Saturday 2 November 2013

Chinese Herbs – Su Mu (Lignum Sappan)

Su Mu is also known as sappan wood. The salty, swwet and neutral herb has been used in TCM to treat chronic bronchitis, dysentery, tetanus, vomiting, hiccups, burping, indigestion, etc., as it moves blood, benefits menstruation, eliminates Blood accumulation;, calms pain, etc. by enhancing the functions of liver, stomach and large intestine channels.

Ingredients
1. Brasilin
2. Sappanin
3. d-α- phellandrene
4. Ocimene
5. Tannin acid
6. Etc.

Health Benefits
1. Antibacterial activity
In the study to determine the antibacterial activity of six kinds of natural herbs in Yunnan on normal oral predominant bacteria in vitro, found that all six kinds of herbs were effective to the oral predominant bacteria. For the ten kinds of cariogenic bacteria, the MIC of caesalpinia sappan lignum was between 5-10 mg x mL(-1), and the MIC of other herbs was above 20 mg x mL(-1)[1]
2. Anti-inflammatory effect
In the study in vitro assay for seven compounds from methanolic extract of Sappan Lignum (CSE) that inhibit the chemical mediators of inflammation using the J774.1 cell line: brazilin (1), sappanchalcone (2), protosappanin A (3), protosappanin B (4), protosappanin C (5), protosappanin D (6), and protosappanin E (7), indicated that 1 inhibited NO production, and almost no inhibition in PGE(2). On the contrary, 2, 6, and 7 inhibited both NO and PGE(2) production and suppressed TNF-alpha, IL-6, COX-2, and iNOS mRNA expression. An examination of carrageenin-induced mouse paw edema suggested that the CSE contained active compounds other than 1, the main constituent in CSE. It was thus revealed that several compounds and mechanisms contributed to the anti-inflammatory effect of CSE[2].
3. Anti tumors
According to Shanxi Provincial Institute for Drug Control , aqueous extract of lignum sappan can kill cell lines of HL-60, K562, L929 and Yac-1 at the concentration of 2 microliters/ml. The survival time of mice bearing EAC is increased by 185% (P less than 0.01) by ip 0.2 ml/mouse x 7d. The three-stage sequential test standard can be passed smoothly[3].
4. Etc. 

Side Effects
1. Do not use the herb in case of blood deficiency or without 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/20480668 
[2] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19420769
[3] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2275786

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