Research Update:Herba Cistanches and Its Findings.

  seminal trace...Herba Cistanchis Extract.8:1Herba Cistanche,Polyphenols.Cistanche Polysaccharides.Boschnaloside,8-Epiiridotrial glucosideM.F.C16H24O8,CAS NO: 72963-55-4;Cistanoside H,M.F.C22H32O13,Desertliving Cistanche,Cistanche deserticola,Cistanche tubulosa,Cistanche Salsa,Cha Gan Gao Ya.Desert Ginseng.....

 


   Phytochemical info of Herba Cistanchis:

 Product Name:
 Synonym:
 Definition:Herba Cistanchis are majorly composed of
 Chemical information disclosed as following table:


   Research Update:Herba Cistanches and Its Findings.

  Structural characterization and immunological activity of two cold-water extractable polysaccharides from Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma.:Carbohydr Res. 2007 Mar 24;Dong Q, Yao J, Fang JN, Ding K.Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China.

 Two major polysaccharide fractions, CDA-1A and CDA-3B, were isolated from the cold-water extract of Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma, a holoparasitic plant and a valuable traditional Chinese medicine, using anion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and gel-permeation chromatography on Sephacryl S-300 and Sephadex G-150. Their major structural features were elucidated using component and linkage analyses, periodate oxidation, Smith degradation, partial acid hydrolysis, and NMR spectroscopy. The results indicated that CDA-1A is an alpha-(1-->4)-d-glucan with alpha-(1-->6)-linked branches attached to the O-6 of branch points and that CDA-3B is an RG-I polysaccharide containing a typical rhamnogalacturonan backbone and arabinogalactan or arabinan branches. Bioactivity tests showed that CDA-1A is inert for T-cell proliferation stimulation but active for B-cell proliferation, while CDA-3B is potent for the stimulation of both T- and B-cell proliferation.

  Determination of acteoside in Cistanche deserticola and Boschniakia rossica and its pharmacokinetics in freely-moving rats using LC-MS/MS.:J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci. 2006 Nov 21;844(1):89-95. Epub 2006 Aug 4.

 A sensitive LC-MS/MS method with a simple solid-phase extraction for the determination of acteoside in rat plasma and tissue homogenates was established for the investigation of bioavailability and brain distribution in freely-moving rats. Acteoside in Cistanche deserticola and Boschniakia rossica was also determined. Acteoside and internal standard were separated on a RP-select B column (125mmx4.6mm i.d., particle size 5microm). The mobile phase consisted of 35% methanol and 65% acetic acid-water (1:100, v/v) at a flow-rate of 1mL/min. Acteoside and the internal standard were monitored using the multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) mode at m/z transitions of 623-->161 and 609-->301, respectively. The acteoside content was 38.4+/-2.4mg/kg (n=3) for B. rossica, which is obviously lower than 21134.2+/-805.5mg/kg (n=3) of C. deserticola. The protein binding in rat plasma was 75.5+/-1.8%. The brain distribution result indicated that acteoside was evenly distributed in brain tissues (brain stem, cerebellum, the rest of the brain, cortex, hippocampus and striatum) which was about 0.45-0.68% of that in plasma (4.5+/-0.5microg/mL) after 15min of acteoside administration (10mg/kg, i.v.). After acteoside was given (3mg/kg, i.v.; 100mg/kg, p.o.), the oral bioavailability (AUC(p.o.)/dose(p.o.))/(AUC(i.v.)/dose(i.v.)) was only 0.12%.

  An arabinogalactan isolated from the stems of Cistanche deserticola induces the proliferation of cultured lymphocytes.:Int J Biol Macromol. 2005 Dec 30;37(5):278-82. Epub 2005 Dec 15.Wu XM, Gao XM, Tsim KW, Tu PF. Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Beijing 100083, China.

 A purified polysaccharide ACDP-2 was isolated from water extract of the stems of Cistanche deserticola. Chemical and spectroscopic analyses indicated that ACDP-2 is a highly branched arabinogalactan polymer that composes of linked d-galactopyranose and d-glucopyranose, which contains predominantly a branching point at the 6-carbon. The branched side-chains compose of terminal-, 1,5-, and 1,3,5-linked arabinofuranosyl residues. ACDP-2 showed an effect in stimulating the immune response, which when applied onto the cultured mouse lymphocytes induced the cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner.

  Isolation and characterization of alpha-(1-->6)-glucans from Cistanche deserticola.:J Asian Nat Prod Res. 2005 Dec;7(6):823-8.Wu XM, Tu PF.Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100083, China.

