TCM Viagra? Bronchitis with sputum? Stroke? Dementia? Aphthae? Bad breath? Gum problems? Cataracts? Retinopathy? Colitis? Atopy?
Shi Hu - Dendrobium is finally available again from Complemedis:
Dendrobium is an orchid and this entire plant family is protected. It can only be traded if it has a CITES certificate. Our Taiwanese supplier has set up its own Dendrobium plantation and can therefore fulfil the official requirements. This means that Shi Hu is finally available again and, what's more, without any middlemen, but personally curated by Dr Chuang, the CEO of SunTen.
A delegation from Complemedis visited the plantation in 2024.
Shi Hu - Dendrobii Caulis (we need the stems) has a cool temperature, a sweet flavour, a lowering effect and is related to the functional circuits of the lungs, stomach and kidneys, which makes it clear that the range of applications is broad. The herb supports the yin, supplements juices and eliminates heat that has arisen on the basis of emptiness.
Shi Hu – Dendrobii caulis
Let's search in www.compleweb.ch: if the 'Search formula contents' box is ticked, the advanced search shows four classic formulas in which Shi Hu appears:
Gan Lu Yin
Clearing damp heat, nourishing Yin. Damp Heat is in the Stomach and Spleen area.
Stomatitis, gingivitis, toothache, conjunctivitis, bad breath, hepatitis
Modifications:
With Huang Lian and Jie Geng for severe bad breath.
with Huang Lian, Jin Yin Hua and Lian Qiao for stomatitis and aphthae.
Ning Sou Wan
Ning Sou Wan means: the pill that calms the cough. The formula is for coughs with phlegm. Acute and chronic bronchitis are the most common indications.
Di Huang Yin Zi
This formula is in the tonifying category, strengthening Kidney Yin and Yang. Indications are cerebrovascular diseases, mainly after a stroke, but also for dementia.
Nan Bao
Man's Treasure, according to the translation. The Chinese Viagra, which strengthens the Qi and Yang of the kidney and the Xue.
Modern research is focussing on Shi Hu, for example in ophthalmology: circulatory disorders of the retina, diabetic retinopathy, clouding of the lenses (cataract) lead to visual problems.
Dendrobium is also being researched for other problems, such as ulcerative colitis, atopic dermatitis and prostate cancer,
https://brion.org.tw/_tw/research_content.php?id=313
Therapeutic application of Dendrobium fimbriatum Hook for retinopathy caused by ultraviolet radiation and chemotherapy using ARPE-19 cells and mouse retina
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 230, 123199, 2023
Abstract translated with Google Translator:
Dendrobium fimbriatum Hook is a fresh or dried stem of the Orchidaceae plant, sweet in taste, slightly cold, returns to the stomach and kidney meridians, and the traditional effect is to nourish the stomach and invigorate the body, nourish yin and clear heat, and is classified as a tonic (tonifying yin). In this study, the authors extracted Dendrobium polysaccharides (cDFPW1) from Dendrobium as a test sample and evaluated the protective effect of cDFPW1 on acute enteritis induced by dextran sulfate sodium salt in mice. The results showed that cDFPW1 significantly reduced ulcerative colitis and promoted the proliferation of small intestinal mucosal cells, and its mechanism of action was related to the increase of Lgr5+ cells. In addition, cDFPW1 can promote intestinal mucosal regeneration by increasing IL-22 secretion. Based on the above results, Dendrobium may alleviate small intestinal mucosal damage by regulating IL-22 secretion.
https://brion.org.tw/_tw/research_content.php?id=298
Therapeutic application of Dendrobium fimbriatum Hook for retinopathy caused by ultraviolet radiation and chemotherapy using ARPE-19 cells and mouse retina
Plants, 13, 617, 2024
Abstract translated with Google Translator:
In this study, the authors used samples of Dendrobium grown by Juntendo Pharmaceutical Factory to evaluate their effect on the improvement of retinopathy induced by ultraviolet light and the chemotherapeutic agent oxaliplatin. The results of the study showed that Dendrobium was effective in preventing the death of human retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19) induced by ultraviolet light and the chemotherapeutic agent oxaliplatin. In addition, the results of animal experiments showed that Dendrobium can increase the antioxidant capacity of mouse retinal tissue and reduce the necrosis of mouse retinal tissue cells. Based on the above results, Dendrobium tassel can improve retinopathy by reducing retinal cell necrosis and oxidative stress and improving inflammation.
