Contents
Uses
Used to:
- Dispel wind-damp, unblock collaterals and alleviate pain.
Benefits
1. Breast cancer
According to the report of Noh EM and research team at the Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, the expression of MMP-9 and cell invasion in response to TPA was increased, whereas TPA-induced MMP-9 expression and cell invasion was decreased by Radix Clematidis (RCE). Moreover, RCE suppressed NF-κB activation in TPA-treated MCF-7 cells. Thus, RCE is a potent inhibitor of TPA-induced MMP-9 expression and markedly blocks the NF-κB pathway in MCF-7 cells(1).
2. Human dermal fibroblasts
Western blot analysis and real-time PCR revealed RCE inhibited UVB-induced MMP-1 and -3 expressions in a dose-dependent manner. UVB-induced NF-kappaB activation was completely blocked by RCE pretreatment. These findings suggest that RCE prevents UVB-induced MMP expression through inhibition of NF-kappaB activation. In conclusion, RCE is a potential agent for the prevention and treatment of skin photoaging(2).
3. Depigmentation
In the study to obtain potential skin whitening agents from traditional Chinese herbs, we tested changes of melanin content in melanocyte cell lines after treatment with extracts of 90 traditional Chinese herbs., showed that among them, 9 herb extracts to be promising skin whitening agents. Among them, water extract of Galla Chinensis and ethanol extract of Radix Clematidis exhibited higher depigmentation activity and caused lower tyrosinase activity in cell culture assays and are worthy to be further studied(3).
4. Type 1 diabetes
S treptozotocin (STZ) a naturally occurring chemical can cause damage to the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas which can lead to type I diabetes. Treatment of RINm5F insulinoma cells with interleukin-1beta and interferon-gamma reduced cell viability; however, RCE protected the cells from this cytokine-mediated viability reduction in a concentration-dependent manner. Additionally, incubation with RCE resulted in a significant suppression of cytokine-induced nitric oxide (NO) production, which was correlated with reduced levels of the inducible form of NO synthase (iNOS) mRNA and protein. The molecular mechanism by which RCE inhibited iNOS gene expression appeared to involve inhibition of NF-kappaB activation(4).
Caution
Use single Chinese herbs or herbal extracts with caution. Professional advice is suggested. In TCM, Chinese herbs are mostly combined in the context of formulas to enhance each other’s desirable action and to minimize any potential side effect. You may want to search our extensive collection of patent Chinese medicine to find the formulas that utilize the herb of interest.
Interactions
None are recorded.
Other names
Wei Ling Xian, 威灵仙, 威靈仙, Clematis Root
Reference
Source: Oldtcm, http://old.tcmwiki.com/wiki/radix-clematidis
ActiveHerb, http://www.activeherb.com/chineseherbs/weilingxian.shtml