 Three unique polysaccharides (1-3) have been obtained from the 0.5 M NaOH extract of the stem of Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma. The results of methylation analysis, partial acid hydrolysis, 13C, 1H NMR, 1H-1H COSY, HMQC and HMBC spectroscopic analyses indicate that they are all composed of glucose, having a backbone of alpha-(1 --> 6)-glucan, and have different molecular weights. Their structures differ from that of linear starch.

  Improvement of phenylethanoid glycosides biosynthesis in Cistanche deserticola cell suspension cultures by chitosan elicitor.:J Biotechnol. 2006 Jan 24;121(2):253-60. Epub 2005 Sep 6.Cheng XY, Zhou HY, Cui X, Ni W, Liu CZ. State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, PR China.

 Effect of chitosan elicitor on growth and phenylethanoid glycosides (PeGs) accumulation in Cistanche deserticola cell suspension cultures was investigated. PeGs accumulation was dramatically improved by addition of selected chitosan at optimal elicitation conditions. Furthermore, a strategy of repeated addition of the chitosan elicitor for enhancing PeGs accumulation was developed. The chitosan elicitor of 10 mg l(-1)-medium repeatedly added on days 15 and 17 improved PeGs accumulation further, and the final PeGs production in the treated cell cultures of C. deserticola reached 364.6 mg l(-1), which was 3.4-fold higher than that of the control without elicitation. The increase of PeGs accumulation in C. deserticola cell suspension cultures was related to the increase of phenylalanine ammonium lyase activity stimulated by the chitosan elicitor.


  Studies on the sedative effect of Cistanche deserticola:Journal of Ethnopharmacology.Vol. 59, No. 3, pages 161-165 (1998).

 In this study, we investigated the sedative effect of Cistanche deserticola Ma. (CD) on hexobarbital-induced sleeping time in mice and spontaneous motor activity by using automated activity meter in rats. It was found that crude extract of CD could prolong the hexobarbital-induced sleeping time and reduce spontaneous motor activity, including horizontal activity, ambulatory time and total distance. Then the water fraction of CD extract could prolong the hexobarbital-induced sleeping time and reduce the spontaneous motor activity more than that of the other fraction of CD extract in rats. These results suggest that CD ethanol extract and its water fraction possessed the sedative effect.

  Effects of methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid on phenylethanoid glycosides synthesis in suspension cultures of Cistanche deserticola:Sheng Wu Gong Cheng Xue Bao. 2005 May;21(3):402-6.Xu LS, Xue XF, Fu CX, Jin ZP, Chen YQ, Zhao DX. Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China.

 The present study investigated the influence of the methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid elicitors on the formation of phenylethanoid glycosides (PeG) in the suspension cultures of Cistanche deserticola. The results showed that methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid enhanced greatly the accumulation of PeG and echinacoside (Echin), but their optimum elicitation dosage and addition time were different. The yields of PeG and Echin were significantly increased in the presence of 5 micromol/L methyl jasmonate on day 14 (up to 2.59-fold and 3.82-fold, respectively), whereas treated with 50 micromol/L salicylic acid on day 28, the maximum content of them were, respectively, 2.71 and 3.16-fold higher than the untreated cell cultures.

  Morphotype diversity of Cistanche deserticola:Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2004 Jan;29(1):35-7.Cao R, Ma H, Wang YC.College of Life Science, Inner Mongolia University, Huhhot 010021, China. caorui@life.imu.edu.cn

 OBJECTIVE: To provide theoretical basis for selecting high quality seeds by studying the modality diversity of Cistanche deserticola. METHOD: Four populations were collected in the field and its biodiversity was studied by comparative morphoaanatory to identify its mutation of nutrition organ and reproduction organ in laboratory and herbarium. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: There are several types of C. deserticola that come from different types, which results in the difference in pharmacody and effect of medicine.

  Microscopic identification of commercial Herba Cistanches by digital imaging technique:Zhong Yao Cai. 2004 Jun;27(6):400-2.Zhang M, Fu X, Wang S.Department of Pharmacognosy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210038.

