Cang Er Zi - Xanthium sibiricum

Professional Data
 Pin Yin
Cang Er Zi
 
 Latin
Fructus Xanthium sibiricum
 Introduction Back to Top
Fructus Xanthium sibiricum is officially listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia as the dried ripe bur of Xanthium sibiricum Patr. (Fam. Compositae). The drug is collected in autumn when ripe, dried and removed from stalks leaves and other foreign matter. The herb is traditionally used for headache from wind-cold , sinusitis, urticaria with itching, arthritis with muscle contracture cause by damp .
 Western medical Back to Top
Nasal decongestant and antirheumatic.
 Eastern medical Back to Top
  • Pattern: Expels wind dampness; warm, acrid exterior releasing.
  • Properties: Sweet, slightly bitter, warm
  • Channels Entered: Lung and liver
 Chemical constituents Back to Top
A glycoside, coded AA2, was isolated from the fruit of X sibiricum in 1962.
A crystalline substance containing carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and sulfur was isolated in 1974.
Carboxyatractyloside, a crystalline glycoside with marked hypoglycemic action, was isolated in 1975.
The fruit also contains xanthanol, isocanthanol, hydroquinone.
Xanthostrumarin (1.2%). Resin (3.3%). Fixed oil (9.2%): oleic acid, palmitic acid. Alkaloids.
 Pharmacological actions Back to Top
Respiratory effect

The 100% decoction of the herb given to mice at the intragastric dose of 0.3ml/animal exhibited an antitussive action.

Cardiovascular effect

The injected preparation of the herb slightly affected blood pressure and increased vascular permeability. The herb also produced a transient hypotensive action.

Antimicrobial effect

The 50% decoction of the herb had a slight or moderate inhibitory action against Staphylococcus aureus and beta Streptococci and a slight inhibitory action against Diplococcus pneumoniae in vitro. The herb was also effective against Trichophyton rubrum.

Hypoglycemic action

An extraction of X. Sibiricum injected intraperitoneally into normal rats at the dose range of 1.25-5mg/kg exhibited a significant hypoglycemic action. It had no effect in alloxan-induced diabetic rate, but it significantly reduced liver glycogen. Its hypoglycemic mechanism is thus considered to be different from that of insulin but similar to that of phenethylbiguanide.

Carboxyatractyloside had a significant hypoglycemic action in normal rabbits, rats, and dogs, whether given intravenously, intramuscularly, intraperitoneally or orally. A similar action was exhibited by this agent in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Therefore its acion is thought to be different to sulfonylurea. It was independent on the islets of Langerhan.
 Clinical Studies Back to Top
Chronic Paranasal Sinusitis

X. Sibiricum fruit is an important herb used clinically in the treatment of sinusitis. An effective treatment rate of 80% was achieved using a combination of X. Sibiricum, Magnolia liliflora, lonicera japonica, Chrysanthemum morifolim, and Rubia cordifolia.

Allergic Rhinitis

The powdered herb manufactured into tablets equivalent to 1.5g of raw herb were given thrice daily for a course of two weeks. The effective rate in 47 cases was 72.4%.

Chronic Rhinitis

The fruits of X. Sibiricum crushed and mixed with Sesame oil were applied to the nasal cavities with cotton swabs 2-3 times daily for a course of 2 weeks. Only 3 out of 207 cases treated were unchanged. There was no recurrence during the follow-up period, which lasted for up to 3 years.

Chronic Bronchitis

275 cases of chronic bronchitis were treated with the fruits of X. Sibiricum with good therapeutic effects. An effective rate of 82.7% was still achieved in 249 cases checked a year later.

Malaria

21 out of twenty four cases were reported cured by treatment with 100g of X. Sibiricum fruit decocted and ingested with chicken eggs. The preparation was given once daily for 3 days. Three relapse cases were cured after two further days treatment.

Miscellaneous

The herb was also effective in the treatment of refractory toothache, acute mastitis, urticaria and scabies.
 
 References Back to Top

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