kun bu could correct the hypofunction of thyroid gland due to lack of iodine, and relieve the symptoms of hyperthyroidism by inhibiting the metabolic rate which could be used during the preoperative preparation.

kun bu could significantly lower blood cholesterol and triglyceride, simultaneously increase the level of HDL-C and its subtype HDL2-C, and lower the whole blood viscosity and fibrinogen.

1. The effect of dietary or intraperitoneally injected seaweed preparations on the growth of sarcoma-180 cells subcutaneously implanted into mice.

Sixteen preparations from 9 edible seaweeds including powdered weed (P), hot-water extract (E), the non-dialyzable fraction (I) of E and the residue (R) of hot-water extraction were incorporated into a basic diet, and they were given to mice implanted with Sarcoma-180 cells s.c., for 5 weeks. Consequently, diets with 6 preparations, E of Laminaria angustata, P and E of Laminaria angustata var. longissima, and P, E and R of Laminaria japonica var. ochotensis, were found to be effective, with inhibition ratios ranging from 70.3% to 83.6%. Intraperitoneal injection of 10 preparations from 6 edible seaweeds, including the above 3 weeds, were also noted to be effective in the same test system, with inhibition ratios ranging from 61.9% to 95.2%.

--Yamamoto I, Maruyama H, Takahashi M, Komiyama K. Cancer Lett. 1986 Feb;30(2):125-31.

2. The effect of dietary seaweeds on 7,12-dimethyl-benz[a]anthracene-induced mammary tumorigenesis in rats.

Six groups of female rats were fed diets containing 2% of one of six powdered seaweeds for 152 days and a basic diet for 59 or 60 successive days, and controls were fed the basic diet for the whole experimental period. The 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene was given to all rats intragastrically (20 mg/kg X 1), 27 days after the start of feeding. Diets with 3 weeds, Porphyra tenera (PT), Laminaria religiosa (LR) and L. japonica var. ochotensis (LO), showed an inhibitory effect on mammary tumorigenesis. Tumor incidences were 35% (7/20), 35% (7/20) and 50% (9/18), respectively, whereas that in the control group was 69% (20/29). There was a significant delay in the time to first palpable tumor in LR-fed and PT-fed rats (P less than 0.01). As for the tumor weight per rat in each group, it was significantly lower in the LR-fed group with a weight of 1.6 g, as compared with that of 16.3 g in the control group (P less than 0.02).

--Yamamoto I, Maruyama H, Moriguchi M. Cancer Lett. 1987 May;35(2):109-18.

3. The effect of adding Laminaria japonica to food on the long-term effects when combined with radiation injury

Irradiation of rats by 131I (10 Gy) incorporated in the thyroid and by 137Cs external source (6 Gy) was made. Part of animals received a ration with Laminaria that reduced a rise in frequency of leukemia, other malignant tumors and increased latent period of tumor formation.

--Knizhnikov VA, Komleva VA, Shandala NK, Voronova IuG, Rekhina NI. Gig Sanit. 1993 Dec;(12):37-9.

Crude extract of hai dai could calm asthma in guinea pigs with asthma induced by histamine. It also had certain anti-tussive effect on rats with cough induced by SO2 and cats with cough induced by electric stimulation to superior laryngeal nerve.

Intravenous injection of laminine could temporarily lower the blood pressure in anaesthetized rabbits. It had slight excitotary effect on isolated rabbit hearts and could inhibit isolated rabbit intestines.

Laminarin was made into capsule of 300mg each, 60 days as a course of treatment. It could significantly lower the serum cholesterol and triglyceride. It could also increaset the ratio of HDL/LDL.

hai di 10g, yan suan mei 3 pieces and rock cancy 30g mixed with 250ml water were stewed and taken in three times after meals. 168 cases of acute pharyngitis were treated with this method for 1~3 days and all were cured. Among 282 treated cases with chornic pharyngitis, after 10~20 days' treatment, 182 were markedly effective and 80 improved.

ban zhi lian, bai hua she she cao, xia ku cao, 30g each; mu li, hai zao, e zhu, 12g each; kun bu, zhi ke, ju he, shan ci gu, dan pi, 9g each; chi shao, 6g. 20 days as a course of treatment.

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