Research on Selected Ingredients

 

Processed Rehmannia Root (Shudihuang/Radix Rehmanniae Preparata)

Radix Rehmanniae Preparata can “balance the Yin” according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it is commonly used to treat conditions caused by yin deficiency such as allergies, anemia, cancer, constipation, diabetes, fever, eczema, high blood pressure, bacterial and fungal infections, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, insomnia, and pain. [1]

According to a research conducted by LEE, Choi and etc[2], Rehmannia Root has reno-protective effect in progressive renal failure. The research suggests that the reno-protective effect might be mediated by suppressing the expression of angiotensin II and AT(1) receptor and by regulating TGF-beta1 and type IV collagen expression. Research[3] also finds that Rehmannia facilitates blood sugar reduction and shows anti-inflammatory activity.

Rhizoma Dioscoreae (Shanyao/ Common Yam Rhizome)

Rhizoma Dioscoreae can reinforce spleen, lung and kidney and arrest excessive essence depletion. According to TCM theory, Rhizoma Dioscoreae can replenish qi (vital energy) and enrich yin .[4]

Research has shown that Rhizoma Dioscoreae has reno and hepato-protective effects.[5] For rats with acute kidney and liver injuries, Rhizoma Dioscoreae extracts decreased damage in renal tubules, and decreased inflammation in the central vein and necrosis in the liver tissue.
Poria has been used for the treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) for thousands of years in China. Poria promotes urination, regulates fluid distribution, enhances spleen, and calms mind. Research indicates that Poria ameliorate Chronic Kidney Disease by intervening in some dominating metabolic pathways, such as fatty acid metabolism, phospholipid metabolism, purine metabolism and tryptophan metabolism.[6]

Poria (Fuling/Indian Bread)

Poria has been used for the treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) for thousands of years in China. Poria promotes urination, regulates fluid distribution, enhances spleen, and calms mind. Research indicates that Poria ameliorate Chronic Kidney Disease by intervening in some dominating metabolic pathways, such as fatty acid metabolism, phospholipid metabolism, purine metabolism and tryptophan metabolism.[6]
 

Cortex Moutan (Mudanpi/Tree Peony Bark)

Cortex Moutan Is traditionally used to Clear heat and cool blood, activate blood and resolve stasis, reduce deficiency heat.[7]

Cortex Moutan has been shown to hold a protective effect on inflammation in several diseases. Research shows that Cortex Moutan has amelioration activity on the inflammation in kidney mesangial cells, which makes it a benefit agent for the prevention and treatment of diabetic nephropathy. [8] In another study conducted by Mei-Yi Lin, Ying-Ray Lee, Su-Yin Chiang, et al[9], Moutan Cortex also demonstrate its antibladder tumor effect.

Fructus Corni (Shanzhuyu/ Asiatic Cornelian Cherry Fruit)

Traditionally, Fructus Corni stabilizes and strengthen the kidneys, tonifies livers, astringes body fluids, and stops excessive sweating.[10] A series of research suggests that Fructus Corni exhibits protective effects against diabetic renal damage. One of the chemical component of Fructus Corni, morroniside, is found to be largely responsible for the protective effects.[11],[12],[13]
 

Rhizoma Alismatis (Zexie/Oriental Waterplantain Rhizome)

In TCM theory, Rhizoma Alismatis promotes urination and leaches out Dampness[14]. Traditionally it’s used for treating urinary disorders with pain, difficulty, or dribbling, edema, dizziness, vertigo, and diarrhea.[15] Research has proved its urination promotion effect at a lower dosage, whicme=”_ednref16″>[16] Research also demonstrated that Zexie helps prevent kidney injuries due to hypertension.[17]

Ramulus Cinnamomi (Guizhi/Cassia Twig)

The key functions of Ramulus Cinnamomi include expelling cold to relieve exterior syndrome, warming the meridians to promote coronary circulation, and promote body-fluid metabolism. Ramulus Cinnamomi has many beneficial effect, including:

• Its decoction and cinnamic aldehyde have cooling and antipyretic effects;
• Its decoction and ethanol extract have inhibition on Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus, Salmonella typhi, common pathogenic dermatophyte, Shigella, Salmonella enteritidis, Vibrio cholerae, influenza virus, and more;
• Cinnamon oil and cinnamic aldehyde have inhibiting effect on Mycobacterium tuberculosis;
• Cinnamon oil can invigorate stomach, relieve gastrointestinal spasms, induce diuresis, keep the heart pumping, and other effects;
• Cinnamic aldehyde has analgesic, sedative, and anticonvulsant effects;
• Its Volatile oil has cough-relieving and expectorant effects.[18]

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References

[1] Healthline. Rehmannia: A Chinese Mystery. Retrieved 9/11/2016 from http://www.healthline.com/health/rehmannia-traditional-chinese-medicine#2.

