Rx Gynurae segeti, Rx Panacis notoginseng & toxicity?

[Guest guest]

Hi All, & Dr. Min,

 

See: Dai HF, Gao Y, Yang M, Yu CH, Gu ZY, Chen WX. Hepatic veno-

occlusive disease induced by Gynura segetum: report of two cases.

Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int. 2006 Aug;5(3):406-8. Department of

Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of

Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China. tutuyangmin.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) or sinusoidal

obstruction syndrome is associated with a high mortality because of its

severity. Gynura segetum, a CHM, is always used to cure injury and

bleeding in rural areas in China. This study was undertaken to better

understand VOD and its relations to the effect of Gynura segetum.

METHODS: Between 2000 and 2002, two patients were admitted to our

department because of VOD. Before admission, both of them had been

injured and taken oral decoction of patent drug Gynura segetum. We

analyzed the clinical manifestations, diagnosis and therapy of the two

patients. RESULTS: Pyrrolizidine in Panax notginseng was proved to

induce VOD. The diagnosis of VOD depended on hepatic biopsy.

CONCLUSION: Gynura segetum can induce VOD. More attention

should be paid to its unsuscepted side effects. PMID: 16911940

[PubMed - in process]

 

I am sending a copy of this email to <tutuyangmin, the

corresponding author, for comment, because I suspect that there is a

typographic error in the Medline abstract, above.

 

The abstract said that: " Pyrrolizidine in Panax notginseng was proved to

induce VOD " . I suspect that the authors meant to say: " Pyrrolizidine in

Gynura segetum was proved to induce VOD " . Would Dr. Min please

comment on my suspicion?

 

Jusanqi (Rx Gynurae segeti) contains the term " Sanqi " in its name, and

is related to notoginseng. However, it is is NOT Sanqi (Rx Panacis

notoginseng), although it sometimes is substituted (deliberately or

fraudulently) for it.

 

There could be a problem with such substitution because the TITLE of

the Medline abstract suggests that Gynura segetum can cause hepatic

VOD (veno-occlusive disease).

 

As regards Gynura segetum, http://tinyurl.com/rem9b and

http://tinyurl.com/zs7yt say:

 

Jusanqi (aka: Hongbeisanqi; Tusanqi; Poxuedan); Rx Gynurae segeti;

Gynura Root; Sweet; Bitter~slightly; Warm; Has: seneciphyllinine,

seneciphylline; [Main functions & clinical uses]: Haemostat; Disperse

Blood Stas; Smash Blood (Poxue); Resolve Toxin; Reduce Swelling;

Used in bone fracture & trauma (Dieda Sunshang); Wound trauma with

bleeding (Loss of Blood) (Chuangshang Chuxue); Postpartum Blood-Qi

Pain (Chanhou Xueqitong); spitting blood (Tuxue), epistaxis (Nuxue),

haematochezia (Bianxue), Metrorrhagia (Bursting & leaking) (Benglou),

sores, skin ulcers, boils (Chuangjie), abscesses (Yongzhong); [usage

and amount used] Oral: 3-9g/d (1~3g/time, tid, as finely ground

powder); Topical: qs; [Cautions] Caution in pregnancy

 

Sanqi (Notoginseng) itself is said to be non-toxic at normal doses and a

Medline search for ((Notoginseng OR pseudoginseng OR sanqi OR

san chi) AND Pyrrolizidine) found no hits.

 

See a detailed article on Sanqi (Panax notoginseng) at:

http://www.sanqi.com.tw/English_pages/Chinese_Herb_Introduction/Re

cognizing_Chinese_Herb/Sanqi/about-Sanqi.htm

 

It says " ... several FAKE Sanqi include Juyesanqi/Jusanqi (Gynura

segetum, Jingtiansanqi (Sedum aizoon), Loudishenggen (Kalanchoe

pinnati), Loukui (Basella rubra), Jizhaosanqi (Kalanchoe laciniata), and

Zhujiesanqi (Panax japonicum).

 

http://tinyurl.com/lxym7 &

http://www.sanqi.com.tw/English_pages/Chinese_Herb_Introduction/Re

cognizing_Chinese_Herb/Sanqi/health-Sanqi.htm say:

 

Sanqi (aka: Tiansanqi, Hansanqi, Shensanqi, Tianqi, Jinbuhuan); Rx

Panacis Notoginseng; Notoginseng / Pseudoginseng Root; Sweet;

Bitter~slightly; Warm; Enters: LV; ST; LI; Main Sanqi functions are: (1)

Immunostimulant & anticancer; delay cancer aggravation, such as

prostate cancer; (2) Help female menstrual syndromes & decrease

menorrhagia; (3) Stops bleeding rapidly; (4) extract expands blood

stream & decreases risk of cardiovascular disease; (5) Acts on nerve

system of brain and body; enhances memory and brain activity;

protects against neuronal damage from free radicals, ischemia and

reperfusion injury; (6) Sanqi ginsenosides Rb2 and Rc aid poor human

sperm motility in vitro; (7) Immunomodulator; (8) Sanqinosides

normalise plasma triglyceride levels, especially triglyceride appearing to

plummet; (9) Antioxidant to protect regular cells & defend against free

radical attack; (10) Used in TCM & food; (11) Powerful to treat acute

bleeding; (12) Protects liver from chemical/toxic damage; (13)

Ginsenoside-Rd delays Alzheimer's disease, enhances proliferation of

neural stem cells & protects neurons; (14) Sanqi supplements

enhance physical performance & exercise endurance; (15) Protects

liver such as O1, P2, Q3, S4, and T5; (16) Prevents ST~hyperacidity;

ST~antiulcer effect dt increased mucus secretion; (17) Promotes

epidermal cell growth; NOTE: Raw Sanqi is Haemostat wo causing

blood clots; Anticoagulation; platelet anticoagulation, dissolve

fibrinogen; also Resolve Blood Stas; Antiinflammation; Ease Pain;

Calming; Boost Cortisone effects; Regulate sugar metabolism;

LV~Protector; Anticancer; Aid capillary circulation; Antifatigue;

Antiaging; widely used in injury medicine as in broken bones, swelling,

impact injuries; Cooked Sanqi is Tonic; Main clinical uses: bleeding

disorders; retinal arterial thrombosis; head injuries; brain hemorrhage;

cerebrovascular disease; lacunar infarction (); Dose: As

Dec: 3-9g; As Powder: 1-1.5g; (18) Avoid in pregnancy;

 

More details on Sanqi functions are at:

http://www.sanqi.com.tw/English_pages/Chinese_Herb_Introduction/Re

cognizing_Chinese_Herb/Sanqi/health-Sanqi.htm

 

See also:

http://www.kalyx.com/store/proddetail.cfm/ItemID/290892.0/CategoryID/

13000.0/SubCatID/12710.0/file.htm

 

For an essay on Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) in herbs, see " SAFETY

ISSUES AFFECTING HERBS: PAs " (by Subhuti Dharmananda) at

http://www.itmonline.org/arts/pas.htm

 

That article lists western & Chinese herbs that have elevated PAs but

Sanqi (Notoginseng) is not mentioned there.

 

See also " SAFETY ISSUES AFFECTING CHINESE HERBS: The Case

of Dictamnus and Herbs for Skin Diseases " (by Subhuti Dharmananda)

at: : http://www.itmonline.org/arts/dictamnus.htm

 

Best regards,

 

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