Bai Bu

Bai Bu - Stemona sessilifolia
		Professional Data

Pin Yin
Bai Bu

Latin
Rhizome Stemona sessiflifolia

Introduction

Stemona root is the dried root tuber of Stemona sessilifolia (Miq.) Miq., Stemona japonica (BI.), Miq. or Stemona tuberose Lour. (Fam. Stemonaceae). The drug is collected in summer and autumn, removed from rootlet, washed clean, treated with boiling water for a moment or steamed until the centre of the cut surface is devoid of a white core, and dried in the sun.

Western medical

This herb is often indicated in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic bronchitis, whooping cough, abcchia, scabies, and chronic pharyngitis, etc..

Eastern medical

Pattern: Relieves cough, kills worms and lices.
Properties: Sweet, bitter, neutral.
Channels entered: Lung.

Chemical constituents

The main chemical constituents contained in stemona root are paipunine, stemonidine, isostemonidine, tuberostemonine, sugar, lipid, protein, acetic acid and oxalic acid, etc..

Pharmacological actions

Effects on bacteria

Decoction and alcohol extract of bai bu had inhibitory effect to varying degree on pneumococcus, -hemolytic streptococcus, meningococcus, staphylococcus aureus, staphylococcus albus, bacillus dysenteriae, bacillus typhosus, bacillus coli, bacilius diphtheriae, bacillus subilis and tubercule bacillus, etc..

Effects of killing parasites

Water or ethanol extract of bai bu could kill head louse, body onload="highlight();" louse, pubic louse and bedbug. The killing effect on head louse was the most obvious. It also could kill nits of mosquito and fly.

Effects on respiratory system.

Alkaloids contained in bai bu could lower the excitability of respiratory center in animal, inhibit cough reflex and show antitussive effect. It could relax histamine-induced spasmodic bronchia in isolated Guinea pig, the strength was similar to that of aminophyllin, but slow and persistent.

Others

Intravenous injection of tuberostemonine at the dosage of 1mg/kg to rabbit could lower blood pressure. It could dilate isolated coronary vessels and inhibit myocardial contractive in Guinea pigs. It could inhibit voluntary motion in mice.

Clinical Studies

Pulmonary tuberculosis

Powder of bai bu 500g was made into pills with chicken juice, 10g every time, twice daily. 20~30 days as a course of treatment. 153 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis were treated, after 1~2 courses, 72 cases took an reexamination of X-ray, and 56 cases were improved.

Chronic bronchitis

bai bu 20g, water decoction for 2 times to make about 60ml juice, 20ml every time, three times daily. 110 cases of chronic bronchitis were treated, the effective rate was 87.27%.

Whooping cough

bai bu 250g was made into 800ml syrup, oral administration, three times daily. 10~15ml for children over 2 years, 2~5ml for those under 2 years, 1 week as a course of treatment. 95 cases of whooping cough were treated, the total effective rate was 85.3%.

Abcchia

50% Bai Bu Tincture (bai bu was washed clean and immersed into ethanol in the proportion of 1g bai bu and 2ml 95% ethanol for 5~7 days ) was applied externally to the affected area of patients with abcchia, 2~3 times daily, 1 month as a course of treatment. 13 cases wer treated, 12 cases were markedly improved.

Scabies

Bai Bu Tincture (100g bai bu immersed in distilled spirit for 2~3 days) was applied externally all over the body onload="highlight();" , twice daily, 12 cases of scabies were treated and all were cured.

Chronic pharyngitis

bai bu was decocted in the water for 3 times, add cerealose to granulated sugar to the juice to make cream, 1 teaspoon every time, 3 times daily. This method showed good effect.

References

Except those noted, all references come from Weng Weiliang, et al., Clinical Chinese materia medica, Henan Science & Technology Press, 1998