The Study of Molecular Diagnosis and Immunomodulation in Herba Dendrobii
Abstract:
Dendrobium tosaense Makino is one of the most valuable Chinese medicines known as "Shi-hu" and well developed functional health food in Taiwan. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that occurs mainly in childhood. The pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis has been studied in BALB/c mice produced by administration of 2,4,6-trinitro-1-chrolobenzene (TNCB). These mice exhibit features of chronic contact dermatitis, including skin rash, an increased number of mast cells, and elevated serum IgE levels accompanied by a shift in cutaneous cytokine expression. In the current study, a standardised ethyl acetate extract of D. tosaense (DtE) was used to protect these mice from the TNCB-induced skin lesions simulating atopic dermatitis. Activated T cell differentiation, cytokine modulation, allergen-specific antibody estimation, skin pathology, and mast cell numbers in the skin lesions were determined. The resulting cytokine profiles and IgE level showed DtE to significantly reduce Th2 polarisation. An increased number of modulated natural T regulatory cells were accompanied by increased immunosuppression in the spleen and decreased mast cell infiltration into the skin lesions. Our results indicate that the administration of DtE can modulate cytokine expression and T cell subpopulations by regulating mast cell infiltration and thus alleviate the atopic dermatitis.
Abstract :
Prostate cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer in the United States. The most common site of prostate cancer metastasis is bone. CXCL12 is preferentially expressed in bone and is targeted by prostate cancer cells, which over-express the receptor for CXCL12, CXCR4. In response to CXCL12 stimulation, Rac1, a GTPase, along with its effectors, regulates actin polymerisation to form lamellipodia, which is a critical event for cell migration. Cortactin, an actin-binding protein, is recruited to the lamellipodia and is phosphorylated at tyrosine residues. The phosphorylated cortactin is also involved in cell migration. The inhibition of Rac1 activity using a dominant negative Rac1 impairs lamellipodial protrusion as well as cortactin translocation and cortactin phosphorylation. Denbinobin, a substance extracted from Dendrobium nobile, has anticancer effects in many cancer cell lines. Whether denbinobin can inhibit prostate cancer cell migration is not clear. Here, we report that denbinobin inhibited Rac1 activity. The inhibition of Rac1 activity prevented lamellipodial formation. Cortactin phosphorylation and translocation to the lamellipodia were also impaired, and PC3 cells were unable to migrate. These results indicate that denbinobin prevents CXCL12-induced PC3 cell migration by inhibiting Rac1 activity.
Dendrobium nobile Lindley and its bibenzyl component moscatilin are able to protect retinal cells from ischemia/hypoxia by dowregulating placental growth factor and upregulating Norrie disease protein
Abstract :
Background: Presumably, progression of developmental retinal vascular disorders is mainly driven by persistent ischemia/hypoxia. An investigation into vision-threatening retinal ischemia remains important. Our aim was to evaluate, in relation to retinal ischemia, protective effects and mechanisms of Dendrobium nobile Lindley (DNL) and its bibenzyl component moscatilin. The therapeutic mechanisms included evaluations of levels of placental growth factor (PLGF) and Norrie disease protein (NDP).
Results: When compared with cells cultured in DMEM containing DMSO (DMSO+DMEM), cells subjected to OGD and pre-administered with DMSO (DMSO+OGD) showed a significant reduction in the cell viability and NDP expression. Furthermore, cells that received OGD and 1 h pre-administration of 0.1 μM moscatilin (Pre-OGD Mos 0.1 μM) showed a significant counteraction of the OGD-induced decreased cell viability. Furthermore, compared with the DMSO+OGD group (44.54 ± 3.15%), there was significant elevated NDP levels in the Pre-OGD Mos 0.1 μM group (108.38 ± 29.33%). Additionally, there were significant ischemic alterations, namely reduced ERG b-wave, less numerous retinal ganglion cells, decreased inner retinal thickness, and reduced/enhanced amacrine's ChAT/Müller's GFAP or vimentin immunolabelings. Furthermore, there were significantly increased protein levels of HIF-1α, VEGF, PKM2, RBP2 and, particularly, PLGF (pg/ml; Sham vs. Vehicle: 15.11 ± 1.58 vs. 39.53 ± 5.25). These ischemic effects were significantly altered when 1.0 g/Kg/day DNL (DNL1.0 + I/R or I/R+ DNL1.0) was applied before and/or after ischemia, but not vehicle (Vehicle+I/R). Of novelty and significance, the DNL1.0 action mechanism appears to be similar to that of the anti-PLGF Eylea [PLGF (pg/ml); DNL1.0 vs. Eylea+I/R: 19.93 ± 2.24 vs. 6.44 ± 0.60].
