Shang Lu - Phytolacca acinosa

Professional Data
 Pin Yin
Shang Lu
 
 Latin
Radix Phytolaccae
 Introduction Back to Top
Radix Phytolaccae is the dried root of Phytolacca acinosa Roxb. or Ph tolacca americans L. (Fam. Phytolaccaceae). The drug is collected from autumn to next spring, removed from rootlet and soil, cutinto slice or piece, and dried in the sun or in theshade.
 Western medical Back to Top
Shang lu is used to treat thrombopenic purpura, chronic bronchitis, ascites due to hepatocirrhosis and hemorrhage of the digestive tract.
 Eastern medical Back to Top
  • Pattern: Relaxes bowels and discharges Fire, treats swelling and disperses lumps.
  • Properties: Pungent, sour, bitter, cold. Toxic.
  • Channels entered: Spleen, Lung, Kidney and Large Intestine.
 Chemical constituents Back to Top
shang lu contains phytolaccagenin, phytolaccoside A, B, D, E, F, D2, jaligonic acid and eswlentoside A, etc..
 Pharmacological actions Back to Top
Expectorant effect

Infusion, tincture and deccotion of shang lu had significant expectorant effect on mice.

Anti-tussive effect

Hypodermal injection of tincture and decoction of shang lu had mild anti-tussive effect on mice. Crude extract of alkaloids had significant anti-tussive effect.

Anti-viral and anti-bacterial effect

in vitro tests showed that decoction and tincture of shang lu had hemophilus influenzae and some strains of pneumococcus.

Others

shang lu extract could increase urine flow volume on toad's kidney.

 Clinical Studies Back to Top
Thrombopenic purpura

Primiary thrombopenic purpura was treated with formulas according to TCM differentiation plus shang lu 6~10g. Western medicine was suspended. 23 cases were treated, and another 24 cases were set as the control group and treated with western medicine. Results: in the two groups, 9 and 5 cases were cured respectively, 7 and 5 markedly effective, 5 and 6 effective, 2 and 8 ineffective. There's significant difference between the two groups in the therapeutic effect.

Chronic bronchitis

Fresh roots of shang lu or fresh shang lu was made into syrup or honeyed pill to treat chronic bronchitis. 682 cases were treated, 25% of cases were clinically controlled within short term, and 31% of cases were markedly effective.

Ascites due to hepatocirrhosis

zhi shang lu 5~30g, gan jiang 10g, gan cao 12g were the basic formula which was supplemented according to TCM differentiation. 49 cases of ascites due to hepatocirrhosis were treated, after 10~30 days treatment, 40 cases were cured.

Hemorrhage in the digestive tract

15~24g dried shang lu or 50~100g fresh shang lu was decocted with water to 200ml concentrated juice to treat 3 cases of hemorrhage in the digestive tract. The bleeding was stopped after 2~3 days and no side effects were reported.

 
 References Back to Top

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