Properties: Bitter, cold
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Stomach, Spleen, Liver
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Disperses Stagnant Blood, disperses accumulation and inhibits carcinoma
Common colds, psoriasis, liver problems and digestive problems
Brain tumors, liver cancer, gastric cancer, leukemia, esophageal cancer, rectal cancer, carcinoma of bladder and other kinds of cancer
Most notable for containing Camptothecin, a topoisomerase inhibitor which inhibits DNA replication causing apoptosis. It is synthesized into topotecan and irinotecan chemotherapy drugs.
Suggested Daily Dosage: 9-15g of bark or 3-9g of fruit in decoction.
Cautions: This herb is forbidden to decocted in iron vessels. It is also an endangered species so exports are restricted. Due to the cytotoxicity of camptothecin and its scarcity it is generally better to use synthesized versions which can be precisely controlled and not harm native populations. Poisoning manifests as nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, cystitis, abdominal distension , leukopenia, massive diarrhoea, dyspnoea, coma, and finally death from respiratory paralysis.
Notable Constituents:
- Camptothecin
Alkaloid which selectively inhibits the nuclear enzyme DNA topoisomerase, type I resulting in potentially lethal double-strand DNA breaks when replicating. It has been synthesised into a chemotherapy drug.
- Hyperoside
Quercetin glycoside with antibacterial, hepatoprotective and antitumour activity.
Does not appear in any formulae listed on this site
Research Links & References: (click to display)
Research Links:
Reference Notes:
Individual herb information has sourced mainly from TCM Wiki and American Dragon for basic data and then updated manually with my own notes. Zhou, Xie and Yan (2011): Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Vol. 5, and A+ Medical Encyclopaedia have been used for entries not available from those sources with additional material searched for and filled in where available. Western herbs not appearing in the Chinese literature have used Ross (2010): Combining Western Herbs and Chinese Medicine: A Clinical Materia Medica, White Rabbit Institute of Healing and therapeutika.ch. Choices of which source to use or combine have been my own.
These pages are intended to assist clinicians and are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment for which a qualified professional should be consulted. Actions and indications are taken from traditional uses and do not necessarily reflect the evidence base which should be researched independently. Dosages are for guidance only and will vary dependening on the potency of the batch and the tolerance of the individual so should be evaluated by a professional based on individual needs.