 OBJECTIVE: To identify the commercial drugs of Herba Cistanches collected from 10 different areas. METHOD: Descriptions identification and digital imaging technique. RESULT: The original plants of the commercial drugs were three species, Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma, C. salsa (C. A. Mey) Benth et Hook. f. and C. tubelosa (Schrenk.) R. Wight. CONCLUSION: The confusion of Herba Cistanches in markets is exist. The main current species was C. deserticola, C. salsa (each 2/5) and C. tubelosa (1/5). The descriptions of C. deserticola and C. salsa are similar and not easy to distinguish. But the digital photographs offered by the paper visually reflected the microscopic differences of two species.

  Study on genetic diversity of herba Cistanches by RAPD:Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2004 Aug;29(8):727-30.Cui GH, Chen M, Huang LQ, Xiao SP, Li D. Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100700, China.

 OBJECTIVE: To determine the genetic diversity of Cistanche species. METHOD: Two populations of Cistanche deserticola and four populations of C. tubulosa were analyzed by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. RESULT: A total of 76 and 87 loci were amplified using 10 random primers each other. The average percentage of polymorphic loci of C. deserticola was 47.37%. The PPL were 39.47% and 35.53% for two populations. Average Nei's gene diversity was 0.1358, Shannon' s genetic diversity was 0.2072, and Gst was 0.2546. The average PPL of C. tubulosa was 27.59%. It was 19.54% to 25.29% in different populations and Andi'er population had the highest. Average Nei's gene diversity was 0.0823, and Shannon' s genetic diversity was 0.125 8, Cst was 0.175 5. CONCLUSION: The diversity of Cistanche deserticola is higher than that of C. tubulosa, but both has differentiation among populations, C. deserticola has already separated itself into two different ecotypes.


  Determination of phenylethanoid glycosides from Cistanche deserticola in spring and autumn with LC-MS:Zhong Yao Cai. 2004 Mar;27(3):175-7.Cao Z, Zhao W, Wu X.Xinjiang Institute of Physic and Chemistry of Chinese Academy of Science, Urumuqi 830011.

 OBJECTIVE: To have a contrast study on phenylethanoid glycosides from Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma collected in different seasons. METHODS: LC/MS method has been applied for the analysis of four kinds of phenylethanoid glycosides compunds (echinacoside, acteoside, cistanoside A and 2'-acetylacteoside) from Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma in spring and autumn. RESULTS: According to the special MS spectra and HPLC chromatogram, this four kinds of phenylethanoid glycosides compounds were detected in each Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma, but the content is considerable different except the acteoside. CONCLUSION: The content of phenylethanoid glycosides from Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma in different seasons has a difference from each other, the quality of Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma is also different.

  Study on the pollination characteristic of Cistanche deserticola:Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2003 Jun;28(6):504-6.Chen J, Liu TN, Cheng HZ, Zhu XH, Ding WL. Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Scienes and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100094, China. junzichen@263.net

 OBJECTIVE: To study the Pollination Characteristic of C. deserticola. METHOD: Four pollination methods were used, cross pollination coming different plant, cross pollination in one plant, wind pollination and no-pollination. RESULT: Cross pollinations coming different plant are fructiferous. The average fructication rate of cross pollination coming different plant is 94.1%; the average fructication rate of cross pollination in one plant is 52.2%; The seed qulitity of cross pollination coming different plant is better than the cross pollination in one plant. CONCLUSION: Cross pollinations coming different plant have a high quantity and quality of seeds of C. deserticola.

  Studies on the chemical structure of polysaccharide CDP-4 isolated from Cistanche deserticola:Beijing Da Xue Xue Bao. 2004 Feb;36(1):24-6.Wu XM, Tu PF.Peking University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100083, China.

 OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical structure of polysaccharide CDP-4 isolated from Cistanche deserticola Y.C.Ma. METHODS: The chemical properties of CDP-4 were determined by using chemical method and spectrocospic method. RESULTS: CDP-4 was composed of glucosyl group, with the ratio 1,4-linkage glcp:1,6-linkage glcp=3:1,and its mean molecular weight 1.4 x 10(4). By means of methlylation analysis, complete acid hydrolysis analysis, NMR spectrum, the linkages and sequence information of CDP-4 were obtained. CONCLUSION: CDP-4 is a new linear glucan.

  Improvement of phenylethanoid glycosides production by a fungal elicitor in cell suspension culture of Cistanche deserticola:Biotechnol Lett. 2003 Sep;25(17):1437-9.Lu CT, Mei XG. School of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, P.R. China. lctuua@sina.com

 When, on the 15th day of growth, an elicitor from Fusarium solani was added at 40 mg l(-1) to Cistanche deserticola cell suspension cultures, the contents of echinacoside, acteoside and total phenylethanoid glycosides (PeGs) in cultured cells all increased over the next 27 d by over 100% to 15 mg g(-1) dry wt, 9 mg g(-1) dry wt and 57 mg g(-1) dry wt, respectively. The final biomass (1.3 mg dry wt ml(-1)) was not affected.

