Herbal Research

Xian Mao

RHIZOMA CURCULIGINIS (GOLDEN EYE-GRASS RHIZOME)

Xian Mao is the dried rhizome of Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. (Amaryllidaceae). The rhizome is collected in the autumn and winter, removed from the crown and fibrous roots, washed clean and then dried in the sun. The herb is mainly produced in the provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou.

CHEMISTRY

Thirteen cycloartane triterpene saponins named curculigosaponins A-M were isolated and identified in the rhizome13. Two other triterpenes curculigol and 31-methyl-3-oxo-20-ursen-28-oic acid were also isolated from the rhizome4'5. Besides, phenyl glycosides curculigoside B, curculigines B and C, and an aliphatic compound 25-hydroxy-33-methylpentatricontan-6-one were identified in the rhizome6'7.

PHARMACOLOGY

Effect on the Sexual Glands

Oral adminstration of 10 g/kg of the decoction of the herb to rats significantly increased the weight of lobus anterior hypophyseos, ovary and uterus. The specific affinity of the ovary human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)/luteinizing hormone (LH) receptors was markedly increased while LH concentration in the blood unchanged, indicating that the herb can increase the response of the ovary to LH. Furthermore, in ovariotomized rats the herb increased the pituitary secretion of LH after endogenous administration of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LRH). These results suggest that this herb can potentiate the luteotrophic activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary system. This action is produced not by stimulating the release of pituitary LH but by increasing the pituitary response to LRH and the ovary response to LH5.

Other Effects

Oral administration of 10 and 20 g/kg of the extract of the herb to mice significantly increased the activity of pentoneal macrophages. It also counteracted the immunosuppressive effect of cyclophosphamide in mice8. The ethanolic extract of the herb showed adaptive effects, such as enhancing tolerance towards high temperature and hypoxia. It also had sedative, anticonvulsant and androgen-like effect. Besides, it increased the immunological activity in mice9. Curculigosaponin G increased the weight of the thymus in mice2.

FUNCTIONS AND APPLICATIONS

Xian Mao has a pungent taste and a hot property, acting on the kidney, liver and spleen channels. It has the functions of:

(i) reinforcing the kidney-Yang, used in impotence, limpness of the limbs, and
(ii) strengthening the tendons and bones, and dispelling cold-damp, used in arthritis of
the lumbar and knee joints due to affection of cold-damp.

DOSAGE

3-9g.

REFERENCES

1. Xu, J.P., Xu, R.S., Li, X.Y. (1992) Glycosides of a cycloartane sapogenin from Curculigo orchioides. Phytochemistry, 31, 233-236.
2. Xu, J.P., Xu, R.S., Li, X.Y. (1992) Four new cycloartane saponins from Curculigo orchioides. Planra Medica, 58, 208-210.
3. Xu, J.P., Xu, R.S. (1992) Cycloartane-type sapogenin and their glycosides from Curculigo orchioides. Phytochemistry, 31, 2455-2458.
4. Misra, T.N., Singh, R.S., Tripathi, D.M., Sharma, S.C. (1990) Curculigo: A cycloartane triterpene alcohol from Curculigo orchioides. Phytochemistry, 29, 929-932.
5. Mehta, B.K., Gawarikar, R. (1991) Characterization of a novel triterpenoid from Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. Indian Journal of Chemistry (Section B: Organic Chemistry including Medicinal Chemistry), 30, 986-988.
6. Xu, IP., Xu, R.S. (1992) Phenyl glycosides from Curculigo orchioides. Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica, 27, 353-357.
7. Mehta, B.K., Sharma, S., Porwal, M. (1990) A new aliphatic compound from Curculigo arch ioides Gaertn. Indian Journal of Chemistry (Section B: Organic Chemistry including Medicinal Chemistry), 29, 493-494.
8. Yin, J. (1995) Modern Research and Clinical Applications of Chinese Materia Medico (2), pp. 116-118. Beijing: Chinese Medical Classics Press.
9. Chen, Q.S., Chen,W.Q., Yang, S.Y. (1989) Pharmacological study of Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. China Journal of Chinese Materia Medico, 14, 618-620, 640.