Amygdalin was the effective ingredient of xing ren's anti-tussive effect. It also had sedative effect. Hydrocyanic acid decomposed from amygdalin could inhibit the respiration center and had anti-tussive and anti-asthmatic effect.

Benaldehyde hydrolyzed from amygdalin could inhibit the activity of pepsin and affect the digestive functions. The fatty oil of xing ren could moisten the intestines and relax bowels.

Crude preparations of hot water extract of xing ren had an inhibitory rate of 50~70% on human cervical cancer culture JTC-26. And its chemical constituents such as hydrocyanic acid ad amygdalin had slight anticancer effects. But there're also reports showing that xing ren had no anti-tumor effect.

Effects of prune consumption on the ratio of 2-hydroxyestrone to 16alpha-hydroxyestrone.

BACKGROUND: A higher urinary ratio of the biologically inactive estrogen metabolite, 2-hydroxyestrone (2OHE1), to the biologically active metabolite, 16alpha-hydroxyestrone (16alphaOHE1), may be associated with a lower risk of breast cancer. High fiber intake is also associated with decreased breast cancer risk. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effects of prunes, which are naturally rich in both soluble and insoluble fiber, on the concentrations of 2OHE1 and 16alphaOHE1 and on the ratio of 2OHE1 to 16alphaOHE1. DESIGN: Nineteen healthy premenopausal women consumed their habitual diets for 3 menstrual cycles and then consumed 100 g prunes/d for the next 3 cycles. Concentrations of urinary 2OHE1 and 16alphaOHE1 were determined during the follicular and luteal phases. RESULTS: Prune supplementation increased total and soluble fiber intakes by 4 and 2 g/d, respectively (P < 0.001). Mean (+/- SEM) luteal 2OHE1 excretion decreased from 3.92 +/- 0.79 to 2.20 +/- 0.40 nmol/mmol creatinine during the third cycle (P = 0.017). Luteal 16alphaOHE1 excretion decreased from 1.38 +/- 0.24 to 0.87 +/- 0.10 and 0.87 +/- 0.15 nmol/mmol creatinine during the first and third cycles, respectively (P = 0.018 for both values). Follicular 16alphaOHE1 excretion decreased significantly only during the first cycle (from 0.82 +/- 0.12 to 0.45 +/- 0.09 nmol/mmol creatinine; P = 0.005). The 2OHE1-16alphaOHE1 ratio did not change significantly after prune supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: Prune supplementation significantly decreased the excretion of 16alphaOHE1 during the follicular phase of the first menstrual cycle and during the luteal phases of both the first and third menstrual cycles. The 2OHE1-16alphaOHE1 ratio did not change significantly. The potential significance of the decrease in 16alphaOHE1 excretion, without a change in the 2OHE1-16alphaOHE1 ratio, on the prevention of estrogen-dependent cancers remains to be determined.

--Kasim-Karakas SE, Almario RU, Gregory L, Todd H, Wong R, Lasley BL. Am J Clin Nutr. 2002 Dec;76(6):1422-7.

xing ren 5g, sang bai pi 6g, di gu pi 8g, huang qin 4g, bai mao gen 10g, lai fu zi 10g, gua lou ren 3g, qian hu 6g, dan nan xing 3g, sheng gan cao 3g. 1 dose daily, 3 doses as a course of treatment. 42 out of 43 treated cases of infantile cough were effective.

Xing Ren Tang (experiential formula): xing ren 6g, jie geng 5g, gua lou 6g, bei mu 6g, qian hu 6g, huang qin 6g, jin yin hua 10g. Modify the formula according to TCM differentiation. 150 cases of infantile pneumonia were treated, after 5~15 doses, 89 were cured, 46 markedly effective, 15 in ffective.

Modified San Ren Tang: xing ren 9~12g, bai dou kou 7~10g, yi yi ren 21~30g, hou po 10~12g, bai tong cao 6~10g. Modify the formula according to accompanied symptoms. 30 cases were treated for 1 week to 2 months, 21 were cured, 6 markedly effective and 3 ineffective.

ku xing ren, bi ma ren and other TCM herbs were made into Pi Ai Gao (skin cancer plaster) along with 5-Fu. 14 cases of skin cancer were treated with plaster alone, and 10 were cured, 2 markedly effective, 1 improved, 1 ineffective.Amygdalin and laetrile were administrated orally or intravenously to treat 34 cases of lung cancer and esophagus cancer in the late stage. The symptoms of most patients were relieved, and it was most obvious in relieving pain and controlling pleural effusion due to cancer.

xing ren, yi yi ren, bai dou kou, ban xia, hou po, tong cao, hua shi, dan zhu ye, sheng shi gao, zhi mu, huang qin, zhi zi, da qing ye, huo xiang, pe lan. 26 treated cases of typhus fever were all effective.

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