The Biological and Pharmacological Properties of Cordyceps sinensis, a Traditional Chinese Medicine That Has Broad Clinical Applications

Chlorogenic acid (CA) is a phenolic compound commonly found in human plant-based diets. CA is the main component of many traditional Chinese medicine preparations, and in recent years, it has been found to have hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and other pharmacological properties. Specifically, CA relieves the effects of, and prevents, diabetes mellitus (DM). In addition, CA is also beneficial against complications arising from DM, such as diabetic nephropathy (DN), diabetic retinopathy (DR), and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Herein, we review the use of CA in the prevention and treatment of DM and its complications, providing a background for further research and medical uses.

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Reparative properties of the traditional Chinese medicine Cordyceps sinensis (Chinese caterpillar mushroom) using HT29 cell culture and rat gastric damage models of injury

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s0007114510005118 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 105 (9) ◽

pp. 1303-1310 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Tania Marchbank ◽

Ehighale Ojobo ◽

Christopher J. Playford ◽

Raymond J. Playford

Keyword(s):

Chinese Medicine ◽

Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽

Solid Phase ◽

Hot Water ◽

Cordyceps Sinensis ◽

Gastric Damage ◽

Gastric Injury ◽

Organ Systems ◽

Models Of Injury ◽

Induced Apoptosis

Cordyceps sinensis (CS) is a traditional Chinese medicine and health food used to support many organ systems. It is commercially produced by cultivation in a liquid medium or on a solid (grain/potato) phase. We tested the effects of hot water extracts of liquid-phase and solid-phase commercially grown CS on its ability to influence proliferation (using Alamar blue, an oxidation/reduction indicator), migration (serial-wounded monolayer photomicroscopy), invasion through collagen gel (fluorometric assay) and indomethacin-induced apoptosis (active caspase-3 colorimetric assay) of human colon cancer HT29 cells. An in vivo study used a rat gastric damage model (indomethacin 20 mg/kg and 4 h restraint with oral administration). The CS extract stimulated cell proliferation threefold when added at 10 μg/ml (P < 0·01). Cell migration increased by 69 % and invasion by 17 % when CS was added at 5 mg/ml (P < 0·01). The results also showed that 93 % of the pro-proliferative activity was soluble in ethanol, whereas pro-migratory activity was divided (61:49) into both ethanol-soluble and ethanol-insoluble sub-fractions. Indomethacin-induced apoptosis was not affected by the presence of CS. CS reduced the amount of gastric injury by 63 % when administered orally at 20 mg/ml (P < 0·01), the results being similar to using the potent cytoprotective agent epidermal growth factor at 25 μg/ml (83 % reduction). We conclude that both methods of cultivated CS possess biological activity when analysed using a variety of gut models of injury and repair. Functional foods, such as CS, could provide a novel approach for the prevention and treatment of injury to the bowel.

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Properties of Ganoderma lucidum triterpenes

Postępy Higieny i Medycyny Doświadczalnej ◽

10.5604/01.3001.0013.2790 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 73 ◽

pp. 345-352

Author(s):

Ewa Seweryn ◽

Anna Ziała ◽

Andrzej Gamian

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Chinese Medicine ◽

Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽

Chronic Diseases ◽

Ganoderma Lucidum ◽

Pharmacological Properties ◽

Pharmacological Effects ◽

Medicinal Mushroom ◽

Asian Countries ◽

Medicinal Properties

Ganoderma lucidum has been used for promoting longevity and health in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Asian countries. Its pharmacological effects are widely known, as indicated by its inclusion in the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia. It was found that G. lucidum contains several bioactive compounds, including triterpenes, polysaccharides, peptidoglycans, flavonoids, sterols, fatty acids and nucleotides. It is well-known medicinal mushroom that has been widely used for the treatment of several chronic diseases. It has been reported that triterpenes are responsible for the major medicinal properties and demonstrated therapeutic efficiency of G. lucidum. The present review mainly focuses on the pharmacological properties of the triterpenes underlying antioxidative, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetes and hepatoprotective activities.

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The Principle of Symmetry in Acupuncture and its Clinical Applications

The American Journal of Chinese Medicine ◽

10.1142/s0192415x13500821 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 41 (06) ◽

pp. 1223-1231 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tsun-Nin Lee

Keyword(s):

Clinical Practice ◽

Chinese Medicine ◽

Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽

Scientific Literature ◽

Clinical Applications ◽

The Body ◽

Therapeutic Effects ◽

Thalamic Neuron ◽

Axis Of Symmetry ◽

Symmetrical Points

The clinical practice of acupuncture and study of the traditional Chinese medicine literature has led to the observation that if the diaphragm is used as an axis of symmetry, there are many symmetrical points on the upper and lower halves of the body. The symmetrical points share several common properties, including physiological functions, mechanisms of pathogenesis and therapeutic effects. Employing these corresponding points on the upper and lower parts of the body simultaneously can frequently enhance the therapeutic outcome rather substantially. This phenomenon may be called the Principle of Symmetry. Traditional and modern scientific literature already provides evidence that verifies the reliability of this principle. Furthermore, this principle may be viewed as the derivative of the Thalamic Neuron Theory.

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