RE: Rx Asiasari same as Xixin-Hb Asari

October 13, 2005

Hi All, & Ed,

Ed Kasper wrote:

> Is anyone familiar with Asiasari radix? It is gaining popularity in

> restoring hair growth

Ed, Rx Asiasari is the same as Hb Asari (Xixin). My notes on it are

incomplete and did not mention the effects on hair growth:

Pinyin Name: Xixin [bANNED?]; Beixixin; Beixin

English Name: Manchurian Wildginger, Asarum Hb, Northern Asarum

(Beixixin)

Latin Name: Hb / Hb+Rx Asari Heterotropoides/Mandshuricum/Sieboldii,

Hb + Rx Asiasari Septentionalis

Hb Class: Release Surface ~ Make Sweat ~ Acrid ~ Warm; Warm

Interior; Expel Wind + Expel Cold;

Nature: Acrid; Warm

Channels: LU; HT; LV; KI

Has a-pinene; Camphene; Myrcene; b-pinene; b-terpinene; Limonene;

Sabinene; b-bisabolene; 1,8-cineole; Terpinolene; P-cymene; g-

terpinene; Berneol; Estragole; Eucarvone; Asaricin; Safrole; Myristicin;

Croweacin; Methyleugenol; Elemicin; b-phellandrene; Isoborneol;

Epicamphor; Bomylacetate; a-terpineol; Pentadecane; Kakuol; Asarone;

Terpinen-4-ol; Naphthalene; N-pentadecane; 3,5-dimethoxytoluene;

Kaempferol--3-glucoside (I); Kaempferol-3-gentiobioside (III);

Kaempferol-3-rutinoside (II); 3,4-dimethyl-2,4,6-octatriene; 2-isopropyl-

5-methylan isole; 2-isopropyl-5-methylphenyl ether;

Dose: As oral Dec: 1-3g; one source says >2qian; Topical: qs; LD50

(mice, ip): Liaoxixin: 1.02 ± 0.04mg/kg; Huaxixin: 247mg/kg;

Actions: Envoy ~ PC-LV (Jueyin); Govern GV disease, spine stiffness &

reversal; (1) Release Surface ~ Acrid/Spicy ~ Warm; Make Sweat;

Warm Interior; Expel Wind + Expel Cold from Surface, esp + Yang Xu;

Expel Wind Cold; Antifever; Ease Pain*, esp head pain, incl headache,

toothache* ~ acute; (2) Expel Wind; Ease Pain*, esp in arthralgia,

headache*, toothache & Bi Syndrome; Anaesthetic ~ Local; Antiarthritis;

(3) Warm LU; Expel Interior LU Cold; Clear Phlegm + Ease Cough/Calm

Asthma/Expectorant, esp in LU Cold; Remove LU Fluid Retention;

Diuretic; Expel Damp; Resolve Water Retention in chest; (4) Release

Nose/Sinuses*; Ease Pain; (5) Mouth ~ Local Ease Pain;

Antiinflammation; (6) Open Portals + Restore Consciousness in sudden

syncope; (7) Also: Ease Spasm; Warm LV Channel Cold; Nervine

(Calm/nourish nervous system); Build HT; Calm Shen; Antibacterial;

Antimicrobial; Antivirus; Antiinflammation; Antiallergy/Antihistamine; D1-

demethy1 coclaurine Build HT; Vasodilator; Spasmolytic ~ smooth

muscle, Speed lipid metabolism; Hyperglycaemic; Safrole is

Antimycotic; Cardiovascular effects: Huaxixinyou (Asarum oil) relaxes

isolated rabbit aorta, causing dose-response curve of noradrenalin-

induced contraction of aorta to shift right, & reduce effect of

noradrenalin; decreases perfusion flow in isolated rabbit ear & improves

mice tolerance for oxygen deficiency under normal pressure; Xixin Dec

is HT Protector in myocardial ischemia caused by sugar & oxygen

deficiencies; Antioxidant re lipid peroxidation & protects cells from

peroxidation damage; it also enhances SOD activity, scavenges free

radicals, & lessens free radicals damage to body; CNS effects:

analgesic, sedative & antipyretic at 1.2-2ml of 1.5% oil/kg ip; volatile oils

of Liaoxixin, single-leafed asarum & small-leafed Matixiang have similar

antipyretic, temperature-reducing, analgesic & anticonvulsive effects in

animals but Liaoxixin is best; methyleugenol may be component that

triggers inhibitory effects on CNS; Antiinflammation: In rats 0.12-0.96ml

Liaoxixin oil /kg ip inhibits carragenin-induced swelling in feet & reduces

histamine content in infected tissue & in exudate, but has no effect on 5-

HT & PGE2 contents; volatile oils of Maoxixin / Liaoxixin by abdominal

injection inhibit granuloma formation in rats; effect is related to reduction

of serum zinc content; Antiallergic (immunosuppression): Xixin inhibits

immune functions in mice, related to its influence on distribution of T cell

subgroup & production of b-endorphin;

Uses: (1) Qi Xu w Cold ~ Interior/weak constitution; Surface Wind +

Cold, esp w Yang Xu; fever; Pain*, esp head pain, incl headache,

toothache* ~ acute; chilliness; fever, chills ~ severe; fever ~ mild; F:

moist; P: smooth; deep; Ganmao in Wind Cold w severe headache;

general aching, esp in Yang Xu, headache ~ recurrent, headache in

Wind Cold, toothache, arthralgia of Wind Cold Damp type; (2) Wind

Cold Attack; Pain*, esp in Bi Syndrome w arthralgia, arthritis; articular

rheumatism of shoulder, arm; knee; gout; loin ~ pain; sciatica; leg ~

numbness; headache* & toothache; vertigo; Wind Heat w toothache;

Damp w arthralgia/arthritis; (3) LU Cold ~ Interior w Phlegm +

cough/asthma, dyspnoea w sputum ~ thin, esp in LU Cold; LU Fluid

Retention w sputum ~ white profuse watery, cough; wheezing,

dyspnoea; Damp; (4) Nose/Sinuses blocked* w headache, anosmia,

rhinitis, sinusitis, pain, etc; (5) Mouth ~ pain; inflammation; mouth ~

abscesses; mouth aphthae/glossitis/tongue sores; (6) unconsciousness

in sudden syncope; (7) Also: Spasm; LV Channel Cold; Shen Disturbed,

HT Xu; infection (bacterial, virus, fungal); allergy; LV DysFx; GB DysFx

Combinations: no substitute for all effects; use substitutes (or

combinations) for specific desired effects; Mahuang is nearest, but also

BANNED; (1) Xixin + Mahuang, Fuzi, to Build Qi; Release Surface

(Expel EPFs from Surface) in Xu Cold/weak constitution, + chilliness;

fever, chills ~ severe; fever ~ mild; F: moist; P: smooth; deep; Ganmao

in Wind Cold + severe headache; general aching, esp in Yang Xu,

headache ~ recurrent, headache in Wind Cold, toothache, arthralgia of

Wind Cold Damp type; (2) Xixin + Qianghuo, Fangfeng, Chuanxiong,

Baizhi, etc in vertigo; headache; mix + powder Xixin 3g + Ruxiang 3g,

Baizhi 3g, Fuzi 1.5g; apply as Topical several times/d in Wind Cold

Attack + toothache; Xixin 3g + Shigao 30g in Dec in Wind Heat +

toothache; Xixin + Qianghuo, Fangfeng, Qinjiao, etc in Wind, Cold;

Damp + arthralgia/arthritis; (3) LU Cold + cough; dyspnoea + sputum ~

thin; Xixin + Ganjiang, Banxia, Mahuang, etc in LU Fluid Retention +

sputum ~ profuse watery, cough; dyspnoea; (4) Xixin + Baizhi, Xinyihua,

Bohe, etc in nose ~ Obstruction + headache, rhinitis, sinusitis, etc; (5)

