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

Saturday 9 November 2013

Chinese Herbs– Hu Zhang (Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati)

Hu Zhang is also known as Japanese knottweed. The slightly bitter and netrual herb has been used in TCM as anti viral, anti leptospirosis, anti fungal, astringent, anti inflammatory, antibiotic, etc. agent and to stop bleeding, lower blood sugar, treat asthma and cough, etc., as it moves Blood, calms pain, clears Heat, drains Dampness, expels toxins, transforms Phlegm, calms cough, et., by enhancing the functions of liver and spleen channels.
Ingredients
1. Emodin
2. Physcion
3. Chrysophanol
4. Anthraglycoside A
5. Anthraglycoside B
6. Emodin-8-O-β-D-glucoside
7. Fallacinol
8. Citreorosein
9. Questin
10. Questinol
11. Resveratrol
12. Etc.
Health Benefits
1. Parkinson disease
In the investigation of the protective effect of resveratrol derived from Rhizoma Et Radix Polygoni Cuspidati and its liposomal form on the nigral cells of PD rats induced by unilateral microinjection of 6-hydroxy dopamine in the striatum, confirmed that resveratrol derived from Rhizoma Et Radix Polygoni Cuspidati and its liposomal form could inhibit the loss of dopaminergic neurons of PD rats, the underlying mechanism may be attributed to their radical scavenging effect and antioxidant property. Due to presumably increased bioavailability, resveratrol liposome possesses the stronger therapeutic effect and may become a better clinical agent for the treatment of PD than free resveratrol, according to “[Resveratrol derived from rhizoma et radix polygoni cuspidati and its liposomal form protect nigral cells of Parkinsonian rats].[Article in Chinese]” byWang Y, Xu H, Fu Q, Ma R, Xiang J.(1)
2. Hepatic fibrosis
In the investigation of the effects of Chinese medicine formula-Yu Zhang Dan (YZD, composed of Herba Lysimachiae, Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati, Radix Curcumae) on the model rats with hepatic fibrosis, found that The TGF-β1 and α-SMA levels of the model control group were significantly higher than those of the normal control group (P<0.05), and both of the high dose of YZD and low dose of YZD significantly decreased the TGF-β1 levels of the model rats (P<0.05) , and only the high dose of YZD significantly decreased the α-SMA levels of the model rats (P<0.05), according to “Chinese medicinal herbs in treating model rats with hepatic fibrosis” by Zhou YX, Chen J, Li JP, Wang YL, Jin XD.(2)
3. Antioxidants
In the evaluation of the effects of Processing on antioxidation of Radix et Rhizoma Rhei and Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati, found that the processed products of Radix et Rhizoma Rhei and Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati could scavenge superoxide radical (O2-.) generated through hypoxanthine-oxidase system and (.OH) generated through Fenton action, and inhibit lipid peroxidation induced by hydroxyl radical generation system, respectively, according to “[Effects of processing on antioxidation of Radix et Rhizoma Rhei and Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati].[Article in Chinese]” by Kong LD, Yang C, Qiu X.(3)
4. Antiviral activity
In the study of clinical action of combined use of Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati and Radix Astragali on HSV-1, found that the treatment index of the above two Chinese medicinal herbs equals 10(3), and the cytotoxicity is not potentiated, indicating that the combination is helpful as a virucide for HSV-1 F strain, according to “[Antiviral action of combined use of rhizoma Polygoni cuspidati and radix Astragali on HSV-1 strain].[Article in Chinese]” by Wang Z, Cheng Z, Fang X.(4)
5. Hepatitis C
In a clinical study of 60 cases of chronic hepatitis C treated with Bing Gan Ling (BGL), with an oral liquid, which is composed mainly of Shuiniujiao (Cornu Bubali), Huzhang (Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati), Chishao (Radix Paeoniae Rubra), and Huangqi (Radix Astragali), etc., found that the total effective rate was 86.7%, which is considerably better than that of the control group (P < 0.01). The animal experiments and pathological studies suggest that the above-mentioned prescription has marked action of protecting the liver and lowering the activity of enzymes; and that it can ameliorate the acute liver injury induced by D-galactosamine, according to “A clinical study on bing gan ling oral liquid for treatment of hepatitis C” by You S, Zhou M, Xue B, Fang T, Jiang W, Li C, Xu H, Jiang J, Wang Y, Xu S.(5)
6. Etc.
Side Effects
1. Overdoses or prolonged period of use can cause kidney damage
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. Etc.