Saturday 2 November 2013

Chinese Herbs – Shen Qu (Massa Medica Fermentata)

Shen Qu is also known as medicated leaven. The sweet, acrid and warm herb has been used in TCM to enhance digestion, treat lack of appetite, flatulence, diarrhea, stomach flu, etc., as it moves Qi,  strengthens the Spleen, stops diarrhea, regulates the Exterior, promotes digestion, harmonizes the Stomach, etc., by enhancing the functions of spleen and stonach channels.
Ingredients
1. Monacolin K
2. glycosides,
3. vitamin B
4. Etc.
Health Benefits
1. Lowering Cholesterol levels
Monacolin M, a new specific inhibitor of cholesterol biosynthesis structurally related to monacolin K (mevinolin) found in Shen Qu was suggested is derived from monacolin J via a synthetic pathway distinct from that for the synthesis of monacolin K, alpha-methylbutyryl ester of monacolin J. The inhibitory effect of monacolin M on beta-hydroxy-beta-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase was slightly lower than that of monacolin K(1).
2. Antimicrobial effects
In the study to examine whether statin exposure at physiologic concentrations enhances activity of selected antimicrobials against Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli. Broth microdilution was performed with and without dose-ranging concentrations of lovastatin, fluvastatin, atorvastatin, pravastatin and simvastatin. No effects on antimicrobial activity were demonstrated(2)
3. Liver protective effects
In the study to evaluate the usefulness of lovastatin, which is nowadays widely used for lipid lowering purpose, as a hepatoprotective drug following the administration of the anthracycline derivative doxorubicin in vivo, showed that show that lovastatin is hepatoprotective following genotoxic stress induced by anthracyclines. Based on the data, we hypothesize that statins might be suitable to lower hepatic injury following anthracycline-based anticancer therapy(3).
4. Cytotoxic effects
in the study to  investigate the effects of fluva-, simva-, atorva-, rosuva- and lovastatin on the viability of primary mouse and human hepatocytes as well as mouse (Hepa1-6) and human (Huh7, HepG2) hepatoma cell lines, indicated that selective cytotoxic effects of fluva-, simva- and lovastatin on hepatoma cells in comparison to primary hepatocyte in human hepatoma cells found significant reduction of cell viability and induction of apoptosis in HepG2 cells, while statins did not affect Huh7 cells at concentrations not toxic for primary hepatocytes(4).
5. Etc.
Side Effects
1. The herb may interact with other medicinje, please consult with your doctor, if you are taking Erythromycin, Gemfibrozil, etc.
2. Do not use the herb in newborn, children or if you are pregnant or breast feeding without first consulting with the related field specialist.
3. Etc.

Sources
(1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3818440
(2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22736455
(3) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22712078
(4) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22710979

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