Xixin powder as Topical in mouth in mouth ~ abscesses; Xixin powder +

water +/- Huanglian Dec as Topical in mouth aphthae/glossitis/tongue

sores; may be used on navel at same time; (6): insufflate Xixin powder

into nose to induce sneezing in unconsciousness in sudden syncope;

Cautions: Xixin can damage KI; overdose can cause flush, dizziness,

hyperhidrosis, chest distress, palpitation, nausea, vomiting & other side

effects; CI: w Lilu (incompatible); CI: in Yin Xu, spontaneous sweating;

hypertension; Caution in KI DYsFx; overdose has caused arrhythmia &

one case of heart failure; CI in Yin Xu, Xue Xu & Qi Xu, hyperhidrosis &

excessive internal heat;

See: http://tinyurl.com/8768y

The genus Asiasarum is part of the larger family Aristolochiaceae. Xixin

is banned in some places because of suspicion that it has aristolochic

acid.

Biol Pharm Bull. 2005 Jan;28(1):138-42. Effects of 19 herbal extracts on

the sensitivity to paclitaxel or 5-fluorouracil in HeLa cells. Takara K,

Horibe S, Obata Y, Yoshikawa E, Ohnishi N, Yokoyama T. Department

of Hospital Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto

Pharmaceutical University, Japan. takara The

popularity of traditional herbal medicine (THM) being used as

complementary medicines or alternative medicines is increasing. On the

other hand, the development of multidrug resistance (MDR) remains a

major hurdle to successful cancer chemotherapy. Some THMs capable

of reversing MDR may contribute to the improvement of clinical

outcomes in cancer chemotherapy. Herein, 19 kinds of herb were

chosen from the ingredients of major THMs, and their effects on the

sensitivity to anticancer drugs of tumor cells were investigated using the

human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells. Focusing on the major

mechanism for MDR, i.e., MDR1/P-glycoprotein, the effects of herbal

extracts on its transport function were also examined using a MDR1

substrate Rhodamine123. Glycyrrhizae Radix, Rhei Rhizoma,

Scutellariae Radix, Poria, Zizyphi Fructus, Zingiberis Rhizoma (dry),

Coptidis Rhizoma, Ephedrae Herba and Asiasari Radix significantly

enhanced the sensitivity to a MDR1 substrate paclitaxel, whereas none

of the herbal extracts used had any effect on the sensitivity to 5-

fluorouracil, which is not a substrate for MDR1. Rhodamine123 uptake

was significantly increased by Rhei Rhizoma, Poria or Ephedrae Herba

among nine herbal extracts sensitized to paclitaxel. This suggests that

the increase in paclitaxel sensitivity by Glycyrrhizae Radix, Rhei

Rhizoma, Poria or Ephedrae Herba was caused, in part, by the inhibition

of MDR1 function, and the change in paclitaxel sensitivity by the other

herbal extracts was not always dependent on this. Collectively, these

findings indicate that the combination of anticancer drugs with some

herbal extracts contributes to the enhancement of clinical outcomes in

cancer chemotherapy. PMID: 15635178 [PubMed - indexed for

MEDLINE]

J Dermatol Sci. 2005 May;38(2):89-97. Epub 2005 Mar 19. The hair

growth promoting effect of Asiasari radix extract and its molecular

regulation. Rho SS, Park SJ, Hwang SL, Lee MH, Kim CD, Lee IH,

Chang SY, Rang MJ. Oriental Medical College of Daejeon University,

22-5 Daeheung-dong, Daejeon 301-724, South Korea.

rssdr BACKGROUND: Hair loss is a distressing condition

for an increasing number of men and women. It is of great importance;

therefore, to develop new therapies for the treatment of hair loss.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the effects of 45 plant extracts that have

been traditionally used for treating hair loss in oriental medicine in order

to identify potential stimulants of hair growth. METHODS: Six-week-old

female C57BL/6 and C3H mice were used for evaluating the hair

growth-promoting effects of the plant extracts. Topical application onto

the backs of the C57BL/6 and C3H mice was performed daily for 30

days and 45 days, respectively. Protein synthesis was measured by the

cysteine uptake assay, using cultured murine vibrissae follicles.

