Shan Ci Gu - Cremastra appendiculata

Professional Data
 Pin Yin
Shan Ci Gu
 
 Latin
Psuedobulbus Cremastrae
 Introduction Back to Top
Psuedobulbus Cremastrae is the dried pseudobulb of Cremastra appendiculata (D. Don) Makino, Pleione bulbocodioides (Franch.) Rolfe or Pleione yunnanensis Rolfe (Fam. Urchidaceae). The former is known as "Maocigu", and the latter two are known as "Bingqiuzi". The drug is collected in summer and autumn, removed from the aerial part and soil, sorted according to size and' steamed thoroughly with boiling water, and dried.
 Western medical Back to Top
shan ci gu is indicated in the treatment of malignant tumors, persisent and chronic hepatitis, hepatocirrhosis, gout and thyroid cyst, etc..
 Eastern medical Back to Top
  • Pattern: Clears Heat, removes Toxin, treats carbuncles and disperses lumps.
  • Properties: Pungent, cold, mildly toxic.
  • Channels entered: Liver and Kidney.
 Chemical constituents Back to Top
shan ci gu contains various alkaloids including colchicines, isocolchicine, b-lumicolchicine, cnmigerine and n- forml-n-deacetylcolchicine, etc..
 Pharmacological actions Back to Top
Anti-tumor effect

Colchicine and its derivation colchiceinamide had inhibitory effect on various transplanted tumors in animors. Colcemid could inhibit sarcoma S37, S180 and liver cancer (solid) of ascitic type in mice with inhibitory rates of 36.7%, 49.8% and 26.5% respectively. It also had inhibitory effect on lymphosarcoma in rats.

Effects on tissue metabolism

After 48 hours heat preservation of in vivo cultivation of lymph node cells of rats with colchicine 1กไ10-4U, 94.6% cells died. 24 hours after colchicine injection to normal rats, the breath of lymph tissues (spleen and thymus gland) was selectively inhibited.

Inducing allergic reaction

Hypodermic injection of colchicine at the dosage of 25mg/kg to mice could induce karyokinesis in the cells of thymus gland, lymph gland, marrow, adrenal gland and hair, and degeneration of of lymph tissues and thymus gland.

Influence over WBC

Hypodermic injection of colchicine at the dosage of 3mg/kg to rabbits could lower the total count of WBC and the effect would last 1 hour. After 2~6 hours, WBC would increase significantly.

Effects on the central system

Colchicine could increase and prolong the effect of hypnotics, lower the body onload="highlight();" temperature, inhibit respiratory center, increase the sensitivity to CNS inhibiting drugs, constrict blod vessles and excite vasomotor center to increase the blood pressure.

 Clinical Studies Back to Top
Malignant tumors

Colchicine preparation Compound Colchicine Injection was used to treat 327 cases of tumors of more than 20 kinds, according to the clinical analysis, it had better effect on breast cancer and cervical cancer.

Persistent and chronic hepatitis, hepatocirrhosis

Colchicine Tablet (0.5mg/tablet), 1 tablet, tid was effective in treating persisent and chronic hepatitis.

Fu Fang Shan Ci Gu Pian (shan ci gu powder 0.1g, zhe chong 0.1g, chuan shan jia 0.1g, lou ku 0.6g in each tablet), 5 tablets, tid, 3 months as a course of treatment. 10 cases of hepatocirrhosis were treated and it had certain effect on clinical symptoms and hepatic functions.

Gout

Colchicine was the preferred drug in treating gout.

Thyroid cyst

shan ci gu, huang yao zi, mao zhua cao, hai zao, qu tou ji, hai ge ke, e zhu, yu jin, mu hu die, etc., 10g daily, 3 months as a course of treatment. Results: 75 were cured, 19 effective and 28 ineffective.

 
 References Back to Top

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