  Effects of rare earth elements on the growth of Cistanche deserticola cells and the production of phenylethanoid glycosides.:J Biotechnol. 2003 Apr 24;102(2):129-34.Ouyang J, Wang X, Zhao B, Yuan X, Wang Y. State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 353, Beijing, 100080, China. joyouyang@yahoo.com

 The rare earth elements Nd, La, Ce at proper concentrations had positive effects on the cell growth of Cistanche deserticola and production of phenylethanoid glycosides (PeG). A mixture of rare earth elements (MRE, La(2)O(3):CeO(2):Pr(6)O(11):Sm(2)O(3)=255:175:3:1, mol/mol) showed the most remarkable effects. After 30 day's culture, 0.02 mmoll(-1) MRE gave the highest content (20.8%) and production (1.6 gl(-1)) of PeG, which were 104 and 167% higher than those obtained in control (without rare earth elements).


  Immunomodulatory effects of polysaccharide of Cistanche Deserticola Y C Ma:Zhejiang Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban. 2002 Aug;31(4):284-287.Zheng QL, Zheng YF, Lu ZL.College of Medical Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310006 China.

 OBJECTIVE: To study the immunomodulatory effects of the polysaccharide Cistanche Deserticola Y C Ma (CDPS) and its mechanism. METHODS: The immunomodulatory function of CDPS was studied in vitro by observing the proliferation of murine thymus lymphocytes, which was measured with MTT method. The effects of CDPS on cell cycle and thymus intracellular calcium delivering were studied with FACScan flow cytometer. RESULTS: The inhibition function of ISO and DEX and high concentration of TNFgamma on lymphocyte proliferation was decreased with CDPS at higher concentration. It could stimulate the division of thymus lymphocyte and promote thymus intracellular calcium delivering. CONCLUSION: The enhancing effect of CDPS on murine thymus lymphocyte proliferation is related to its promotion on thymus intracellular calcium delivering.

  Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity caused by Cistanche deserticola in rodents.:J Ethnopharmacol. 2002 Dec;83(3):177-82.

 In the present study, the rhizomes of Cistanche deserticola (Orobanchaceae, abbreviated as CD) were extracted with 50% ethanol and isolated orderly by ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water. The analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of CD extract and three layers were evaluated in several animal models. CD extracts effectively inhibited writhing response induced by 1% acetic acid and biphasic licking responses caused by 1% formalin, and also reduced the edema induced by 1% carrageenan but not zymosan. Furthermore, the butanolic and aqueous layers of CD extract not only reduced the pain induced by acetic acid and formalin, but also decreased the edema that induced by carrageenan. Effects of the butanolic layer of CD extract are better than that of the aqueous layer. In addition, the effect of the butanolic layer of CD extract was not abolished by naloxone. These results revealed that CD has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, and the butanolic and aqueous layers are mainly active constituents. Furthermore, the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of the butanolic layer of CD extract were not related to opioid receptors and immune system.

  Pharmacognostical studies of cistanchis herba (III) phylogenetic relationship of the cistanche plants based on plastid rps2 gene and rpl16-rpl14 intergenic spacer sequences.:Biol Pharm Bull. 2002 Feb;25(2):218-22.

 The phylogenetic relationship of Cistanche deserticola, C. salsa and C. tubulosa was analyzed by comparing the nucleotide sequences of the plastid rps2 gene and the intergenic spacer region between rpl16 and rpl14. By comparison of sequence data, the Cistanche samples were distinguishable from each other. The results were consistent with their anatomical and chemical characteristics. Intraspecific variations were found in C. salsa and C. tubulosa among the geographical populations. The NJ tree reconstructed based on the sequence data revealed that C. deserticola and C. salsa from China were closely related to each other, and C. tubulosa was placed as an outgroup of them.

  Analysis of phenylethanoid glycosides in the extract of herba Cistanchis by LC/ESI-MS/MS:Yao Xue Xue Bao. 2000 Nov;35(11):839-42.Wang YM, Zhang SJ, Luo GA, Hu YN, Hu JP, Liu L, Zhu Y, Wang HJ.Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.

