11.24.08

Chinese Herbal Extracts and Antioxidant Activities

Posted in Antioxidants, Chinese Herbal Medicine at 5:24 pm by Dr. Pharm Tao

Resource:
How to Use Herbs in Chinese Medicine: The Basics and Practical Guides

Many Chinese herbs have been found to have antioxidant activities. For example, Rhodiola sachlinesis, A. Bor is one of the most popular traditional Chinese herbs. It contains many effective compounds, including flavonoids, anthraglycosides, essential oil with cinnamic aldehyde, as well as citral and organic acids.

A group of Chinese researchers developed a new method of extraction called “ultrahigh pressure extraction (UPE)” to extract flavonoids from the herb R. sachlinesis (Zhang et al., 2008). They tested the antioxidant activity of the crude extract of R. sachlinesis. They found that it has a higher activity than that of tertiary butyhydroquinone (TBHQ) at the same concentration.

Another study done in Texas investigated the effects of a mixture of herbal extracts called Tong-Xin-Luo (TXL) (Zhang et al., 2008). The herbal mixture has been used in Chinese medicine for the treatment of coronary artery disease. The researchers examined the protection of TXL extracts on endothelial cells damaged by palmitic acid (PA). Palmitic acid is known to increase metabolic syndromes and has been connected with cardiovascular diseases.

The study showed that palmitic acid induced more than seventy percent of apoptosis in endothelial cells. Apoptosis is programmed cell death. However, when the cells were pretreated with extracted TXL, PA could induce apoptosis in only 7% of the cells.

They also examined the possible mechanisms of such protective effects of the herbal extract. They found that TXL could reduce PA-induced oxidative stress and inhibit PA-induced activation of the p38-MAPK stress pathway. TXL could restore the intracellular antioxidant system that was damaged by the PA treatment. TXL could also enhance the expression of thioredoxin, with a reduced expression of the thioredoxin interacting protein.

Their study suggests that the Chinese herbal extract TXL has the effect of protecting endothelial cells from palmitic acid-induced damages. The herbal extract has intracellular antioxidant capacity that may contribute to its therapeutic effects for cardiovascular diseases.

These examples demonstrate that certain Chinese herbs may be potent antioxidants. They can be used for the protection from oxidative stress and for the treatment of diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer. They may function as antioxidants through repairing oxidative damages and working on certain molecular stress pathways.

References:

Zhang, S., C. Liu, et al. (2008). Extraction of flavonoids from Rhodiola sachlinesis A. Bor by UPE and the antioxidant activity of its extract. Nat Prod Res 22(2): 178-87.

Zhang, L., Y. Wu, et al. (2008). Protective effects of a compound herbal extract (Tong Xin Luo) on free fatty acid induced endothelial injury: implications of antioxidant system. BMC Complement Altern Med 8: 39.

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09.18.08

How to Use Sponge Gourds for Clearing Heat

Posted in Foods & Diets, Traditional Chinese Medicine at 7:10 pm by Dr. Pharm Tao

Sponge gourds are also called towel gourds, “silk gourds (‘Si Gua’),” “cloth gourds (‘Bu Gua’),” “water gourds (‘Shui Gua’),” and “cotton gourds (‘Xu Gua’)” in Chinese culture. They can clear heat, resolve phlegm, cool the blood, and remove toxins and toxic materials.

Sponge gourds can be used for healing fever, irritability and restlessness, and thirst in febrile diseases. They can relieve asthma and cough caused by phlegm retention, furuncles, carbuncles, swelling, bloody urination or stools, hemorrhoids, profuse leucorrhea, and cessation of lactation (galactostasis).

Sponge gourds have a sweet taste and a cool property. They can act on the meridians or channels of the Liver and Stomach.

To eat sponge gourds, they can be cooked to make soups, or cooked with other vegetables to make dishes. Their juice can be extracted to be applied at the affected areas. However, those with deficiencies or interior cold should not eat too much of sponge gourds.

Sponge gourds are the fresh fruits of Luffa cylindrica or L. acutangula. They belong to the Cucurbitaceae family. They contain citrulline, xylan, saponin, and vitamins and minerals.

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How to Use Pumpkins to Relieve Inflammation and Pain

Posted in Foods & Diets, Traditional Chinese Medicine at 7:02 pm by Dr. Pharm Tao

In Chinese culture, pumpkins are also called “south squashes (‘Nan Gua’),” “wheat squashes (‘Mai Gua’),” and “meal squashes (‘Fan Gua’).” They can strengthen the spleen and stomach, nourish Qi, relieve inflammation, stop pain, eliminate parasites, benefit urination, and remove toxins and toxic materials.

Pumpkins have a sweet taste and a warm property. They can work on the meridians or channels of the Spleen and Stomach.

To eat pumpkins, they can be steamed, or cooked to make soups. Pumpkin pies are very popular. Pumpkins can be mashed for external applications at the affected areas. For invigoration and replenishment, cooked pumpkins are to be used. For eliminating parasites and removing toxins, raw pumpkins should be used.

Pumpkins are the fruits of Cucurbita moschata. They belong to the Cucurbitaceae family. They contain adenine, arginine, asparagine, citrulline, gynesine, carotene, ascorbic acid, and other vitamins and minerals.

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