Fang Feng - Ledebouriella divaricata

Professional Data
 Pin Yin
Fang Feng
 
 Latin
Radix ledebouriellae sesloidis
 Introduction Back to Top
Radix ledebouriellae sesloidis is officially listed in the Chinese pharmacopoeia as the dried root of Saposhnikovia divaricata. (Turcz.) Schischk. (Fam. Umbelliferae). The drug is collected in spring and autumn before growing of the flowering stem removed from the rootlet and soil and dried in the sun. This herb is an effective diaphoretic, antirheumatic, and analgesic. Traditionally used in the treatment of common cold due to pathogenic wind cold, headache, arthritis , pruritis and urticaria.
The literal English translation of Fang Feng is to "Guard against wind". This herb dispels wind, resolves surface and removes dampness. It is listed as a high grade drug in 'Shen nung pen tsao ching.'
 Western medical Back to Top
Indicated for such disorders as headaches, rheumatic conditions, arthralgia hypertonicity of the limbs. Pruritis and urticaria. It has known antipyretic, antibacterial, and antiviral effects.

 Eastern medical Back to Top
  • Pattern: Warm, acrid exterior releasing.
  • Properties: Pungent, sweet, mild, warm.
  • Channels Entered: Bladder, Liver and Spleen.
 Chemical constituents Back to Top
Coumarins: bergapten, imperatorin, psoralen, phelllopterin, deltoin, scopoletin, anomalin, xanthotixin. Chromones: hamaudol, cimifugin. Volatile oil (0.3-0.6%). Saccharides: mannitol.
 Pharmacological actions Back to Top
Antipyretic action

Intragastric administration of either the 20% decoction or extract of the herb at the dose of 10ml/kg to pyretic rabbits, induced by intravenous injection of mixed typhoid vaccine, produced a moderate antipyretic effect half an hour later. The decoction was stronger than the extract and its action lasted 2.5 hours.

Antiinflammatory action

The ethanol extract of the herb administered orally at 21.18 g/kg or by subcutaneous injection at 42.36g/kg showed a marked analgesic action when as shown in electrostimulation of tails of mice. The analgesic rates for these two agents 40 minutes after medication were 46.4 and 56.7% respectively.

Antimicrobial action

The fresh juice of this herb showed antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. It also inhibited Columbia SK virus and Microsporum lanosum.
 Clinical Studies Back to Top
Common cold

Patients were treated with a compound including L.divaricata all patients showed a good response.

Rosacea

A formulation including L. divaricata was given 3 doses per day. Complete cure was obtained in all cases treated.

Elimination of Arsenic

The root of L. divaricata as the major ingredient was given to 278 cases of arsenic poisoning. The effect was similar to that achieved with daily intramuscular injection of 100mg of dimercaprol.
 
 References Back to Top

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