Malaysian ginger (rhizobia)

Anti-tumor promoter used in traditional medicine.

Vimala S, Norhanom AW, Yadav M

Medicinal Plant Division, Forest Research Institute Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.

Zingiberaceae rhizomes commonly used in the Malaysian traditional medicine were screened for anti-tumour promoter activity using the short-term assay of inhibition of 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced Epstein-Barr virus early antigen (EBV-EA) in Raji cells. The inhibition of TPA-induced EBV-EA was detected using the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and Western blot technique. The indirect IFA detected the expression/inhibition of EBV-EA-D (diffused EA antigen), whereas the Western blot technique detected the expression/inhibition of both EBV-EA-D and EA-R (restricted EA antigen). Seven rhizomes were found to possess inhibitory activity towards EBV activation, induced by TPA; they are: Curcuma domestica, C. xanthorrhiza, Kaempferia galanga, Zingiber cassumunar, Z. officinale, Z. officinale (red variety), and Z. zerumbet. A cytotoxicity assay was carried out to determine the toxicity of the Zingiberaceae rhizome extracts. The rhizome extracts that exhibited EBV activation inhibitory activity had no cytotoxicity effect in Raji cells. Therefore, the present study shows that several Zingiberaceae species used in Malaysian traditional medicine contain naturally occurring non-toxic compounds that inhibit the EBV activation, which, if further investigated, could contribute in the development of cancer prevention methods at the tumor-promoting stage.

Since there are so many Blood-invigorating herbs, to classify them in a rational way makes their use easier. A threefold classification around which there is some consensus is between herbs that invigorate Blood herbs that invigorate Blood and eliminate stasis and herbs that break up Blood and eliminate stasis, in ascending order of strength.

2 A list of herbs according to this threefold classification is as follows:

1) Herbs that invigorate Blood

Chuan Xiong Radix Ligustici Chuanxiong, Yan Hu Suo Rhizoma Corydalis Yanhusuo, Yu Jin Tuber Curcumae, Ru Xiang Gummi Olibanum, Mo Yao Myrrha, Wang Bu Liu Xing Semen Vaccariae segetalis.

2) Herbs that invigorate Blood and eliminate stasis

Dan Shen Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae, Yi Mu Cao Herba Leonori heterophylli, Tao Ren Semen Persicae, Hong Hua Flos Carthami tinctorii, Chuan Niu Xi Radix Cyathulae, Ze Lan Herba Lycopi lucidi, Su Mu Lignum Sappan.

3) Herbs that break-up Blood and eliminate stasis

E Zhu Rhizoma Curcumae zedoariae, San Leng Rhizoma Sparganii stoloniferii, Shui Zhi Hirudo seu Whitmania, Meng Chong Tabanus bivittatus, Di Bie Chong Eupolyphaga seu Opisthoplatia, listed here in ascending order of strength. These herbs are particularly strong and are said to "break up" (rather than "invigorate") Blood. Herbs that break up Blood are suitable to dissolve masses from stasis of Blood and should be used with great care and sparingly.

Apart from this classification, the Blood-invigorating herbs can be classified according to various other criteria as follows:

According to nature (hot or cold)

Hot: Chuan Xiong Radix Ligustici Chuanxiong, Ji Xue Teng Radix et Caulis Jixueteng, Yan Hu Suo Rhizoma Corydalis Yanhusuo, Ze Lan Herba Lycopi lucidi, Hong Hua Flos Carthami tinctorii, E Zhu Rhizoma Curcumae zedoariae, Ru Xiang Gummi Olibanum, Wu Ling Zhi Excrementum Trogopteri.

Cold: Dan Shen Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae, Yu Jin Tuber Curcumae, Yi Mu Cao Herba Leonori heterophylli, Chi Shao Radix Paeoniae rubrae, Mu Dan Pi Cortex Moutan radicis, Chuan Shan Jia Squama Manitis pentadactylae, Di Bie Chong Eupolyphaga seu Opisthoplatia.

Br J Cancer 1999 Apr;80(1-2):110-6

Herbs that invigorate Blood and stop bleeding

Pu Huang Pollen Typhae

San Qi Radix Notoginseng

Qian Cao Gen Radix Rubiae cordifoliae

Su Mu Lignum Sappan

Wu Ling Zhi Excrementum Tragopteri