 AIM: To analyze the phenylethanoid glycosides in Cistanche deserticola Y. D. Ma and its alternatives. METHODS: An HPLC/MS/MS method has been developed for the analysis of seven kinds of phenylethanoid glycosides in Cistanche deserticola Y. D. Ma, C. salsa (C. A. Mey) G. Beck and C. tubulosa (Schenk) R. Wight. The [M - H]- ions were observed for five standards and Cistanche extracts. The glycosidic linkages, the core, and the attached sugar (s) of the phenylethanoid glycosides can be determined from the collision-induced dissociation spectra of the molecular. RESULTS: Seven kinds of phenylethanoid glycosides (echinacoside, acteoside, cisacteoside, isoacteoside, 2'-acetylacteoside, cistanoside A, osmanthuside B) in Cistanche deserticola Y. D. Ma, six kinds (echinacoside, acteoside, cisacteoside, isoacteoside, 2'-acetylacteoside and cistanoside A) in C. salsa (C. A. Mey) G. Beck and five kinds (echinacoside, acteoside, cisacteoside, isoacteoside and 2'-acetylacteoside) in C. tubulosa (Schenk) R. Wight were detected. CONCLUSION: The difference of the relative distribution of these phenylethanoid glycosides in each extract was found out. Phenylethanoid glycosides are the specific constituents in Cistanchis, which can be used to distinguish different species in Genus Cistanchis.

  Hepatoprotective activity of phenylethanoids from Cistanche deserticola.:Planta Med. 1998 Mar;64(2):120-5.

 Four phenylethanoids isolated from the stems of Cistanche deserticola, acteoside (1), 2'-acetylacteoside (2), isoacteoside (3) and tubuloside B (4), significantly suppressed NADPH/CCl4-induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes. Addition of them to primary cultured rat hepatocytes efficiently prevented cell damage induced by exposure to CCl4 or D-galactosamine (D-GalN). Acteoside (1) further showed pronounced anti-hepatotoxic activity against CCl4 in vivo.


  Studies on the sedative effect of Cistanche deserticola.:J Ethnopharmacol. 1998 Jan;59(3):161-5.

 In this study, we investigated the sedative effect of Cistanche deserticola Ma. (CD) on hexobarbital-induced sleeping time in mice and spontaneous motor activity by using automated activity meter in rats. It was found that crude extract of CD could prolong the hexobarbital-induced sleeping time and reduce spontaneous motor activity, including horizontal activity, ambulatory time and total distance. Then the water fraction of CD extract could prolong the hexobarbital-induced sleeping time and reduce the spontaneous motor activity more than that of the other fraction of CD extract in rats. These results suggest that CD ethanol extract and its water fraction possessed the sedative effect.

  Analysis of phenylethanoid glycosides of Herba cistanchis by RP-HPLC:Yao Xue Xue Bao. 1997 Apr;32(4):294-300.Tu PF, Wang B, Deyama T, Zhang ZG, Lou ZC. School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Beijing Medical University, Beijing 100083.

 The Chinese drug "Rou Cong-rong" (Herba Cistanchis) is one of the commonly used drugs in Chinese traditional medicine. It is used to reinforce the vital function of kidney, especially that of the sexual organs and induce laxation, for the treatment of impotence, premature ejaculation in men, infertility, morbid leukorrhea, profuse metrorrhagia in women, and chronic constipation in the aged. This paper deals with the qualitative and quantitative analysis of phenylethanoid glycosides of four species and one variety of Genus Cistanche and 23 lots of commercial crude drugs of Herba Cistanchis by RP-HPLC. The results were as follows: the chemical constituents of Cistanche deserticola Ma, C. salsa (C. A. Mey) G. Beck, C. salsa var. albiflora P. F. Tu et Z. C. Lou and C. tubulosa were similar while those of C. sinensis were different from the others; the contents of echinacoside and acteoside of C. salsa, which were 2.13% and 1.51%, were the highest of the genus Cistanche. An ODS column (Alltima C18, 5 microns, 250 x 4.6 mm) was employed. Linear gradient elution of acetonitrile--1.5% acetic acid was used as mobile phase, and concentration of acetontrile was from 8% to 20% (0-60 min) in the qualitative analysis, and from 11.5 to 20% (0-35 min) in the quantitative analysis. The flow rate was 1.2 ml.min-1. The detection wavelength was set at 335 nm.

  Antioxidative effects of phenylethanoids from Cistanche deserticola.:Biol Pharm Bull. 1996 Dec;19(12):1580-5.

