Research Progress On Pharmacological Effects Of Cistanche Nedir

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The research on the chemical constituents of Cistanche deserticola has been introduced before, then the pharmacological effects of various main chemical constituents are reviewed, and their development prospects prospect.

1. Pharmacological studies

1.1 Immunity

Cistanche deserticola belongs to a kind of precious traditional Chinese medicine that can stimulate the pituitary gland, and adrenal cortex or have a hormone-like effect similar to the adrenal cortex, and regulate the immune function of the body. The content of polysaccharides in its extract is relatively high, and the immune-enhancing effect of polysaccharides may play a major role in the strengthening and tonic effect of Cistanche deserticola. Many studies have shown that Cistanche Cistanche polysaccharide can promote the proliferation of mouse thymic lymphocytes, enhance the ability of mouse spleen lymphocytes to secrete IL-2, and improve mouse spleen index, serum hemolysin value, and E-rosette. formation rate and promote the phagocytic ability of phagocytes in the peritoneal cavity of mice. Wang Chengrong et al. have confirmed that polysaccharides from Cistanche deserticola can improve the transformation rate of T lymphocytes and the content of IFN-γ in peripheral blood after broiler chickens were immunized with the Xincheng vaccine. Zhang Hongquan et al.'s research on ergosteroside from Cistanche deserticola also showed that ergosteroside can promote lymphocyte proliferation, improve the body's non-specific cellular immunity and immune regulation function, and enhance the immune function of aged mice by increasing the production of L-2 by T lymphocytes. To achieve the effect of delaying immune aging. On the other hand, deficiency of kidney yang will lead to the decline and disorder of immune function, so the effect of invigorating the kidney and strengthening yang is closely related to the improvement of immune function of the body. This also reflects the therapeutic mechanism of the synergistic effect of the active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine.

1.2 Anti-aging and antioxidant effects

Recent studies suggest that aging is closely related to the lipid peroxidation of biological membranes caused by free radicals. Studies have found that phenethyl glucoside can significantly inhibit the reduction of serum and brain SOD activity, and also has a certain effect on reducing liver and serum MDA content, indicating that phenethyl glucoside can anti-aging by enhancing the body's antioxidant capacity, and its mechanism may be related to phenethyl alcohol. The free radical scavenging effect of glycosides. In addition, the results of the study on the bodyweight of aging model mice and the coefficient of thymus and spleen organs showed that compared with the model group, the spleen coefficient of the high-dose phenethylamine group was significantly increased. The immune function of the body delays aging. The main components of the total glucosides of Cistanche deserticola are phenethyl glycosides. The research of Roland et al. showed that the total glucosides of Cistanche deserticola could improve the learning and memory function of the AD model mice induced by aluminum poisoning, increase the activity of SOD in the brain tissue of the AD mice, and reduce the content of MDA. At the same time increase the brain weight coefficient. The mechanism of action may be related to increasing the activity of free radical scavenging enzymes, preventing lipid peroxidation, reducing brain atrophy, and protecting neuron function. The experimental results of Wu Bo et al. showed that the polysaccharide of Cistanche deserticola can significantly increase the activity of SOD in subacute aging mice, and significantly reduce the content of lipid peroxides in the blood and liver of subacute aging mice. This indicates that the polysaccharide of Cistanche deserticola has the function of regulating the oxidative/antioxidative balance of aging mice, and the elimination of D-galactose causes the increase of free radicals. It is suggested that the polysaccharide of Cistanche deserticola has the effect of anti-oxidation and anti-aging. There are few studies at home and abroad on the mechanism of the anti-aging effect of Cistanche deserticola polysaccharides at the mitochondrial level. Xu Hui et al. observed the anti-aging effect of Cistanche deserticola polysaccharides at the mitochondrial level, and the results concluded that Cistanche deserticola polysaccharides significantly increased the activity of Ca2 + - ATPase, the fluidity of the liver mitochondrial membrane, and respiratory chain complex I + in the liver of D-galactose-induced aging rats. Ⅲ, Ⅱ + Ⅲ activity, significantly reduces liver mitochondria MDA content, and PLA2 activity. It is suggested that the polysaccharides of Cistanche deserticola can improve the antioxidant capacity of liver mitochondria in aging model rats, improve mitochondrial energy metabolism, and have anti-aging effects. In conclusion, Cistanche deserticola can antagonize the damage of aging factors to the body through a variety of ways to achieve the effect of anti-aging.

