Tian Dong - Asparagus cochinchinensis

Professional Data
 Pin Yin
Tian Men Dong, Tian Dong
 
 Latin
Radix Asparagus cochinchinensis
 Introduction Back to Top
Cochinchinese Asparagus Root is the dried root tuber of Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr. (Fam. Liliaceae). The drug is collected in autumn and winter, washed clean, removed from stem remains and rootlets, boiled or steamed until the centre of the drug is devoid of a white spot, peeled while hot, washed clean, and then dried.
 Western medical Back to Top
This herb is indicated in the treatment of diabetes, night sweating, hemoptysis, chronic faucitis, chronic tracheitis, whooping cough, breast cancer, malignant lymphoma, constipation, etc..
 Eastern medical Back to Top
  • Pattern: Clears Heat, nourishes yin, moistens the Lung, replenishes the Kidney, moistens the Intestines and relieves constipation.
  • Properties: Sweet, bitter, cold.
  • Channels entered: Lung, kidney.
 Chemical constituents Back to Top
Asparamide and b-sitosterol are the main constituents in this herb. Others include glucose, asparagines, mucid substance, etc..
 Pharmacological actions Back to Top
Antibacterial effect

In vitro, decoction of tian men dong has inhibitory effect on anthrax bacillus, a and b-hemolytic streptococcus, diplococcus pneumoniae, staphylococcus aureus, bacillus subtilis, and bacillus pyocyaneus, etc..

Effects on respiratory system

Asparamide contained in tian men dong has antitussive and antiasthmatic effects; b-sitosterol contained in ti has antitussive and expectorant effects.

Anti-tumor effect

Tian Men Dong has inhibitory effect on S180 in mice. In vitro, it has certain inhibitory effect on WBC dehydrogenase in patients with acute lymphatic leukemia, chronic myelocytic leukemia and acute monocytic leukemia; it can also inhibit the breath of WBC in patients with acute lymphatic leukemia.

Other functions

Increase the non-specific immune function; increase WBC; lower cholesterol, dilate uterine neck and show a labour-inducing effect; kill lavae of mosquito and fly.

 Clinical Studies Back to Top
Chronic bronchitis

tian dong 12g; bai bu, zhu li, honey, 9g each. tian dong and bai bu were decocted first, the juice was mixed with zhu li and honey. 11 patients were treated and all were effective.

Whooping cough

tian dong, mai dong, gan cao, 9g each; huang qin, gua lou ren, bai bu, ting li zi, ban xia, 6g each; ma huang, dan nan xing, di long, 3g each. All drugs were decocted with water. 50 cases were treated, after 7 days' treatment, 28 cases were cured, 16 markedly effective, 6 ineffective.

tian dong, bai bu, ban xia, 9g each; bai ji, 6g; zhu ru, 7.5g; garlic 3~5 segment, decocted with water. 48 cases had a follow-up survey. Among them, 19 were markedly effective, 21 improved, 9 ineffective.

Lobular hyperplasia of mammary gland, breast cancer

Shucked fresh tian dong 60g was steamed for half to one hour in yellow wine, one dose each day, being taken in three times. Tablets (0.3g per tablet, 9 tablets, tid), syrup (10ml, tid) or injection for intramuscular or intravenous administration could also be used. 42 cases were treated, 16 were clinically cured, 8 markedly effective, 11 effective, the total effective rate was 83%.

72 cases of breast cancer were also treated with above methods. It was found that local lump and metastatic lymph nodes all shrank to some extent and softened.

Malignant lymphoma

Tian Dong Injection (each ml was equal to 2g crude drug), 10g~40g for adults each time with the maxim dosage of 120g, mixed into 25%~50% glucose for intravenous injection; Bai Hua She She Cao Injection (each ml was equal to 2g crude drug), 8g every time, intramuscular injection, twice daily for both treatment, 3~6 months' treatment in succession. After treatment may be employed when the tumor disappeared. Oral administration of Tian Dong Tablet 9 tablets tid may be a substitute for intravenous injection. 41 cases were treated, 23 cases were treated with above method, another 18 cases were also treated with chemotherapy. Results: 15 were cured, 9 markedly effective, 12 effective, the total effective rate was 87.9%.

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding

Raw tian dong 15~30g (or fresh tian dong 30~60g) was decocted with water, once daily, being taken with brown sugar as the guide. 60 cases of dysfunctional uterine bleeding and bleeding during pregnancy due to fatigue were treated with this method, and the effect was satisfactory.
 
 References Back to Top

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