Proliferation of the immortalized human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT)

and human dermal papilla (DP) cells was evaluated by the MTT and

thymidine incorporation assays. The mRNA levels of several growth

factors that have been implicated in hair growth control were measured

by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTS: Among the tested plant extracts, the extract of Asiasari radix

showed the most potent hair growth stimulation in C57BL/6 and C3H

mice experiments. In addition, this extract markedly increased the

protein synthesis in vibrissae follicle cultures and the proliferation of both

HaCaT and human DP cells in vitro. Moreover, the A. radix extract

induced the expression of VEGF in human DP cells that were cultured in

vitro. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the A. radix extract has

hair growth-promoting potential, and that this effect may be due to its

regulatory effects on both cell growth and growth factor gene

expression. PMID: 15862941 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Phytother Res. 2003 Sep;17(8):882-6. Protection of brain cells against

AMPA-induced damage by Asiasari Radix extracts. Han Y, Kwon EH,

Kim SJ. Department of Pharmacology, School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee

University, Seoul, KOREA. We determined whether Asiasari Radix (AR)

extracts have protective actions in brain cells. Methanol extracts of

Asiasari Radix (fraction 1) have significant inhibitory effects on the

AMPA-induced rat cortical depolarization in the grease gap assay. In

differentiated PC12 cells, it almost completely protected against AMPA-

induced cell death. In addition, it had some protective actions in C6 glial

cells death induced by AMPA. The methanol extracts (fraction 1) of AR

were subsequently fractionated into chloroform-(fraction 2),

chloroform/methanol-(3:1) (fraction 3), methanol-soluble (fraction 4) and

methanol-insoluble, water-soluble fractions (fraction 5). Among these,

fraction 4 had the strongest inhibitory effects against AMPA-induced cell

death in the PC 12 cells and also dramatically inhibited AMPA-induced

depolarization of rat brain cortex in the grease gap assay. Interestingly,

fraction 4 blocked the Zn-induced oxidative damages in C6 glial cells.

indexed for MEDLINE]

Brain Res. 2003 Jun 6;974(1-2):193-201. Memory enhancing actions of

Asiasari radix extracts via activation of insulin receptor and extracellular

signal regulated kinase (ERK) I/II in rat hippocampus. Han Y, Kim SJ.

Department of Pharmacology, School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee

University, Seoul 130-701, South Korea. Brain insulin receptor and ERK

I/II are suggested to play a role in memory formation. We designed a

series of experiments to explore if Asiasari radix (AR) extracts could

display memory enhancing actions possibly via the activation of insulin

receptor and ERK I/II in mice and rats. Methanol extract of AR had

significantly increased survival time in the NaNO(2) intoxication assay in

mice. Methanol extract of Asiasari radix (fraction 1) and its subfractions,

chloroform-soluble fraction (fraction 2) and chloroform-insoluble,

methanol-soluble fraction (fraction 4) were further tested for memory

formation. In eight-arm radial maze experiments, both reference

memory errors and working memory errors were significantly decreased

in mice by fractions 1, 2 and 4. In addition, these fractions were also

effective in promoting memory in the passive avoidance test in mice and

rats. To gain insight into the mechanism of memory enhancing effects

by Asiasari radix extracts, the activities of hippocampal insulin receptors

and ERK I/II were tested in mice and rats. Fraction 1 significantly

stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor, whereas

ERK I/II were stimulated by fractions 1, 2 and 4. These fractions also

inhibited cholinesterase activities in rats. These results suggest that

Asiasari radix extracts may exert memory enhancing effects via

activation of insulin receptor and ERK I/II as well as decreasing

cholinesterase activity. PMID: 12742637 [PubMed - indexed for

MEDLINE]

J Altern Complement Med. 2000 Jun;6(3):235-9. Improvement of C-

reactive protein levels and body temperature of an elderly patient

infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa on treatment with Mao-bushi-

saishin-to. Kamei T, Kondoh T, Nagura S, Toriumi Y, Kumano H,

Tomioka H. Shimane Institute of Health Science, Izumo, Japan.

kamei OBJECTIVE: To examine the

effectiveness of Mao-bushi-saishin-to (Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Tang in

Chinese medicine) (Tochimototenkaido Co. Ltd., Osaka, Japan), one of

the traditional herbal medicines, against resistant bacterial infection.

