Lou Lu - Rhaponticum uniflorum

Professional Data
 Pin Yin
Lou Lu
 
 Latin
Radix Rhapontici
 Introduction Back to Top
Radix Rhapontici is the dried root of Rhaponticum uniflorum (L.) DC, Echinops latifolius Tausch. or Echinops grijisii Hance (Fam. Compositae). The drug is collected in spring or autumn, removed from rootlets, and dried.
 Western medical Back to Top
lou lu is used to treat hyperplasia of mammary glands and obesity, etc..
 Eastern medical Back to Top
  • Pattern: Clears Heat, removes Toxin, eliminates swelling, discharge pus, and promotes lactation.
  • Properties: Bitter, cold.
  • Channels entered: Stomach and Large Intestine.
 Chemical constituents Back to Top
lou lu contains volatile oil, echihorine, eshinpsine, and echinine, etc..
 Pharmacological actions Back to Top
Anti-bacterial effect

lou lu had inhibitiory effect on staphylococcus aureus, Echo virus and some dermatomyces.

Anti-inflammatory effect

Ethanol extract of lou lu could lower the permeability of celiac capillary vessels in mice, inhibit the ear swelling induced by croton oil and relieve the swelling of sole induced by carrageen.

Anti-arteriosclerosis and anti-ageing effects

lou lu could lower cholesterol level, inhibit the peroxidization reaction of artery tissue. Water decoction could improve hyperlipemia caused by improper diet, relieve artriosclerosis, lower serum lipid peroxide and decrease the content of lipofuscin in heart, brain and kidney, etc.. Ecdysterone could lower blood fat level in rats. Water extract of lou wu had anti-oxidation effect.

Immunoregulatory effect

Gastrogavage of ecdysterone contained in lou lu at the dosage of 20mg/kg to mice, once daily for 10 consecutive days culd significantly increase the ratio ANAE(+)/(-).
 Clinical Studies Back to Top
Hyperplasia of mammary glands

San Jie Chong Ji: lou lu 15g; chai hu 3g; yu jin, shan ci gu, zao jiao ci, 10g each; lu jiao shuang. 65 cases of hyperplasia of mammary glands were treated, 6 cured, 14 markedly effective, 39 improved and 6 ineffective.

Obesity

lou lu, jue ming zi, ze xie, he ye, han fang ji, 15g each; sheng di, hei da dou, shui niu jiao, huang qi, 30g each; hong shen 6g; wu gong 2 pieces were made into 100ml juice which was being taken in two times. 51 cases of obesity were treated, and 48 cases had lowered body onload="highlight();" weight by 0.5kg 1 week after the treatment.

 
 References Back to Top

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