Bai Qu Cai

Bai Qu Cai - Chelidnium majus
		Professional Data

Pin Yin
Bai Qu Cai

Latin
Herba Chelidonii

Introduction

Herba Chelidonii is the dried aerial part or whole plant of Chelidnium majus L. (Fam. Papaveraceae).

Western medical

The herb is indicated in the treatment of gastric pain and ulcer, jaundice, snake bites, edema, scabies, tinea and sores.

Eastern medical

Pattern: Alleviates pain, stops cough, reduces swelling, removes Toxin.
Properties: Bitter, Cold, toxic.
Channels entered: Lung, Heart, Kidney.

Chemical constituents

The aerial part of the herb mainly contains alkaloids such aschelidonine, protopine, stylopine, allcryptopine, berberine, chelerythrine, sanguinarine and spaartenine, etc.. Besides, it also contains chelidonic acid, malic acid, citric acid, choline, chelidoniol, etc.. Ukraine, a potential anti-cancer ingredient was isolated from this herb.

Pharmacological actions

Effects on nervous system

Chelidonine had analgesic and hypnotic effect.

Anti-tussive, expectorant, anti-asthma effects

Intraperitoneal injection of bai qu cai extractum 3g (crude drug) to mice had significant expectorant. bai qu dai decoction had anti-tussive, expectorant and anti-asthma effects. Chelidonine had direct inhibitory effect on cough center and it could antagonize the bronchial spasm induced by histamine or stimulating parasympathetic nerves.

Anti-cancer effect

Ethanol extract of bai qu cai had obvious killing effect on human esophagus carcinoma cell Fca-109 in vitro. Within the concentration range of 1, 5, 10, 20, 30mg/ml, crude drug of bai qu cai had a dose-dependent killing effect on Fca-109. Methanol extract of bai qu cai had obvious anti cancer effect on S180 and ESC in mice.

Effects on smooth muscle

Injection made from alcohol extract of bai qu cai could significantly antagonize the ileum spasm induced by horse serum and histamine. The active ingredients of bai qu cao showed different effects on the intestinal tracts and uterus.

Anti-bacterial effect

Total alkaloids of bai qu cai could inhibit Gram positive bacteria, tubercle bacillus and fungi in vitro. Crude bai qu cai preparations could inhibit streptococcus A, diplococcus pneumoniae, hemophilus influenzae and other Gram positive bacteria in vitro, and had inhibitory effect on tubercle bacillus in vivo. bai qu cai extract hand anti-viral effect, it had inhibitory effect on influenza virus both in vitro and in vivo.

Effects on the cardiovascular system

Chelidonine had mild and lasting blood pressure lowering effect on anaesthetized cats. It could antagonize or delay the allergic shock induced by histamine or antigens in guinea pigs.

Clinical Studies

Chronic bronchitis

Tablet made from single bai qu cai extracturm, 6 tablets (equal to 15g crude drug) daily, taken in three times after meals, 10 days as a course of treatment. 10 days as a course of treatment. 110 cases of senile bronchitis were treated and the effective rate was 90%, markedly effective rate was 51.5%.

Whooping cough

Bai Qu Cai Syrup or water decoction was used to treat 500 cases of whooping cough, the course of the treatment was 8~10 days. 355 cases were cured and 116 improved.

Analgesic

Compound Total Alkaloids of Bai Qu Cai Injection was used to treat 1500 cases of pain caused by various diseases, and it's found that it had significant analgesic effect on pain due to malignant tumors, rheumatoid and traumatic diseases. The total effective rate was 96%, and the markedly effective rate was 75%.

Anti-cancer

Ukrain -- an anticancer substance isolated from bai qu cai was used to treat 300 cases of malignant tumors. Tumors subsidized and stopped metastasis in 30% patients. The drug could increase the consumption of oxygen in tumor cells and induced the apoptosis.

References

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