Concentration of water decoction-alcohol precipitation of gua lou pi and gua lou ren (peel and seed of gua lou) and injection of gua lou fluid extract could dilate coronary vessel of isolated hearts of guinea pigs and increase the blood volume of coronary vessels. Gua Lou Injection could protect myocardial ischemia induced by pituitrin n rats, lower the blood pressure in anaesthetized rabbits, and dilate the arteriole of mesentery in rabbits.

In vitro experiments showed that gua lou decoction and extracts of gua lou peel and kernel had killing effect on ascites cancer cells in mice. Animal tests showed that gua lou had certain inhibitory effect on sarcoma, but had no obvious effects on ascites cancer. There're also reports showing that preparations of gua lou had no effects on transplanted cervical cancer, lymphosarcoma-1 and S180.

Effect of trichosanthin--an anti-leukemia protein on normal mouse spleen cells.

Trichosanthin, from Trichosanthes kirilowii is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family. It has been reported to have anti-cancer activity. The effects of Trichosanthin peptides (15 amino acids in length) on ConA stimulated incorporation of 3[H] thymidine into cultured, primary mouse spleen cells and L1210 cells were determined. Both spleen cells and L1210 cells were plated at 7.5 x 10(5) cells/ml in a microtiter plate. Different concentrations of the peptide (0.5, 5, 25, and 50 micrograms/ml) and ConA (1 microgram/ml) were added with serum free media, and half of the samples were labeled with 1 microCi/well of 3[H] thymidine. The additional half of the cell samples were used to determine cell number and % viability. After 24 hours incubation, the N-terminal peptides (amino acid residues #1-15 and 16-30) caused increases in ConA stimulated incorporation of 3[H] thymidine into normal spleen cells at low concentrations of the peptides (5 micrograms/ml). The viability of spleen cells and L1210 cells were not affected by these peptides at 5 micrograms/ml. These N-terminal peptides (#1-15 and 16-30) were tested for in vivo anti-tumor activity. There was a delay of tumor formation in the treated vs control group. The results suggest that N-terminal sequences of trichosanthin have anti-tumor activity.

--Takemoto DJ. Anticancer Res. 1998 Jan-Feb;18(1A):357-61.

Infusion and decoction of gua lou had inhibitory effect on bacillus coli, Shigella sonnei, bacillus proteus, staphylococcus, diplococcus pneumoniae, hemolytic streptococcus A and hemophilus influenzae. It could also killing some fungi such as microsporum.

gua lou contains strong cathartic substance. gua lou could lower the total cholesterol of rabbits. Water extract could regulate the blood glucose by elevating followed by lowering. gua lou pi had expectorant effect.

Gua Lou Tablet, 4 tablets, tid, which was equal to 31.2g crude drug. 100 cases of coronary heart disease were treated, and 76% cases had effectively relieved angina pectoris, 52.9% cases had effectively improved EKG.

Hua Tan Tong Fu Yin: gua lou 30~40g, dan nan xing 6~10g, sheng da huang 10~15g, mang xiao 10~15g. 158 cases of hemiplegia were treated and 85.6% were effective.

Basic formula: gua lou 15g, zhu ru 9g, chen pi 9g, bai zhu 9g, fu ling 12g, shan yao 12g, dan shen 30g, chi shao 9g, dan pi 9g, lu lu tong 9g, ba ji tian 9g, gan cao 6g. Modify the formula according to accompanied symptoms or signs. 24 doses as a course of treatment. 43 cases if semen non-liquefaction were treated for 1~3 cuorses, 41 cases were effective, and 11 cases' spouses got pregnant.

Basic formula: gua lou 20g, ban xia 10g, huang lian 5g, fu zi 6g, pu gong ying 12g, dang shen 15g, sheng gan cao 5g. Modify the formula according to TCM differentiation. 67 cases if chronic gastritis were treated, and 52 cases were improved.

gua lou, jin yin hua, chi shao, yu jin, 30g each; chuan shan jia 12g; ban xia 9g; chen pi, huang lian, zhi ke, 6g each; 1 dose every day. 30 days as a course of treatment. Anti-TB and anti-inflammatory treatment were also applied. 22 cases were treated, and 13 cases were markedly effective, 7 effective and 2 ineffective.

Gua Lou Qu Mai Tang: gua lou gen 60g, gua lou 12g, qu mai 30g, shan yao 60g, fu zi 10g, fu ling 60g. Water decoction, 1 dose daily for one month. 23 cases of diabetic nephropathy were treated, 17 cases were markedly effective, 4 effecitve and 2 ineffective.

Gua Shi Liu Wei Tang (epxerimential formula): quan gua lou, shi hu, yi mu cao, dan pi, dan shen, niu xi. Modify the formula according to TCM differentiation. 50 cases of amenorrhea were treated and all were effective.

Lou Sang Tang (experimential formula): quan gua lou, sang bia pi, chen xiang, zhi qian niu zi, concentrated decoction of 100ml being taken in two or more times after supper and before sleep. 7 days as a course of treatment. 30 cases of infantile cough and asthma were treated and all wre cured.

Gua Lou Hong Hua Tang (experimential formula): gua lou 100g, hong hua 10g, 1 dose every day. 45 cases of shingles were treated and all were cured after 4~15 doses.

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