Semen Benincasae
From HerbLab, herbal encyclopedia of Chinese traditional medicine
Semen Benincasae(冬瓜子)
Yang Shitai of the Qing Dynasty pointed out:"The herb is sweet in taste and neutral in nature and used for eliminating heat accumulated in the Heart Channel." Semen Benincasae is the dried seed of Benincasa hispida(Thunb.)cogn.of the family Cucurbitaceae, which is cultivated in many places in China and is a dietetic medicinal herb.
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ANTICANCER PHARMACOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
1.The alcohol extract of Semen Benincasae was found having a weak anticancer effect on sarcoma-180 in rats with an inhibitive rate of 20.7%. The hot water extract of the herb presented a stronger action againsttransplanted tumor in animals, with an inhibitive rate of 88.7% on sarcoma-180 without toxic reactions.
EXPERIMENTAL FORMULAS
For cancers of the rectum and the colon:
Semen Benincasae 15g Radix et Rhizoma Rhei 12g Cortex Moutan 9g Semen Persicae 9g
The above herbs are decocted and then mixed with Natrii Sulfas(6g)for oral administration after the dregs have been removed.(Synopsis of Prescriptions of Golden Chamber)
HISTORICAL COMMENTS
It was recorded in Ri Huan Zi Materia Medica that:"Semen Benincasae nourishes the skin and removes its black color."
Compendium of Medicinal Herbs said that the herb"cures periappendicular abscess".
Illustrated Materia Medica regarded the herb as"a tonic to the liver."
In Descriptions of Materia Medica it was expounded that:"The herb is used for the treatment of heat accumulated in the Heart Channel,dribbling urination,rosacea,periappendicular abscess,abdominal stagnation and ulceration with pus and blood.It is the essential herb for removing stagnation of pathogenic factors in the abdomen."
It was pointed out in Dietetic Materia Medica that:"The meat of the plant has a better effect when taken hot.It reduces body weight when taken cold.Boiled meat of the plant strengthens the five viscera with its downward attribute.If you want to be slender,keep eating the plant and if you want to increase your body weight,never eat it."
THE AUTHOR'S NOTE
According to a report of an English journal,Cancer Chemotherapy(23,1962),many plants of the family Cucurbitaceae contain cucurbitacin—a terpenes compound with strong anticancer activity.