1.3 Protect the liver

Wu Yu et al. studied the protective effect and mechanism of echinacoside on acute liver injury in rats. After injection of CCl4 in rats, serum ALT, AST levels and tissue MDA content increased significantly, while SOD activity decreased significantly; 3 The activity was enhanced and the level of TNF-α was increased, and HE staining confirmed the manifestation of severe liver injury. However, pre-administration of echinacoside can effectively reduce the levels of serum ALT, AST, and tissue MDA in exposed rats, increase the activity of SOD, and inhibit the activity of caspase-3 and the level of TNF-α, compared with the acute liver injury group. At the same time, the degree of liver tissue damage in rats was greatly improved, indicating that echinacoside has a good preventive effect on CCl4-induced acute liver injury, and its mechanism may be related to the that echinacoside can effectively reduce the generation of free radicals and reduce the generation of free radicals. related to anti-lipid peroxidation.

1.4 Invigorating the kidney and strengthening yang

Cistanche deserticola is a valuable tonic, which has the functions of invigorating the kidney, strengthening the yang, strengthening the liver and kidney, and benefiting the essence and qi. Studies have found that the active ingredients in Cistanche deserticola are phenylethanoid glycosides, such as echinacoside, eugenol glycosides, etc. It works mainly in two ways: firstly, it can enhance the function of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal gland, promote the release of related transmitters and hormones in the body, and improve libido; secondly, it can resist fatigue and improve physical function. The kidney-tonifying effect of Cistanche is different from that of common kidney-tonifying drugs such as Epimedium, Morinda Officinalis, etc. Cistanche can nourish the kidney without hurting the yin. Long-term use generally does not cause symptoms such as anger and dry mouth. Therefore, "Compendium of Materia Medica" calls it "tonifying It is not complete, so there is a calmness of Xi", which means calmly nourishing the kidneys. Cistanche is suitable for both men and women, so it can not only treat male impotence but also treat female infertility. Due to the exact tonic effect of Cistanche deserticola, it has become one of the most commonly used tonic medicines in the prescriptions of physicians in the past dynasties. Gong Mengjuan et al. used hydrocortisone to create a model, and the model mice developed symptoms of yang deficiency such as lethargy, decreased activity, piloerection, weight loss, cold tail, and cold limbs. Cistanche deserticola decoction high-dose group can antagonize the symptoms of "yang deficiency" in mice caused by hydrocortisone, significantly increase the body weight of yang deficiency mice, increase the number of activities of yang deficiency mice; reduce the accumulation of lactic acid in mice after exercise; Can significantly reduce serum urea nitrogen content. It was confirmed that Cistanche deserticola could improve the anti-fatigue ability of Yang-deficiency mice. The experimental results of Pan Yurong et al showed that the addition of alcoholic extract of Cistanche deserticola, traditional Chinese medicine for tonifying kidneys and strengthening yang while using corticosteroids for a long period of time can prevent the adrenal cortical atrophy caused by single-use of hormones. It is suggested that the alcohol extract of Cistanche deserticola has a certain protective effect on renal function.

