Folium Mahoniae
From HerbLab, herbal encyclopedia of Chinese traditional medicine
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FOLIUM MAHONIAE(十大功劳)
Revised Reference of Processed Medicinal Herbs reported that: "Folium Mahoniae is bitter in taste and cold in nature, cures pulmonary tuberculosis and removes fever of the deficient type. "
The herb is the dried leaf of Chinese mahonia, Mahonia japonica, Mahonia bealei and M.forfunei of the family Berberidaceae. Mahonia japonica mainly contains palmatine while Mahonia bealei and M. forfunei have berberine in them, and both of the chemicals have certain antineoplastic functions.
ANTICANCER PHARMACOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
1. In screening tests with bacteriophages, it has been verified that Mahonia bealei inhibits the activity of bacteriophages and hence it is suggested that the herb has the same effect on cancer cells.
2. Palmatine derived from Mahonia Japonica has been found to inhibit the cells of ascites carcinoma in mice.
EXPERIMENTAL FORMULAS
For pulmonary carcinoma with metastasis to the brain: FoliumMahoniae 15g Rhizoma Arisaematis 30g Herba Galii Aparinis 30g Concha Haliotidis 30g Bombyx Batryticatus 9g Ramulus Uncariae Cum Uncis 9g Scorpio 6g
The formula is taken one dose daily in decoction. (Reported in Shanghai Journal of Medicinal Herbs in March 1979)
For cancer of the liver: Folium Mahoniae 30g Herba Solani Nigri 30-60g
The formula is decocted and the broth is divided into two portions and taking twice a day.(Reported in Handbook of Herb Medicine)
HISTORICAL COMMENTS
In An Illustrated Book on Plants, it is described that: "The plant has a firm, upright and black stem, with opposite, hard, bright and serrate leaves. Long spikes grow at the terminal of the stem and bear the seeds that look like those of Sarcanda glabra of the family Chloranthoceae. Folk doctors use the plant for the management of vomiting blood and the juice squeezed out of its roots is used as a gargle for toothaches. "
Chinese Medicinal Herbs Growing on the Mountains and Plains commended that: "The herb is good for purging pathogenic fire and reducing fever, so it is used for the management of fever, vexation, diarrhea and acute conjunctivitis of epidemic febrile disease."
Jiangxi Journal of Medicinal Herbs reported that: "The decoction of 9 grams of Folium Mahoniae is taken daily for toothache due to pathogenic wind-fire and the dosage can be doubled if the condition is very serious. "
Contemporary and Practical Herb Medicine said that: "The herb, like Fructus Ligustri Lucidi, is a tonic cool in nature, indicative for afternoon fever, hectic fever due to yin-deficiency, soreness and weakness in the loins and knees, dizziness and tinnitus."
