Ju Hua - Chrysanthemum sinensis

Professional Data
 Pin Yin
Ju hua
 
 Latin
Flos Chrysanthemum
 Introduction Back to Top
Flos Chrysanthemum is officially listed in the Chinese pharmacopoiea as the dried capitulum of Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. (Fam. compositae). The drug is collected in batches in September to November at flowering, dried in the shade or by baking or dried in the sun after fuming and steaming. It is classified into "Boju". "Chuju". "Gongju" and "Hangju" according to different localites of production and variations in processing methods.
Flos Chrysanthemi is traditionally used as an antiphlogistic and against cold, headache, vertigo, and conjunctivitis.
 Western medical Back to Top
Common cold, headache, vertigo , conjunctivitis, visual disturbances, dizziness.
 Eastern medical Back to Top
  • Pattern: Disperses wind and clears heat. Indicated for wind heat patterns with fever and headache.
  • Properties: Sweet, slightly bitter, slightly cold.
  • Channels Entered: Lung, liver.
 Chemical constituents Back to Top
Sesquiterpenes chlorochrymorin and chrysandiol were isolated from C.morifolium. Chlorochrymorin is the first natural sesquiterpene lactone with a 1-methyl-6-isopropyl-4-ethylperhydroindene skeleleton containing a chlorine atom, whereas chrysandion is a sesquiterpene diol with a germacrane skeleton containing a cyclodecane ring. In addition the flavone glycosides acaciin, luteolin 7-O -b-D-glucopyranoside, and apigenin 7-O -b-D-glucopyranoside were isolated from the flowers of C.morifolium..

 Pharmacological actions Back to Top
Antimicrobial actions

In vitro the aqueous extract or decoction of Juhua was shown to inhibit many pathogenic bacteria, influenza virus PR8, and leptospirae with an MIC of 1:10-1:80. C.morifolium has a strong antibacterial action against Staphylococcus aureus. Escheria coli, and Shigella flexneri.

Effects on the cardiovascular system

C.morifolium increased the coronary flow and myocardial oxygen consumption of the isolated heart of rabbits with experimental atherosclerosis.

Studies have shown that the alcohol-precipitated decoction of C.morifolium markedly dilated the coronary vessels and increased the coronary flow. Injection of 1g (crude drug) into the constant pressure perfusion fluid adjacent to the intubated heart increased the coronary flow by 62% within 2 minutes and at the same time slowed the heart rate. The force of cardiac contraction was in many instances strengthened rather than weakened. (chance proportion 3:2) In larger doses the decoction also increased the myocardial oxygen consumption . Preparations of C.morifolium have been shown to increase the cardiac contractility and myocardial oxygen consumption, although their dominant action is dilation of the coronary vessels. In addition it has been shown that C.morifolium has a hypotensive action, and that the preparations inhibited the increased local capillary permeability due to intradermal injection of histamine; the efficacy of the 10mg dose was equivalent to that of 2.5mg of rutin.
 Clinical Studies Back to Top

In 61 cases of coronary disease treated with the concentrated decoction of C.morifolium, the aggregate effective rate for angina pectoris was 80% of which 43.3% had marked effects; the aggregate effective rate for ECG was 45.9% of which 18.8% had marked effects. Remission or disappearance of angina pectoris was realized within 20 days in two-thirds of patients. The medication also markedly improved chest discomfort, palpitation, tachypnoea, dizziness, headache and numbness of the extremities. Nineteen out of 30 cases of complicated with hypertension had decreases in blood pressure.

C.morifolium is was shown to be effective in the treatment of hypertension with arteriosclerosis. Usually symptoms including headache, vertigo and insomnia improved in 5-10 days in some patients, concurrently with reduction of the blood pressure and serum cholesterol. It has also been effective in cerebral arteriosclerosis and coronary disease.

Upper Respiratory tract infection

Intramuscular injection of a preparation of the distillate of the fresh C.morifolium plant from Hangzhou, which chiefly contains the volatile oil (with a substance called chamzulene) 4 or 8mg/2ml, had definite therapeutic and prophylactic value: the aggregate effective rate achieved in patients with upper respiratory tract infection, tonsillitis, acute bronchitis and acute viral hepatitis was around 80%.

 
 References Back to Top

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