SETTING: The Nursing Center Himawari, Izumo, Japan DESIGN,

PATIENT, AND PREPARATION: Half of the standard dose of Mao-

bushi-saishin-to was prescribed for 7 days to one elderly patient with

fever and positive C-reactive protein (CRP) levels suffering from drug

resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The daily standard dose of Mao-

bushi-saishin-to is prepared from 1200 mg of dried extract obtained

from three crude drugs, Ephedrae Herba (4 g), Asiasari Radix (3 g), and

Aconiti Tuber (1 g). It is certified by the Japanese Ministry of Health and

Welfare. RESULTS: The patient's fever and CRP level returned to

normal levels. CONCLUSIONS: In cases in which the fever does not fall

in response to antibiotics for at least 3 days, half of the standard dose of

Mao-bushi-saishin-to for 7 days might be worth trying to induce

remission, especially for elder patients. Publication Types: Case

Reports PMID: 10890332 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 1999 Aug;21(3):469-81. Asiasari

radix inhibits immunoglobulin E production on experimental models in

vitro and in vivo. Kim HM, Moon YS. Department of Oriental Pharmacy,

College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang University, Iksan-city, Chonbuk, South

Korea. Immunoglobulin (Ig) E is the principal Ig involved in immediate

hypersensitivities and chronic allergic diseases. The hallmark of these

disorders is increased IgE production. The effect of an aqueous extract

of the roots of Asiasari radix (ARAE) on an in vivo and in vitro IgE

production was investigated. ARAE dose-dependently inhibited the

active systemic anaphylaxis and serum IgE production induced by

immunization with ovalbumin, Bordetella pertussis toxin and aluminum

hydroxide gel. ARAE strongly inhibited IL-4-dependent IgE production by

lipopolysaccharide- stimulated murine whole spleen cells. In the case of

U266 human IgE-bearing B cells, ARAE also showed an inhibitory effect

on the IgE production. These results suggest that ARAE has an anti-

allergic activity by inhibition of IgE production from B cells. PMID:

10466075 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Nippon Yakurigaku Zasshi. 1982 Jul;80(1):31-41. [Anti-allergic actions

of traditional oriental medicine--actions against types I and IV

hypersensitivity reactions] [Article in Japanese] Koda A, Nishiyori T,

Nagai H, Matsuura N, Tsuchiya H. A study was carried out to examine

the effects of 23 kinds of crude drugs and 3 kinds of blended Chinese

traditional medicines on Type I and Type IV allergic reactions. Forty

eight-hr homologous PCA in rats as a typical model of the Type I

reaction using anti-dinitrophenylated ascaris . IgE serum was

significantly inhibited by the oral administration of the following drugs:

Aqueous extracts: Aurantii F.i., Bupleuri R., Schizandrae F., Scutellariae

R., Zizyphi F., and Shohsaiko-to and Methanolic extracts: Asiasari R.,

Aurantii F.i., Bupleuri R., Ginseng R., Glycyrrhizae R., Magnoliae C.,

Schizandrae F. and Trichosanthis S., Contact dermatitis in mice as a

model of the Type IV reaction caused by picryl chloride was significantly

inhibited by the oral application of aqueous extracts of Ginseng R. and

Magnoliae C. as well as the powder of Hoelen. The aqueous extract of

Saiboku-to also showed an inhibition of the contact dermatitis, and it

significantly potentiated the inhibition of contact dermatitis by

prednisolone. PMID: 7173732 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Best regards,

Tel: (H): +353-(0) or (M): +353-(0)

Ireland.

Tel: (W): +353-(0) or (M): +353-(0)

" Man who says it can't be done should not interrupt man doing it " -

Chinese Proverb

October 14, 2005