1.5 Neuroprotective effect of Cistanche deserticola

So far, nearly 70 compounds have been isolated from Cistanche plants, mainly including phenylethanol glycosides, iridoids, and their glycosides, lignans and their glycosides, and other components such as alkaloids and sugars. Among them, there are 4 monomers with neuroprotective effects reported in the literature, namely ergo side (acteoside), echinaco2 side, tubuloside (tubuloside) B, and campneoside II. Non-monomeric components that may contain the above-mentioned monomeric components, such as total glucosides of Cistanche deserticola, phenethyl alcohol glycosides, and polysaccharides, also showed neuroprotective activity. Apoptosis is a programmed cell death caused by a variety of pathogenic factors and plays an important role in nervous system development, neurodegeneration, and excitatory neuron damage. Deng Min et al. used PC12 cells to simulate the response of nerve cells, induced oxidative damage to cells with H2O2 and observed the neuroprotective effect of vasoside B. The results confirmed that genocide B could effectively alleviate the apoptosis induced by H2O2, and its neuroprotective effect showed a certain dose-dependent relationship in the dose range of 1～100 mg·L -1. It may inhibit the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species and increase caspase-3 activity, and maintain the high-energy state of mitochondrial membrane potential. These links are interconnected to inhibit apoptosis and achieve neuroprotection. effect. Aging is not only an important aspect of degenerative changes in human nervous system functions but also the initial stage of many nervous system diseases. The mechanism of aging is very complex. In addition to being closely related to apoptosis and free radical damage, vascular disease, abnormal structure, and function of glial cells are also important factors leading to its occurrence and development. Therefore, the anti-aging preparation with Cistanche deserticola extract as the main component has also shown an obvious effect on improving the aging symptoms of the human nervous system in human experiments. Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury is related to the massive formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), intracellular calcium overload, and excessive nitric oxide (NO) production, which has an important impact on the further recovery of the brain function in patients after ischemia-reperfusion. Gao Cong et al. made a model of vascular dementia (VD) induced by focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion on the 16th day of ig administration in rats, and on the 7th day of continued administration, learning, and memory training were started. test. In the first 3 days of the test, the average correct response rate of the model group was significantly lower than that of the sham-operated group, indicating that cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury caused the learning and memory dysfunction of the model rats; The average correct response rate was significantly higher than that in the model group, and was comparable to that in the sham-operated group, indicating that Cistanche deserticola had preventive and therapeutic effects on learning and memory impairment in VD rats, and the total glucosides of Cistanche deserticola were the effective components of anti-dementia.

1.6 Laxative effect 

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that this product enters the kidney and large intestine meridians, tonifies the kidney and helps the yang to moisten dryness and laxative. The decoction of Cistanche deserticola has an obvious laxative effect, which can improve intestinal peristalsis, inhibit the absorption of water in the large intestine, and shorten the defecation time. It has a significant curative effect on senile habitual constipation, physical deficiency constipation, and maternal postpartum constipation.

1.7 Others

It has been reported that phenethyl alcohol total glycosides, as the main active component of Cistanche deserticola extract, also have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, there are reports of the sedative effect of Cistanche deserticola glycosides. In addition to enhancing immunity and anti-aging, polysaccharides also play an important role in wound healing and can significantly promote the growth of fibroblasts. Mao Xinmin et al. found that total phenylethyl glucosides of Cistanche salinae could increase the activity of creatine phosphokinase in myocardial tissue and protect ischemic myocardium. Shen Jinghua and others claimed that Cistanche has anti-tumor and anti-hepatitis effects.

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2. Toxicity of Cistanche

Hu Yuming and others studied the toxicity of total glucosides of Cistanche, and found that the acute toxicity test was non-toxic and the genotoxicity test was negative; body weight, food utilization, blood routine, blood biochemistry, organ ratio, and histopathological examination were There was no significant difference between the items and the control group (P > 0.05). It provides an experimental basis for the development and utilization of Cistanche deserticola resources, so it can be said that as a health care effect if used in moderation, there are no cistanche side effects.

3. Development Prospects and Prospects of Cistanche

Cistanche (cistanche wirkung) is a national second-class protected plant, with excellent medicinal value, and is one of the famous Chinese herbal medicines in the central and western regions of my country. We should conduct in-depth research on the active ingredients of its pharmacological action and its mechanism of action. On the premise of ensuring efficacy, we should improve the traditional Chinese medicine preparations, improve the quality control level, and develop new Chinese medicine products with definite curative effects, safe use, and controllable quality. In addition, in order to protect resources, develop and utilize and improve the quality of Chinese medicinal materials, on the one hand, an industrialized cultivation base of Cistanche and its host plants (sand-protecting plants) should be established, which can not only solve the shortage of Cistanche resources but also realize the sustainable development of the Cistanche industry. It can also treat saline-alkali land in a large area, and finally realize the unification of economic, ecological, and social benefits. On the other hand, the research on the use of tissue culture methods to obtain commercial Rong also needs to be carried out at the same time. At present, the work in this area is still very weak. How to further improve the varieties, increase the yield, and quickly popularize the excellent varieties, so as to protect the resources, develop and utilize and improve the quality of Chinese herbal medicines, is an urgent problem for biotech workers. With the development of science and technology and the deepening of people's understanding of Cistanche deserticola, this precious resource will certainly have considerable development prospects.