 The acetone-H2O (9:1) extract from the stem of Cistanche deserticola showed a strong free radical scavenging activity. Nine major phenylethanoid compounds were isolated from this extract. They were identified by NMR as acteoside, isoacteoside, 2'-acetylacteoside, tubuloside B, echinacoside, tubuloside A, syringalide A 3'-alpha-rhamnopyranoside, cistanoside A and cistanoside F. All of these compounds showed stronger free radical scavenging activities than alpha-tocopherol on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and xanthine/xanthine oxidase (XOD) generated superoxide anion radical (O2-.). Among the nine compounds, isoacteoside and tubuloside B, whose caffeoyl moiety is at 6'-position of the glucose, showed an inhibitory effect on XOD. We further studied the effects of these phenylethanoids on the lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes induced by enzymatic and non-enzymatic methods. As expected, each of them exhibited significant inhibition on both ascorbic acid/Fe2+ and ADP/NADPH/Fe3+ induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes, which were more potent than alpha-tocopherol of caffeic acid. The antioxidative effect was found to be potentiated by an increase in the number of phenolic hydroxyl groups in the molecule.

  Kidney reinforcing and yang supporting action of cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma before and after preparation:Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 1996 Sep;21(9):534-7, 575.He W, Shu X, Zong G, Shi M, Xiong Y, Chen M. Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing.

 The weights of seminal vesicle and prostate gland of castrated young rats were significantly increased by administration of alcoholsoluble extract from decoction of Cistanche deserticola. The weights of testes, seminal vesicle and prostate gland in mice and rats were also increased by the extract. The phagocytic function of intra-abdominal macrophage in mice was activated by decoction of Cistanche deserticola. The results showed no statistical differences between crude and prepared drugs. The maximum oral tolerance for mouse was 40 g/kg.

  Comparison between Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma and C, tubulosa (Shenk) Wight on some pharmacological actions:Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 1996 Jul;21(7):436-7 inside backcover.Zong G, He W, Wu G, Chen M, Shen X, Shi M. Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing

 The weights of seminal vesicle and prostate gland of castrated young rats were significantly increased by administration of alcohol soluble extract from the decoction of Cintanche deserticola, C. tubulosa and soaked C. deserticola. The phagocytic function of intra-abdominal macrophage in mice was activated by the decoction of C. deserticola and C. tubulosa.


  Active antisenile constituents in Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma:Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 1995 Nov;20(11):687-9, 704.Xue D, Zhang M, Wu X, Chen X, Zhan Y.Department of pharmacy, Jiangxi College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang.

 From the dry bulbs of Cistanche deserticola a branch of orobahchacease plant growing in Inner Mongolia two active antisenile constituents (D-mannitol and polysaccharide) were isolated and identified. Chemical analysis and spectroscopic tests show that D-mannitol corresponds to the authentic standard, and polysaccharide is condensed from rhamnose, xylose, arabinose and galactose.

  Herbalogical studies on rou congrong (herba Cistanchis):Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 1994 Jan;19(1):3-5, 61.Tu PF, He YP, Lou ZC.Department of Pharmacognosy, Beijing Medical University.

 This paper deals with the investigation of the original plants of Rou Congrong and Cao Congrong recorded in the herbalogical works of the past dynasties. The results have shown that Rou Congrong is the dried fleshy stem of Cistanche deserticola and C. salsa, and Cao Congrong is the dried fleshy stem of Orobanche coerulescens. The substitutes and false drugs of Rou Congrong were also investigated.

  Effects of Cistanche deserticola Y.C. Ma on serum creatine kinase and ultrastructures of skeletal muscles in mice:Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 1993 Dec;18(12):743-5, 764.Han LC, Hou JF.Inner Mongolia Medical College, Hohhot.

 The results showed that after mice were administrated with Cistanche deserticola, the duration of swimming was prolonged, and the increase of serum creative kinase was inhibited after exercises. Moreover, in the skeletal muscle ultrastructures it was found that after loaded swimming the glycogen became rich, and hyperplasia and hypertrophy of mitochondria occurred without any injury to myofibril.

  Microscopic identification of commercial Herba Cistanches by digital imaging technique:

 Objective: To identify the commercial drugs of Herba Cistanches collected from 10 different areas. Method: Descriptions identification and digital imaging technique. Result: The original plants of the commercial drugs were three species, Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma, C. salsa (C. A. Mey) Benth et Hook. f. and C. tubelosa (Schrenk.) R. Wight. Conclusion: The confusion of Herba Cistanches in markets is exist. The main current species was C. deserticola, C. salsa (each 2/5) and C. tubelosa (1/5). The descriptions of C. deserticola and C. salsa are similar and not easy to distinguish. But the digital photographs offered by the paper visually reflected the microscopic differences of two species.
 