Conclusions: DNL and moscatilin are able to protect against retinal ischemic/hypoxic changes respectively by downregulating PLGF and upregulating NDP. Progression of developmental retinal vascular disorders such as Norrie disease due to persistent ischemia/hypoxia might thus be prevented.
Erianin alleviates diabetic retinopathy by reducing retinal inflammation initiated by microglial cells via inhibiting hyperglycemia-mediated ERK1/2-NF-kB signalling pathway
Tianyu Zhang, Hao Ouyang, Xiyu Mei, Bin Lu, Zengyang Yu, Kaixian Chen, Zhengtao Wang,1 and Lili Ji2
Abstract :
Blood-retinal barrier (BRB) breakdown is a typical event in the early stage of diabetic retinopathy (DR). This study aims to elucidate the protection of erianin, a natural compound isolated fromDendrobium chrysotoxum Lindl, againstDRdevelopment. Erianin alleviatedBRB breakdown and rescued the reduced claudin1 and occludin expression in retinas from streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Erianin reduced microglial activation, ERK1/2 phosphorylation, NF-kB transcriptional activation, and the elevated TNF-a expression both in vitro and in vivo. ERK1/2 inhibitorU0126 abrogatedNF-kBactivation in D-glucose-treatedBV2cells.Erianin reducedcellular glucose uptake, and molecular docking analysis indicated the potential interaction of erianin with glucose transporter (GLUT)1.GLUT1 inhibitor (STF31) reduced the activation of the ERK1/2-NF-kB signalling pathway.Coculture with D-glucose-stimulated microglial BV2 cells and with TNF-a stimulation both induced inner BRB and outer BRB damage in human retinal endothelial cells and APRE19 cells, but erianin improved all these damages. In summary, erianinattenuatedBRBbreakdownduringDRdevelopmentby inhibitingmicroglia-triggeredretinal inflammation via reducing cellular glucose uptake and abrogating the subsequent activation of the downstream ERK1/2-NF-kB pathway. Moreover, erianin also alleviated BRB damage induced by TNF-a released from the activated microglia.-Zhang, T., Ouyang, H., Mei, X., Lu, B., Yu, Z., Chen, K., Wang, Z., Ji, L. Erianin alleviates diabetic retinopathy by reducing retinal inflammation initiated by microglial cells via inhibiting hyperglycemia-mediated ERK1/2-NF-kB signalling pathway. FASEB J. 33, 11776-11790 (2019). www.fasebj.org
Dendrobium chrysotoxum Lindl. Alleviates Diabetic Retinopathy by Preventing Retinal Inflammation and Tight Junction Protein Decrease
Zengyang Yu,1 Chenyuan Gong,1 Bin Lu,1 Li Yang,1 Yuchen Sheng,2, Lili Ji,1 and ZhengtaoWang1
Abstract :
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a serious complication of diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to observe the alleviation of the ethanol extract of Dendrobium chrysotoxum Lindl. (DC), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on DR and its engaged mechanism. After DC (30 or 300mg/kg) was orally administrated, the breakdown of blood retinal barrier (BRB) in streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced
diabetic rats was attenuated byDC.Decreased retinal mRNA expression of tight junction proteins (including occludin and claudin- 1) in diabetic rats was also reversed byDC.Western blot analysis and retinal immunofluorescence staining results further confirmed that DC reversed the decreased expression of occludin and claudin-1 proteins in diabetic rats. DC reduced the increased retinal
mRNA expressions of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), tumour necrosis factor 𝛼 (TNF𝛼), interleukin- (IL-) 6, and IL-1𝛽 in diabetic rats. In addition, DC alleviated the increased 1 and phosphorylated p65, I𝜅B, and I𝜅B kinase (IKK) in diabetic rats. DC also reduced the increased serum levels of TNF𝛼, interferon-𝛾 (IFN-𝛾), IL-6, IL-1𝛽, IL-8, IL-12, IL-2, IL-3, and IL-10 in diabetic rats.Therefore, DC can alleviate DR by inhibiting retinal inflammation and preventing the decrease of tight junction proteins, such as occludin and claudin-1.
