General

Scientific Names: Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.)

Common Names: Di Huang, Jiu Hu Hua, Shan Yan, Shan Bai Chai.

BOTANICAL:

来 源： 玄参科植物地黄Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch.　的块根。

植物特征： 多年生草本，全株有白色长柔毛和腺毛。叶基生成丛，倒卵状披针形，基部渐狭成柄，边缘有不整齐钝齿，叶面皱缩，下面略带紫色。花茎由叶丛抽出，花序总状； 萼5浅裂；花冠钟形，略2唇状，紫红色，内面常有黄色带紫的条纹。蒴果球形或卵圆形，具宿萼和花柱。花期4～6月，果期7～8月。

生药材鉴定： 鲜地黄纺锤形或圆柱形条状，中间常缢缩作连珠状；表面淡橙色，具皱纹、皮孔及芽痕；肉质，易断，断面黄白色，皮部有橙红色小点；味微甜、微苦。生地黄不规则团块状；表面灰棕色或棕黑色，极皱缩；质韧，断面棕黑色，有光泽，具粘性；味微甜。

Pharmacology

化学成分: 根含地黄甙(rehmannioside)A、B、C、D，二氢梓醇甙(dihydrocatalpol),桃叶珊瑚 甙(aucubin),梓醇甙(catalpol),melittoside和leonuride。鲜根含梓醇甙0.11%。鲜根醇提物中尚含β-谷甾 醇、甘露醇、胡萝卜甾醇(daucosterol)、l-乙基-β-D-半乳糖甙和蔗糖。水溶性成分中含多种糖，其中以水苏糖含量最高，为32.1%- 48.3%,并含多种氨基酸，其中以精氨酸含量最高，为2%-4.2%，另有γ-氨基丁酸、磷酸。商品地黄中曾分得少量β-谷甾醇、豆甾醇及微量菜油甾 醇。

Efficacy

To study immuno-antitumor action mechanism of RGP-b. RGP-b (Rehmannia glutinosa polysaccaride b) is a new component isolated from the herb, had an average molecular mass of 160 kDa and 5 kinds of monosaccharides as acid-splitting products. Its HPLC showed a main sharp peak at 162 kDa. The kinetic effects of RGP-b on IL-2 secretion, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) activities and L3T4+, lyt-2+ T-lymphocyte subset in mice bearing S180 were observed. RESULTS: RGP-b 10 or 20 mg kg-1 ip obviously attenuated the decrease of CTL cytotoxity caused by excessive tumor growth on d 9 after the administration, but only partly ameliorated the descent of IL-2. Its effect on lyt-2+ subset was quite parallel with that on CTL cytotoxity. RGP-b kept the ratio of L3T4+ to lyt-2+ subset lower than that of control. Improving the production of lyt-2+ CTL and its cytotoxity were an essential immuno-antitumor mechanisms of RGP-b. (source)

Shi-Quan-Da-Bu-Tang (Ten Significant Tonic Decoction), or SQT (Juzentaihoto, TJ-48) was formulated by Taiping Hui-Min Ju (Public Welfare Pharmacy Bureau) in Chinese Song Dynasty in AD 1200. It is prepared by extracting a mixture of ten medical herbs (Rehmannia glutinosa, Paeonia lactiflora, Liqusticum wallichii, Angelica sinesis, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Poria cocos, Atractylodes macrocephala, Panax ginseng. Astragalus membranaceus and Cinnamomum cassia) that tone the blood and vital energy, and strengthen health and immunity. This potent and popular prescription has traditionally been used against anemia, anorexia, extreme exhaustion, fatigue, kidney and spleen insufficiency and general weakness, particularly after illness. In order to restore immunity in cancer patients, potentiate the therapeutic effect and ameliorate adverse toxicity of anticancer agents, 116 Chinese herbal formularies (Kampo) have been screened and evaluated. Fifteen compounds were found to have such actions. Among these, SQT was selected as the most effective as a potent biological response modifier. During the last eight years, animal models and clinical studies have revealed that SQT demonstrates extremely low toxicity (LD50 > 15 g/kg op murine), self-regulatory and synergistic actions of its components in immunomodulatory and immunopotentiating effects (by stimulating hemopoietic factors and interleukins production in association with NK cells, etc.), potentiates therapeutic activity in chemotherapy (mitomycin, cisplatin, cyclophosphamide and fluorouracil) and radiotherapy, inhibits the recurrence of malignancies, prolongs survival, as well as ameliorate and/or prevents adverse toxicities (GI disturbances such as anorexia, nausea, vomiting, hematotoxicity, immunosuppression, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia and nephropathy, etc.) of many anticancer drugs. The application and mechanistic studies of SQT in future development have potential importance in basic and clinical research of the traditional Chinese therapeutic approach of "toning the blood and strengthening Qi (vital energy)" in cancer immunotherapy. (source)

IN VITRO:

1. Liao PH, et al., Induction of apoptosis in human oral cancer cell lines, OC2 and TSCCa, by chingwaysan. Am J Chin Med. 2005; 33(1):21-7.
2. Wei XL, et al., [Effects of low-molecular-weight Rehmannia glutinosa polysaccharides on p53 gene expression]. Zhongguo Yao Li Xue Bao. 1997 Sep; 18(5):471-4. Chinese.
3. Liu JQ, et al., [32 cases of postoperative osteogenic sarcoma treated by chemotherapy combined with Chinese medicinal herbs]. Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1993 Mar; 13(3):150-2, 132. Chinese.
4. Zee-Cheng RK. Shi-quan-da-bu-tang (ten significant tonic decoction), SQT. A potent Chinese biological response modifier in cancer immunotherapy, potentiation and detoxification of anticancer drugs. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol. 1992 Nov; 14(9):725-36. Review.
   
   
   

IN VIVO:

1. Chen LZ, et al., Effects of Rehmannia glutinosa polysaccharide b on T-lymphocytes in mice bearing sarcoma 180. Zhongguo Yao Li Xue Bao. 1995 Jul; 16(4):337-40.
   
   

Safety

宜忌: 脾胃虚弱，气滞痰多，腹满便溏者忌服。《雷公炮炙论》：“勿令犯铜铁器，令人肾消并白髭发、损荣卫也。”《医学人门》：“中满痰盛者慎用。《本草从新》：“气郁之人，能窒碍胸膈，用宜斟酌。”