Wednesday 30 October 2013

Chinese Herb – Ze Lan (Herba Lycopi Lucidi)

Ze Lan is also known as Bugleweed. The acrid, biter, sweet, slightly warm herb has been used in TCM to promote menses, diuretics, inhibit pain, etc., as it moves Blood, eliminates Blood accumulation, diuretic, resolves edema, etc., by enhancing the functions of spleen and liver channels.

Ingredients 
1. Cis-3-hexen-1-ol
2. Trans-2-hexen-1-ol
3. Trans-2-hexen-1-ol
4. Alpha-thujene
5. Alpha-pinene
6. Sabinene
7. Myrcene
8. Ttrans-pinocarveol
9. Mmyrteno
10. Alpha-cubebin
11. Beta-elemene
12. Etc.

Health Benefits
1. Antioxidant effect 
The study of the antioxidant activity of Herba Lycopi, and screen the main active fractions, showed that the ethanol extract, ethyl acetate fraction (LLE-A. E, MCCM2921) and n-buthanol fraction (LLE-A. B, MCCM2922) of Herba Lycopi showed the scavenging activity to DPPH and superoxide anions, reducing effect on Fe3+, and inhibiting activity of lipid peroxidation(1).
2. Free radicals scavenging and lowering LDL oxidation activity
The ethyl acetate fraction from the LH extracts were found to have a potent scavenging activity against all of the reactive species tested, as well as an inhibitory effect on LDL oxidation(2).
3. Thyroid functions
in the study to to examine the effect of Lycopi europaei herba on thyroid function and on associated symptoms during a 3-month follow-up phase, showed that the urinary T4 excretion was significantly increased in Lycopus europaeus-treated patients (p=0.032). It is supposed that renal mechanisms cause the increased T4 excretion either by a modification within the glomeruli or by impaired reabsorption. Symptoms being specific to the thyroid gland were diminished, as e.g. the increased heart rate in the morning(3).
4. Reduced cardiac signs of hyperthyroidism
In the study of whether high doses caused a reduction of TSH or thyroid hormone levels in animal experiments, indicated that the raised body temperature was reduced very effectively even by the low dose of the plant extract, whereas the reduced gain of body weight and the increased food intake remained unaffected by any treatment. No significant changes of thyroid hormone concentrations or TSH levels were observed. Lycopus extract and atenolol reduced the increased heart rate and blood pressure. The cardiac hypertrophy was alleviated significantly by both treatment regimes. beta-Adrenoceptor density in heart tissue was significantly reduced by the Lycopus extract or the beta-blocking agent showing an almost equal efficacy(4).
5. Etc.

Side Effects
1. Do not use the herb in case of blood stasis
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/20862973
(2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20105051
(3) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18083505
(4) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16150466

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