1)  Radix Rheum Palmatum

Application:

·        It is used a a detoxicant and to eliminate evil heat, stagnated food and blood stasis for the treatment of fever with constipation and fullness in the abdomen, incomplete intestinal obstruction

Function of the herb:

• Relieves pain in case of injury or inflammation

• It is used for detoxification

• Traditionally used as a laxative

Scientific research proved that the phytochemicals of Rheum Palmatum have the following functions:

• Aloe-emodin -- antiherpetic, antileukemic, antiseptic, antitubercular, antitumor, antiviral, bactericide, cathartic, cytotoxic, genotoxic, pesticide, purgative, termitifuge, and viricide
• Chrysophanol -- 690-3,190, antiseptic, bactericide, candidicide, cathartic, hemostat, pesticide, and purgative
• Cinnamic acid -- anesthetic, anti-inflammatory, bactericide, cancer-preventive, choleretic, fungicide, herbicide, laxative, pesticide, and vermifuge
• d-Catechol
• Emodin -- antiaggregant, antifeedant, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, antiseptic, antitumor (breast), antiulcer, antiviral, cathartic, cytotoxic, gonadotropic, immunosuppressive, pesticide, purgative, spasmolytic, styptic, vasoelaxant, viricide
• Gallic acid -- anticarcinomic, antifibrinolytic, antioxidant, antiseptic, antiviral, astringent, bacteristatic, cancer-preventive, carcinogenic, hemostat, nephrotoxic, pesticide, styptic, and xanthine-oxidase-inhibitor
• Hyperin -- anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitussive, antiviral, capillarifortificant, capillarigenic, diuretic, hepatoprotective, hypotensive, pesticide, and viricide
• Physcion -- antiseptic, cathartic, pesticide, and purgative
• Quercitrin -- aldose-reductase-inhibitor, antiarrhythmnic, anticataract, antifeedant, antiflu, antihemorrhagic, antiinflammatory, antiviral, CNS depressant, cancer preventive, cardiotonic, choleretic, detoxicant, diuretic, dye, hepatotonic, hypotensive, paralytic, pesticide, spasmolytic, vasopressor, and viricide
• Rhein -- anticarcinomic, antiseptic, antitumor, antiviral, bactericide, candidicide, cathartic, cytotoxic, pesticide, proteinase-inhibitor, purgative, and viricide  
• Tannins -- 50,000-100,000, antidiarrheic, antidysenteric, antimutagenic, antinephritic, antioxidant, antiradicular, antiviral, bactericide, cancer-preventive, hepatoprotective, pesticide, psychotropic, and viricide

Clinical studies by western scientists have shown that Emodin is the major active component of the rhizome of Rheum palmatum L., with known anticancer activities, significantly inhibited cell adhesion of various human cancer cells.   5807-15

2) Herba Lysimachia Christinae

Applications:

• It is used as febrifuge, cholagogue, lithagogue and diuretic for the treatment of acute icteric hepatitis, calculi of the biliary and urinary tracts.

Function of the herb:

• Counteract toxic effects

• To clear up liver heat

• Expel urinary stones and promote urination

3)  Poria Cocos Wolf

Application:

• As diuretics, in urinary difficulty, diarrhea, water retention
• Used for palpitations,
• Used for insomnia or forgetfulness, poor appetite.

Function of the herb :

• It has regulatory effect on human immune cells

Clinical studies by western scientists have shown that Poria Cocos Wolf has anti-tumor activity. The anti-tumor activity of the P. cocos beta-glucan gave us an insights into its mode of action and perspectives of its development. 65424

Clinical studies by western scientists from Japan have shown that 3 beta-p-hydroxybenzoyldehydrotumulosic acid from Poria cocos has anti-inflammatory functions 20314

Clinical studies by western scientists from Argentina have shown that Poria cocos has anti-inflammatory functions. They found out that among many herbs tested Poria cocos exhibited the highest scavenging activity. 60151

Clinical studies by western scientists from Japan have shown that pachymic acid, 3-O-acetyl-16 alpha-hydroxytrametenolic acid, and poricoic acid B. from Poria Cocos Wolf has anti-tumor activity. 84472

Clinical studies by western scientists have shown that Poria Cocos Wolf has anti-inflammatory functions and in vitro protects red blood cells from AAPH-induced hemolysis  (affected by microorganisms). 160-162

Clinical studies by western scientists have shown that triterpene methanol extract of Hoelen, Poria cocos was found to inhibit 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TAP)-induced ear edema. 81415

