Long Dan Cao - Gentiana manshurica

Professional Data
 Pin Yin
Long Dan Cao
 
 Latin
Radix Gentianae
 Introduction Back to Top
Radix Gentianae is the dried root and rhizome of Gentiana manshurica Kitag. , Gentiana scabra Bge , Gentiana triflora Pall. or Gentiana ringescens Franch. (Fam. Gentianaceae). The former three are known as "Longdan" and the later is known as "Jianlongdan". The drug is collected in spring and autumn, washed clean and dried.
 Western medical Back to Top
long dan cao is indicated in the treatment of epidemic encephalitis b, hepatitis, hypertension, vertigo, red, swelling and painful eyes, hypochondriac region, cholecystitis, Damp-Heat jaundice, acute infectious hepatitis and skin diseases, etc..
 Eastern medical Back to Top
  • Pattern: Clears Heat, dries Dampness, discharges Fire of the Liver and Gallbladder and arrests convulsion.
  • Properties: Bitter, cold.
  • Channels entered: Liver and Gallbladder.
 Chemical constituents Back to Top
The main effective ingredients include gentiopicrin, sweroside, swertiamarin, amarogentin, amaroswerin, and gentianine, etc..
 Pharmacological actions Back to Top
Influence over the digestive tract

long dan cao could stimulate gastric juice secretions if taken before meals; being taken after meals, the gastric functions and gastric juice secrtions would be decreased.

Effects on the liver

Intraperitoneal injection of Long Dan Injection at the dosage of 30g/kg to mice once daily for consecutive 5 days had certain protective effect on liver injury caused by CCl4.

Cholagogue effect

Long Dan Injection could significantly increase the bile flow volume.

Diuretic effect

Long Dan Injection had significant diuretic effect.

Lowering blood pressure

20% long dan tincture could lower the blood pressure. Perfusion of 20% long dan infustion and tincture to isolated toad's hearts could lower the heart rate and decrease the amplitude.

Effects on center nervous system

Gentanine had excitatory effect on the center nervous sytem in mice, but it showed anaesthetic effect at large dosages. Gentanine also had sedative effect, lower the toxicity of strychnine.

Anti-bacterial efect

long dan decoction had inhibitory effect on bacillus pyocyaneus, bacillus proteus, typhoid bacillus and staphylococcus aureus, etc..

Anti-inflammatory effect

Oral administration of genitianadine or intraperitoneal injection of Long Dan Injection had anti-inflammatory effect. Long Dan Injection could improve the phagocytic function.

Other effects

Hua Ai Dan, a formula containing long dan cao was proved to have anti-cancer effect on ehrlich carcinoma in mice. Long dan could relax skeletal muscle and inhibit the generation of antibodies.

 Clinical Studies Back to Top
Epidemic encephalitis b

For mild cases who could eat, 20% Long Dan Cao Syrup, 10~15ml, tid; for severe cases who couldn't eat, 2:1 Long Dan Injection for intramuscular injection, 2~4ml, tid. 23 cases of epidemic encephalitis B were treated, 11 mild cases and 6 severe cases were cured.

Persistent and chronic hepatitis

long dan cao was used as the main herb in a TCM formula to treat 26 cases of persistent and chronic hepatitis. GPT were restored to normal in 18 cases, 4 cases were ineffective. The symptoms and signs were improved or restored in all cases.

Various diseases

Single herb of long dan cao 20~30g were used to treat hypertension, vertigo, red, swelling and painful eyes, hypochondriac region, cholecystitis, Damp-Heat jaundice, acute infectious hepatitis and skin diseases, the therapeutic effects were satisfactory.

Others

Long Dan Xie Gan Wan, in which long dan cao was the main herb, was widely applied in clinic. It could be used to treat infectious heaptits, hepatic abscess, hypertension, leukemia, hypertension, allergic rhinitis, acute appendicitis, prostatitis, shingles, acne, eczema and otitis media, etc..
 
 References Back to Top

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