  Phenylethanoid glycosides from Cistanches salsa inhibit apoptosis induced by 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion in neurons.:

 In our study we investigated the neuroprotective effects of phenylethanoid glycosides (PhGs) from Cistanches salsa on 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP(+))-induced apoptosis in cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs). CGNs were treated with 100 microM MPP(+) for 24h to induce apoptosis, simultaneously CGNs were incubated with PhGs at 10, 20 and 40 microg/ml, respectively. In addition CGNs were pretreated with PhGs at 20 microg/ml for 6, 12, 24 h, respectively, and then treated with 100 microM MPP(+) for 24 h. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-ylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay revealed that the treatment of CGNs with PhGs inhibited the decrease of cell viability induced by MPP(+). The activation of caspase-3 and caspase-8 was induced by MPP(+) in apoptosis. The caspase-3 and caspase-8 fluorogenic assays showed that the treatments of CGNs with PhGs efficiently suppressed the activation of caspase-3 and caspase-8 induced by MPP(+). It is concluded that PhGs can prevent the MPP(+)-induced apoptosis in CGNs and exert its anti-apoptosis effect by inhibiting caspase-3 and caspase-8 activities.

  Preparative isolation and purification of acteoside and 2'-acetyl acteoside from Cistanches salsa (C.A. Mey.) G. Beck by high-speed counter-current chromatography.:

 High-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) was applied to the separation and purification of phenylethanoid glycosides (PhGs) acteoside and 2'-acetylacteoside from Cistanches salsa (C.A. Mey) G. Beck with a quaternary two-phase solvent system composed of ethyl acetate-n-butanol-ethanol-water (4:0.6:0.6:5, v/v). HPLC analyses of the CCC fractions revealed that the two main PhGs were over 98% purity. Their chemical structures were identified by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and MS.
 

  Neuroprotective effects of phenylethanoid glycosides from Cistanches salsa against 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced dopaminergic toxicity in C57 mice.:

 The neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) has been employed to create a Parkinson's disease-like model in both rodents and primates based primarily on its ability to create a striatal dopamine deficit due to the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra compacta. The present study was carried out to determine the possible effects of phenylethanoid glycosides (PhGs) from Cistanches salsa (C. A. MEY, G. BECK) on attenuating the serious behavioral disorder and increasing dopamine (DA) levels in the striata of MPTP-lesioned C57 mice. MPTP (30 mg/kg i.p. for 4 d) induced serious behavioral disorders and significantly reduced striatal DA levels in C57 mice. In spontaneous motor activity and rotarod tests, obvious behavioral differences were seen between control and model groups. PhGs (10, 50 mg/kg) significantly increased the spontaneous movement number and latent period of mice on the rotating rod (p<0.01). Injections of MPTP 30 mg/kg for 4 d caused a significant reduction in DA, 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid, and homovanillic acid in striata analyzed by HPLC-electrochemistry (p<0.01). The neurotoxic effects of MPTP were attenuated by pretreatment with PhGs (10, 50 mg/kg) in a dose-dependent fashion. The apparent neuroprotective effects of PhGs on nigral dopaminergic neurons were also confirmed by the results of immunohistochemical staining. The present in vivo data clearly demonstrate that PhGs can protect dopaminergic neurons against dopamine neurotoxicity induced by MPTP, as suggested by an earlier in vitro study. The neuroprotective effects of PhGs were the first reported for a natural product.
 

  Metabolic regulation of phenylethanoid glycosides from Herba cistanches in dogs' gastrointestine:

 Aim: To study the metabolic process of phenylethanoid glycosides (PhGs) in the gastrointestine of beagle dogs that were administered intragastrially process, and develop some new methods of biopharmacology on the effective position of traditional Chinese medicine. Methods: High-performance liquid chromatography was used to purify constituents from faeces and analyze relative contents of the three main compounds in the gastrointestinal tract at different times and in the faeces of dogs. Every sample was collected, extracted with methanol and analyzed with integration. Results: Four compounds, based on reference substances, were identified as echinacoside, acteoside, isoacteoside, and 2'-acetylacteoside from extraction of faces of dogs. Quantitative "with HPLC" analysis reveals that variation of ratios of the three main compounds is not distinct when moving in the gastrointestinal tract 7 h, that is quite different from those in faeces, in which the content of echinacoside fell from 48.0% to 16.0%, and acteoside increased from 11.0% to 34.7%. Conclusion: PhGs are mainly metabolized in large intestine. Among them, a portion of echinacoside is transformed into aceteoside.

