Dong Ling Cao - Rabdosia rubescens

Professional Data
 Pin Yin
Dong Ling Cao
 
 Latin
Herba Rabdosime rubescentis
 Introduction Back to Top
Herba Rabdosime rubescentis is the whole plant of part of Rabdosia rubescens (Fam. Labiatae). It's collected in summer and autumn, dried in the sun.

 Western medical Back to Top
Herba Rabdosime rubescentis can be indicated in the treatment of cancers of esophagus, cardia, breast and liver. It can also be used to treat swelling of throat, insect bites, snake bites, and inflammation of the tonsils, etc..
 Eastern medical Back to Top
  • Pattern: Clears Heat, removes Toxin, dissolves swelling and stagnant Blood, activates Blood and relieves pain.
  • Properties: Sweet, bitter, slightly cold.
  • Channels entered: Liver and Kidney.
 Chemical constituents Back to Top
The main ingredients of dong ling cao include: ¦Á-Pinene, ¦Â-Pinene, Limonene, 1.8-Cineole, P-Cymene, Nonaldehyde, Decanal, ¦Â- Elemene, Palmatic acid, Oridinin (Rubescensine A), Ponicidin (Rubescensine A), C20H26O6, C20H30O6, C23H32O6, ¦Á-Amyrin and five other ingredients of unknown structures. The roots, stems and leaves contain trace minerals of iron, zinc, manganese, copper, chromiun, nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, selenium etc..
 Pharmacological actions Back to Top
Anti-tumor effect

dong ling cao had significant inhibiting or killing effect on various tumor cells. Its components rubescensine A and B could inhibit Ehrlich-Ascites tumor, sarcoma180 and esophageal carcinoma in laboratory animals.

Effects on hemodynamics

Intravenous injection of rubescensine A had negative inotropic and negative chronotropic actions on anaesthetized rabbits. It also had obvious blood pressure lowering effect.

Effects on immune function

Rubescensine B had certain effects of exciting cellular immunity.

Antibacterial effect

Alcohol extract of dong ling cao had significant antibacterial effect on staphylococcus aureus and hemolytic streptococcus A. Limonene contained in dong ling cao had very strong antibacterial effect on diplococcus pneumoniae, streptococcus A and staphylococcus aureus, etc..

Other effects

Water decoction or alcohol extract of dong ling cao could inhibit the formation of experimental granuloma in rats; increase the threshold of pain of animals to hot stimulation, increase the effect of dolantin at a small dosage of elevating threshold of pain, and obviously increase the hypnotic effect of pentobarbitale sodium. dong ling cao showed analgesic and sedative effects in patients with tumors.

 Clinical Studies Back to Top
Carcinoma of esophagus

Internal administration of Dong Ling Cao Syrup (1:100) 20~50ml, tid, 1~3 months as a course of treatment; or intravenous drip of 75~100mg rubescensine mixing into 500ml 10% glucose, once every other day, Dong Ling Cao Syrup was also applied with same usage as above, 1 month as a course of treatment. 45 cases of carcinoma of esophagus were treated, 3 were markedly effective, 13 effective, 17 stable and 12 ineffective.

Liver cancer

Dong Ling Cao Syrup (Tablet) group, 10 cases totally. Dong Ling Cao Syrup (at 1:1 concentration), 30ml, tid; Dong Ling Cao Tablet (each tablet is equal to 5g crude drug), 5 tablets, tid, 2~3 months as a course of treatment. Rubescensine (Dong Ling Cao Tablet) group, 21 cases totally. Rubescensine injection, 75~100mg mixing into 500ml 5%~10% glucose for slow intravenous drip. once every other day; Dong Ling Cao Tablet (each tablet is equal to 5g crude drug), 5 tablets, tid, 2 months as a course of treatment. 31 cases of primary liver cancer were treated, 27 cases took the follow-up survey. After treatment, half year survival rate was 29.6% (8/27), one-year survival rate was 12% (3/25), 2-year survival rate was 10% (2/20). The symptoms of liver pain and anorexia were significantly improved in 80% patients.

Acute suppurative tonsillitis

Dong Ling Cao Tablet was used to treat 90 cases of acute suppurative tonsillitis. 65 cases were cured within 2 days, 22 cases within 5 days and 3 ineffective. The method was effective for ineffective patients treated with antibiotics.
 
 References Back to Top

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