Hua Fang a, XiaohongHua, MeilingWang a, WenchengWan a, QiaohongYang a, Xiaosheng Sun a, QiongGu b, XinxinGao a, ZhengtaoWang c, LianquanGu b, C.-Y.OliverChen d, XiaoyongWei a,d,n
Abstract:
Ethnopharmacological relevance:Dendrobiumaurantiacumvar.denneanumis widespread insouthern China, locallyknownas "Shihu", "Huangcao" or "Fengdou", has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine for antipyretic, immunomodulatory, anti-aging effects and eye benefiting. Aim of this study: To investigate the effects of gigantol extracted from the stem of D. aurantiacum var. denneanum on the formation of galactose-induced cataractogenesis and the potential mechanisms underlying these effects. Materials and methods: Cataract lens models were induced by D-galactose both in vitro and in vivo. The transparency of the rat lenses in vitro and in vivo was observed with an anatomical microscope and a slit lamp microscope. The differential protein and action targets of gigantol were determined and compared among the control group ,model group, and gigantol group using two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry (MS). Enzyme kinetics was used to show the ability of gigantol to respressaldose reductase (AR) and inducible nitricoxidesynthase (iNOS). Quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to detect repression of the expression of AR and iNOS genes. Molecular docking and dynamic simulation were used to predict the interaction points and combination patterns between gigantol, AR, and iNOS. Results: Gigantol was found to prevent galactose-induced damage to the ratlenses both in vitro and in vivo, to delay lens turbidity, and to keep the lenses transparent. Differential proteomes, MS, and RT-qPCR showed AR and iNOS to be the target proteins of gigantol. Gigantol reduced the galactose-induced AR and iNOS mRNA expression by 51.2% and 60.9%, respectively. The IC50 of gigantol for inhibition of AR and iNOS activities were 65.67 μg/mL and 8.768 μg/mL, respectively. Gigantol-AR binding sites were Trp111, His110, Tyr48, and Trp20, and gigantol-iNOS binding sites were Ile195 and Gln257. The main forms of interaction were hydrophobic forces, hydrogen bonds, and van der Waals forces. Conclusion: Gigantol extracted from D. aurantiacum var. denneanum was found to inhibit galactose-in-induced formation of cataracts through repression of the gene expression and activity of AR and iNOS.
The core structure of a Dendrobium huoshanense polysaccharide required for the inhibition of human lens epithelial cell apoptosis
Xue-Qiang Zhaa,b,∗,1,2, Yuan-Yuan Dengc,2, Xiao-Long Lib, Jing-Fei Wangb, Li-Hua Panb, Jian-Ping Luo
Abstract :
The aim of this work was to investigate the core structure of a Dendrobium huoshanense polysaccharide DHPD1 required for the inhibition of lens epithelial cell apoptosis. In order to obtain the fragments containing the core domain, pectinase was employed to hydrolyze DHPD1. After 24 h reaction, it is interesting that the hydrolyzation seemed to be stopped, leading to a final enzymatic fragment DHPD1-24 with molecular weight about 1552 Da. Compared to DHPD1, although the bioactivity is decreased, DHPD1-24 remained the ability to inhibit the H2O2-induced apoptosis of human lens epithelial (HLE) cells via suppressing the MAPK signalling pathways. These results suggested that DHPD1-24 might be the core domain required for DHPD1 to inhibit HLE cell apoptosis. Methylation analysis showed DHPD1-24 was composed of (1 → 5)-linked-Araf, (1 → 3,6)-linked-Manp, 1-linked-Glcp, (1 → 4)-linked-Glcp, (1 → 6)-linked-Glcp, (1 → 4,6)-linked-Glcp, (1 → 6)-linked-Galp and 1-linked-Xylp in a molar ratio of 1.06:1.53:2.11:2.04:0.93:0.91:0.36:1.01. Furthermore, the primary structural features of DHPD1-24 were characterised by NMR spectrum.
Your Complemedis team in June 2025
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