  A study on quality standard for herba cistanches:

 Aim: To establish the quality standard for Herba Cistanches. Method: A qualitative identification method by TLC was established for five kinds of active components(acteoside, echinacoside, cistanoside A, betaine and mannitol) and RP-HPLC was used to quantify the acteoside contents. Result: Qualitative and quantitative analyses were carried out for fourteen kinds of Herba Cistanches and eleven kinds of Yinpian. This method is accurate, reliable and of good separability and reproducibility. Conclusion: This method can be applied as standard for the quality control of cistanche deserticola.
 


  Antilipid peroxidation and antiradiative action of glycosides in herba Cistanches:

 The results showed that oral administration of GCs could markedly increase the activity of SOD in red blood cells as well as the contents of nucleic acid (DNA and RNA) in liver and kidney, decrease the contents of MDA in serum, markedly increase the activity of SOD in red blood cells as well as the contents of nucleic acid in the spleen of mice radio-induced by 60Co, and also lower the contents of MDA in liver. The results suggest that the protective effect of GCs on nucleic acid and antiradiative action may be related to its antilipid peroxidation.

  Comparison on the kidney nourishing and yang strengthening functions of three different species of herba Cistanches:

 Oral administration of water extraction of three kinds of herba cistanches can increase the weight of young mice, prolong the duration of swimming and promote anoxia tolerance in mice. These water decoctions can also increase the body weight, the activities of SOD in serum and the lifespan of "Yang insufficient" model mice induced by administration of hydrocortisone acetate.
 

  Neuroprotective effects of phenylethanoid glycosides from Cistanches salsa against 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced dopaminergic toxicity in C57 mice.:

 The neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) has been employed to create a Parkinson's disease-like model in both rodents and primates based primarily on its ability to create a striatal dopamine deficit due to the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra compacta. The present study was carried out to determine the possible effects of phenylethanoid glycosides (PhGs) from Cistanches salsa (C. A. MEY, G. BECK) on attenuating the serious behavioral disorder and increasing dopamine (DA) levels in the striata of MPTP-lesioned C57 mice. MPTP (30 mg/kg i.p. for 4 d) induced serious behavioral disorders and significantly reduced striatal DA levels in C57 mice. In spontaneous motor activity and rotarod tests, obvious behavioral differences were seen between control and model groups. PhGs (10, 50 mg/kg) significantly increased the spontaneous movement number and latent period of mice on the rotating rod (p<0.01). Injections of MPTP 30 mg/kg for 4 d caused a significant reduction in DA, 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid, and homovanillic acid in striata analyzed by HPLC-electrochemistry (p<0.01). The neurotoxic effects of MPTP were attenuated by pretreatment with PhGs (10, 50 mg/kg) in a dose-dependent fashion. The apparent neuroprotective effects of PhGs on nigral dopaminergic neurons were also confirmed by the results of immunohistochemical staining. The present in vivo data clearly demonstrate that PhGs can protect dopaminergic neurons against dopamine neurotoxicity induced by MPTP, as suggested by an earlier in vitro study. The neuroprotective effects of PhGs were the first reported for a natural product.

  An Integrated Method for the Extraction of Effective Substances from Cistanche deserticola :(Phenylethanoid glycosides; Betaine; Polysaccharide;)

 Abstract: An integrated method for the extraction of phenylethanoid glycosides (PeG), betaine and polysaccharide from Cistanche deserticola was investigated. Granular C. deserticola was treated with methanol and water under ultrasonic wave, and then the filtrate was passed through macro reticular resin (AB-8) column, strong-acidic cation exchange resin (001 ¡Á 7) column and Sephadex G-75 column successively. From which 52.3mg PeG, 125.6mg betaine and 24.5mg C. deserticola polysaccharide were obtained, and the recovery were 64.4%, 92.9% and 53.5% respectively.


  Scientific References:

  1.Research Update:Herba Cistanches and Its Findings.
  2.Herba Cistanche.Rou Cong Rong.Desertliving Cistanche.Herba Cistachis and Legend.