Clinical studies by western scientists from Spain have shown that lanostane triterpenes from Poria Cocos Wolf is more effective in treating chronic and acute inflammation compared to those from other herbs. 25140

4)  Polyporus Umbellatus

Applications:

• It is used as diuretic for visceral dropsy, edema and oliguria

Function of the herb:

•  It is used for detoxification

•  It is used as a diuretic

Clinical studies by western scientists from Korea have shown that erogone (a phytochemical of Polyporus umbellatus) has anti-cancer activities and that among mushrooms, Polyporus umbellatus has one of the highest erogone content.  1521-9437

Clinical studies by western scientists from Japan have shown that Polyporus umbellatus in vitro protects red blood cells from 2,2-azo-bis(2-amidinopropane)dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced hemolysis (breaking up of red blood cells). 63885

Clinical studies by western scientists have shown that Polyporus umbellatus could improve the cellular immunity of normal mice and the mice with liver lesions.  73459

Clinical studies by western scientists from Japan have shown that D-fraction, a beta-glucan extracted from Grifola frondosa (also known as Polyporus umbellatus) exerts anti-tumor effects.  “Dendritic cells (DCs) are known to not only induce the activation of T cells, but are also associated with the differentiation of T cells. The D-fraction, a beta-glucan extracted from Grifola frondosa (also known as Polyporus umbellatus) which expresses anti-tumor effects by establishing a helper (Th)-1 dominance in BALB/c mice, enhanced IL-12p70 production by DCs, when the ratio of CD8alpha(+) DCs to CD8alpha(-) DCs increased. In addition, examination of the tumor rejection effect of D-fraction-stimulated DCs loaded with tumor antigen revealed that tumor growth is inhibited completely by activating CD4(+) T cells and CD8(+) T cells.” 68282

Clinical studies by western scientists from Japan have shown that beta-glucans from Polyporus umbellatus has high cytotoxic activity against cancer cells. 02839

Clinical studies by western scientists from USA have shown that Polyporus umbellatus have various degrees of immunomodulatory, lipid-lowering, antitumor, and other beneficial or therapeutic health effects, like preventing or treating serious health conditions such as cancer, without any significant toxicity. 55669

Clinical studies by western scientists have shown that one of the gel-forming (1-->3)-beta-D-glucans from Polyporus umbellatus stimulated cytokine production (proteins secreted by cells of the immune system that serve to regulate the immune system) from macrophages (cells within tissues) in vitro. 98221

Clinical studies by western scientists have shown that (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan, isolated from Grifola frondosa (also known as Polyporus umbellatus) enhancement of cytokine production by macrophages. Research results indicate that Polyporus umbellatus is a novel macrophage activator which augments cytokine production without dependence on endotoxins (are potentially toxic natural compounds found inside pathogens such as bacteria. 13538

146 patients with bladder cancer were divided into 3 groups, Zhuling (Polyporus umbellatus) BCG, and control group and a follow-up study was done over a period of 48-124 months. Research by western scientists have shown that Polyporus umbellatus is more effective in preventing bladder cancer then the other 2 groups. 18828

Clinical studies by western scientists have shown that proteoglycan derived from Grifola frondosa  (Polyporus umbellatus) has immunological properties. 47522

Clinical studies by western scientists have shown that Grifola umbellata pilat also known as Polyporus umbellatus is very effective in treating urinary bladder cancer. Polyporus umbellatus was given to 22 patients with recurrent bladder cancer over a period of 12 to 38 months. Bladder cancer recurred in seven of the patients with a longer recurrence interval (19.2 months) after medication than before medication (P less than 0.05) whilst the remaining 15 patients had no recurrence i.e. a success rate of 68%. 98125

Clinical studies by western scientists have shown that (1----3)-beta-D-glucosyl from Polyporus umbellatus has antitumor activity. 78356

Clinical studies by western scientists have shown that  beta-1,3-glucan, LELFD, from Polyporus umbellatus can enhanced the activities of natural killer cells and macrophages in mice. Furthermore, it was found that LELFD could activate an alternative complement pathway. 04518

Clinical studies by western scientists have shown that grifolan NMF-5N, a beta-1,3-glucan obtained from mycelia of Grifola frondosa (also known as Polyporus umbellatus) exerts cytocidal (capable of killing cells) effect on cultured tumor cells. 13889

5)  Caulis Uncaria Rhynchophylla

Function of the herb:

·        It is used as antipyretic and anticonvulsive agent