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

Tuesday 5 November 2013

Chinese Herbs – Long Xu Cai (Gracilaria)

Long Xu Cai is also known as agar agar. The bitter, salty and cold herb has been used in TCM to treat chronic constipation, tuberculosis of lymph nodes, tumor of the thyroids, edema, beriberi, swelling of testicles.abdominal mass, etc., as it promote the function of lung, spleen and kidney channels.

Ingredients
1. Fat
2. Protein
3. Ash
4. Fe
5. Ca
6. Etc.

Health Benefits
1. Antitumor activity
In the study to evaluate antitumor activity of Gracilaria edulis in Swiss albino mice with Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC), showed that EEGE increased the life span of EAC-bearing mice compared with that of the model control mice (P<0.05 or P<0.01). EEGE treatment also converted the changes of biochemical parameters and hepatic enzyme levels in the EAC-bearing mice (P<0.05 or P<0.01). EEGE induced inhibition of tumor formation in EAC-bearing mice compared with that of the model control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01).(1)
2. Against Candida albicans
The methanol extract of Gracilaria changii B.M. Xia & I.A. Abbott (Gracilariaciae) was evaluated for antiyeast activity against Candida albicans (Berkhout). The extract showed a favourable antimicrobial activity against C albicans with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 1.56 mg/mL. The main abnormalities noted from the SEM and TEM studies were the internal shrinkage of cell, disorganization within the cell cytoplasm and complete collapse of the yeast cells after 36 h of exposure to the extract.(2)
3. Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities
In the study to evaluate the effects of SP from the red seaweed Gracilaria cornea (Gc-TSP) in nociceptive and inflammatory models, showed that indicate that Gc-TSP possesses analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects and is a potentially important tool worthy of further study.(3)
4. Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities
In the study to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of two Hawaiian marine algae (Ulva fasciata and Gracilaria salicornia), found that Ethanolic extracts of these two algae exhibited intracellular reactive 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline)-6-sulfonic radical, nitric oxide, superoxide radical, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities. In addition to the antioxidant activity these algae possessed appreciable antimicrobial activity and total phenolic contents.(4)
5. Etc.

Side Effects
1. Do not the herb with Gan Cao
2. Do not use the herb in case of spleen, qi and blood deficiency
3. Do not use the Long Xu Cai in newborn, children or if you are pregnant or breast feeding with out approval first with the related field specialist
4. Etc.