect of NNE on digestive enzyme activity, lipid metabolism and theromogenesis and anti-obesity using high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice, indicated that NNE prevented the increase in body weight, parametrial adipose tissue weight and liver triacylglycerol levels in mice with obesity induced by a high-fat diet. UCP3 mRNA expression in skeletal muscle tended to be higher, when mice were administrated by NNE and were exercised. Therefore, NNE impaired digestion, inhibited absorption of lipids and carbohydrates, accelerated lipid metabolism and up-regulated energy expenditure. Consequently, NNE is beneficial for the suppression of obesity, according to “Anti-obesity effect of Nelumbo nucifera leaves extract in mice and rats” by Ono Y, Hattori E, Fukaya Y, Imai S, Ohizumi Y.(5)
6. Cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation
In the examination of the effects of Nelumbo nucifera rhizome extracts (NRE) on cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) of a rat model of scopolamine-induced amnesia, showed that the administration of NRE significantly restored the scopolamine-induced reduction of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in DG homogenates. These results suggest that NRE can ameliorate the scopolamine-induced reductions of cell proliferation, neuroblast differentiation and BDNF levels, according to “Effects of Nelumbo nucifera rhizome extract on cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus in a scopolamine-induced amnesia animal model” by Yoo DY, Kim W, Yoo KY, Lee CH, Choi JH, Kang IJ, Yoon YS, Kim DW, Won MH, Hwang IK.(6)
7. Etc.
Side Effects
1. Do not use the herb in case of bleeding as a result of cold or deficiency
2. Do not use the herb in newborn, children or if you are pregnant or breast feeding without consulting first with the related field specialist
3. Do not use the herb with Fu ling
4. Etc.