Ban Zhi Lian - Scutellaria barbata

Professional Data
 Pin Yin
Ban Zhi Lian
 
 Latin
Herba Scutellariae Barbatae
 Introduction Back to Top
Herba Scutellariae barbatae is the whole plant of Scutellaria barbata D. Don (Scutellaria rivularis Vall.) (Fam. Labiatae). It's collected in summer and autumn, removed from foreign substances, washed. It can be used freshly or after dried.

 Western medical Back to Top
This herb is mainly indicated in the treatment of dysentery, appendicitis, jaundice, sore throat, furuncles, snake bite and cancer.

 Eastern medical Back to Top
  • Pattern: Clears Heat, removes Toxin, treats boil, induces diuresis, relieves swelling.
  • Properties: Acrid, bitter, cold.
  • Channels entered: Lung, Stomach, Liver.
 Chemical constituents Back to Top
The mainly chemical constituents contained in the whole plant of ban zhi lian include scutellarein, scutellarin, carthamidin and isocarthamidin.

 Pharmacological actions Back to Top
Expectorant effect

Carthamidin could antagonize the histamine induced contraction of smooth muscle, and had quite good expectorant effect. It's a effect ingredient of treating chronic bronchitis.

Antibacterial effect

50% decoction of ban zhi lian had inhibitory effect on staphylococcus aureus, shigella flexneri, bacillus typhosus, bacillus pyocyaneus and bacillus coli.

Apigenin and luteolin were isolated from Scutellaria barbata D. Don as active constituents against the high-level strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). These flavonoid congeners were selectively toxic to S. aureus, including the MRSA and methicillin-sensitive S. aureus strains.

Anti-tumor effect

ban zhi lian had very slightly inhibitory effect on the blood cells of acute granulocytic leukemia.

A dose-dependent augmentation of oxidative burst was observed with Oldenlandia diffusa (OD) and Scutellaria barbata (SB). The effect of OD and SB on the growth of a murine renal cell carcinoma (Renca) was determined. Balb/c mice were transplanted subcutaneously with 1 x 10(5) Renca cells and were randomized into groups of 10 to receive oral feeding of OD (4 mg/day), SB (4 mg/day), or saline as control. Oral feeding with either OD or SB significantly inhibited the growth of Renca in mice. The data of this study show that OD and SB are capable of enhancing macrophage function in vitro and inhibiting tumor growth in vivo.
 Clinical Studies Back to Top
Oesophagus cancer

Decoction of 50g ban zhi lian was used as tea for daily drink, this method had effects on patients wth oesophagus cancer to a certain effect.

Chronic gastritis

bai hua she she cao and bai zhi lian were used as the main herbs in treating 87 cases of chronic gastritis. Other herbs were added according TCM differentiation. Results: 78 cases were cured and 9 improved. While in 46 cases of the control group treated with western medicines, 25 were cured, 13 improved and 8 ineffective. There're significant differences in the curative rate and effective rate (P<0.01).

Nasal furuncle

36 cases of nasal furuncle were treated with external application of ban zhi lian and xiao qing ye, 31 cases were cured within 3 days, 2 improved, and 3 ineffective, and the total effective rate was 91.67%.

 
 References Back to Top

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