rhubarb in vivo

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My reading of this study below is that a formula containing da huang was

used to treat cholera and that its effects was not purgation, but rather

reduction of fluid in the intestines and prevention of the dehydration due

to diarrhea. cholera is a life threatening illness due to loss of fluids.

a formula would not be used to treat it by the principle of increasing

flow to cure flow; this could lead to sudden coma or death. this

(probably low dose) kanpo formula was used to astringe. of note is that

it was found that the astringent tannins were the main effector of this

response, yet the whole herb and formula were also effective.

 

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2002 Mar 5;99(5):3042-6 Related Articles, Links

 

Identification in traditional herbal medications and confirmation by

synthesis of factors that inhibit cholera toxin-induced fluid accumulation.

Oi H, Matsuura D, Miyake M, Ueno M, Takai I, Yamamoto T, Kubo M, Moss J,

Noda M.

Department of Molecular Infectiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba

University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan.

Kampo formulations are traditional herbal medications used in China and

Japan for many centuries to treat diarrheal diseases such as cholera. Our

studies were undertaken to identify and verify by chemical synthesis the

active components that inhibited cholera toxin (CT), the virulence factor

secreted by Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of cholera. The Kampo

formulation, Daio-kanzo-to, inhibited CT activities (i.e.,

ADP-ribosylation, Chinese hamster ovary cell elongation); in Daio-kanzo-to,

Daio (Rhei rhizoma) was responsible for this effect. Among several

components purified from Daio extract, rhubarb galloyl-tannin, a compound

characterized by a polygallate structure, was the most effective. To

define the active component, gallate analogues similar to rhubarb

galloyl-tannin were synthesized. These gallate compounds inhibited all CT

activities including ADP-ribosylation, elongation of Chinese hamster ovary

cells, and importantly, fluid accumulation in ileal loops. Thus, Kampo

formulations or their gallate components might be effective adjunctive

therapy with oral rehydration solution for the severe diarrhea of cholera.

 

 

Chinese Herbs

 

 

" Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocre

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