[2] Lee BC, Choi JB, Cho HJ, Kim YS (2009). Rehmannia glutinosa ameliorates the progressive renal failure induced by 5/6 nephrectomy. Journal of Ethnopharmacol, 122(1): 131-5.

[3] Waisundara VY, Huang M, Hsu A, Huang D (2008), Tan BK. Characterization of the anti-diabetic and antioxidant effects of rehmannia glutinosa in streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats. The American Journal of Chinese Medicine. 36(6):1083-104.

[4] Lui D. (2000) Chinese Herbal Medicine. Shanghai Scientific and Technical Publishers, 2000-6. Retrieved from http://www.shennong.com/eng/front/index.html.

[5] Lee SC, Tsai CC, Chen JC, Lin CC, Hu ML, Lu S (2002). The evaluation of reno- and hepatoprotective effects of huai-shan-yao (Rhizome Dioscoreae). The American Journal of Chinese Medicine, 30(4) : 609-616.

[6] Zhao YY, Lei P, Chen DQ, Feng YL, Bai X (2013). Renal metabolic profiling of early renal injury and renoprotective effects of Poria cocos epidermis using UPLCQ-TOF/HSMS/MSE. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 81-82:202-9.

[7] TCM Wiki. Cortex Moutan. Retrieved 9/7/2016 from http://old.tcmwiki.com/wiki/cortex-moutan.

[8] Zhang MH, Feng L, Zhu MM, Gu JF, Jiang J, Cheng XD, Ding SM, Wu C, Jia XB (2014), The anti-inflammation effect of Moutan Cortex on advanced glycation end products-induced rat mesangial cells dysfunction and High-glucose–fat diet and streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy rats, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 151( 1): 591-600.

[9] Lin MY, Lee YR, Chiang SY, et al. (2013), Cortex Moutan Induces Bladder Cancer Cell Death via Apoptosis and Retards Tumor Growth in Mouse Bladders. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2013. doi:10.1155/2013/207279.

[10] Americandragon. ShanZhuYu Actions and Indications (2010). Retrieved 9/7/2016 from http://www.americandragon.com/Individualherbsupdate/ShanZhuYu.html.

[11] Yamabe N, Kang KS, Goto E, Tanaka T, Yokozawa T (2007). Beneficial effect of Corni Fructus, a constituent of Hachimi-jio-gan, on advanced glycation end-product-mediated renal injury in Streptozotocin-treated diabetic rats. Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin. 30(3):520-6.

[12] Kim HY, Yokozawa T, Cho EJ, Yamabe N (2004). Protective effects of the Chineseprescription Hachimi-jio-gan against diabetic oxidative stress. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. 56(10):1299-305.

[13] Yokozawa T, Yamabe N, Kim HY, Kang KS, Hur JM, Park CH, Tanaka T (2008). Protective effects of morroniside isolated from Corni Fructus against renal damage in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin. 31(7):1422-8.

[14]AmericanDragon. Zexie. Retrieved 9/7/2016 from http://www.americandragon.com/Individualherbsupdate/ZeXie.html.

[15] Sacred Lotus Chinese Medicine. Chinese Herb: Ze Xie (Water Plantain Rhizome, Alisma), Rhizoma Alismatis. Retrieved 9/7/2016 from https://www.sacredlotus.com/go/chinese-herbs/substance/ze-xie-water-plantain-rhizome-alisma.

[16] Feng YL, Chen H, Tian T, Chen DQ, Zhao YY, Lin RC (2014), Diuretic and anti-diuretic activities of the ethanol and aqueous extracts of Alismatis rhizoma, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 154(2):386-390.

[17]Chen JY, Fan HL, Zhang SF (2012), Effect of Modified Zexie Decoction on Prevention of Kidney Injuries of Rats with Hypertension induced by High-Salt Diet. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Retrieved from http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTOTAL-ZZYZ201203021.htm on 9/7/2016.

[18] Chinese Herbs Healing. Ramulus Cinnamomi (Gui Zhi, Cinnamon Twig). Retrieved 9/7/2016 http://www.chineseherbshealing.com/ramulus-cinnamomi-gui-zhi-cinnamon-twig/