Folium Et Ramulus Sarcandrae
From HerbLab, herbal encyclopedia of Chinese traditional medicine
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FOLIUM ET RAMULUS SARCANDRAE(九节茶)
New Jiangnan Medicinal Herbs says that: "The herb is bitter and acrid in taste and slightly warm in nature. It eliminates pathogenic wind, promotes blood circulation, reduces swelling and relieves pain. "
Folium et Ramulus Sarcandrae is the dried leaves and branches of sarcandra, Sarcandra glabra (Thunb.) Nakai, which is found mainly containing flavonoid glycoside, volatile oil, astilbin and isofraxidin.
ANTICANCER PHARMACOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
1. The dried extract of the herb has an inhibitory rate of 30.5-56.7% on sarcoma-180 and Walker's cancer of mice. 2. The extract has an inhibitory rate of 30-50% on spontaneous cancer-615 of mice. 3. The rate for prolonging the survival time of mice with spontaneous leukemia ascites-771 is 160%. 4. Isofraxidin extracted from the herb shows a strong inhibition on lymphatic leukemia. 5. Volatile oil shows an inhibitory rate of 30-40% on Ehriich ascites carcinoma. Walker's cancer and sarcoma-37. 6. The volatile oil also shows a strong cytotoxicity in vitro, reduces the size of the tumor mass when injected into it and prolongs the survival time of the experimental animals. 7. The extract and its separated substances from the herb do not have cytotoxicity, but they can promote cytophagy and immune functions of the experimental animals. 8. In animal immune tests, Folium et Ramulus Sarcandrae has manifested a similar function as Radix Ginseng, that is, a small dose increases immune function greatly and a large dose decrease it. 9. Tests with the decoction of the herb in vitro showed an antiphagocytic function, hence indicating an antineoplastic activity. 10. The volatile oil of the herb inhibits macrophage phagocytic function in a similar way as cyclophosphamide, so it suggests that the herb should be boiled for a long time to remove the volatile substances before use.
EXPERIMENTAL FORMULAS
For cancer of the digestive tract:
Practical Oncology reported that Folium et Ramulus Sarcandrae is made into tablets, each being 0.3 gram. The patients are asked to take 4 to 6 tablets each time, three times a day.
For cancer of the pancreas:
Journal of Medicinal Herbs says that flavone extracted from the herb and made into tablets or injections can improve the symptoms of the patient and reduce the size of the tumor mass. Each tablet contains 200mg, and each injection 25mg. The tablets are taken three times a day and each time 100 to 400mg according to the condition of the patient. The injection is given twice a day and each time 25mg.
HISTORICAL COMMENTS
Mingdong Journal of Medicinal Herbs reported that: "The drug invigorates the function of the spleen, promotes blood circulation, quenches thirst and controls swelling. It is indicative for postpartum external infection and alternate attacks of chills and fever".
Chinese Medicinal Herbs Growing on the Mountains and Plains commended that: "The drug is good for bone-knitting, removing blood stasis and lumps, and relieving pain."
In Quizhou Journal of Medicinal Herbs, it is said that the decoction of 15 grams of the drug is effective for stomachache.
In the Dictionary of Chinese Medicinal Herbs, it is said that: "The leaves of the herb has a strong antibacterial power, and the fresh root is better than the dried ones. The drug also has certain effect on bacteremia caused by staphylococcus aureus in rabbits. "
THE HerbLab'S NOTE
As the drug has both anticancer and antibacterial activity, it is indicative for cancer complicated with infection. According to the literature, 17 hospitals in Shanghai treated total 373 cancer patients with the herb preparation and found the effective rate of the preparation was 53.9%. Among the 113 cases treated only with the herb preparation, the remarkable effective rate was 22.1% and the effective rate was 62.8%. A hospital in Zhejiang Province gave the herb preparation to 70 cancer patients alone for a month and 6 of the cases showed remarkable effect and 49 cases showed improvement, with a total effective rate of 78.57%. As far as the curative effect is concerned, the preparation seems more effective for stomach cancer, liver cancer, adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, carcinoma of the esophagus, leukemia and lymphocytic reticulosarcoma. After the administration of the preparation, the symptoms of the patients were relieved, their appetite becoming increased and their lives prolonged. In some patients, the drug can relieve fever and reduce tumor mass. The preparation do not cause any local or general reactions and are safe to use. Pharmacological experiments showed that the herb has a remarkable anti-fatigue and sedative effect, and also can improve the frigidity remarkably in animals with both of their adrenal glands removed. All these are beneficial to the treatment of cancer patients.
