Cistanche Herb
| Synonym | |
| Latin name | Cistanchis Herba |
| Botanical source: Family name | Orobanchaceae |
| Botanical source: Plant name | - Cistanche salsa Beck (IPNI:661966-1) - Cistanche deserticola Ma (IPNI:957757-1) - Cistanche tubulosa Wight (IPNI:661974-1) |
| Part used | Stout stem, spadix removed in case flowers open. |
| Empirical criteria for quality selection | Fat and enlarged, tender stem is preferable (NI). |
| Constituents | Monoterpenoids: Iridoids: Cistanche salsa: Cistachlorin, Cistanin, 6-Deoxycatalpol, Mussaenosidic acid, Geniposidic acid, Leonuride (Ajugol), 8-Epideoxyloganic acid, Gluroside, Bartsioside; Cistanche tubulosa: 6-Deoxycatalpol, 8-Epiloganic acid, 8-Hydroxygeraniol 1-β-D-glucopyranoside Steroids: C. tubulosa: 20-Hydroxyecdysone Lignans & Neolignans: C. salsa: Liriodendrin, (+)-Syringaresinol O-β-D- glucopyranoside; C. tubulosa: Dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol γ'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, Dehydrodiconiferyl alchol 4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, (+)-Syringaresinol O-β-D-glucopyranoside, (+)-Pinoresinol O-β-D-glucopyranoside, Liriodendrin Other aromatic derivatives: C. salsa: Acteoside, Echinacoside, Cistanosides A, Cistanosides B, 2'-Acetyl acteoside, Cistanoside C, Cistanoside D, Cistanoside E, Cistanoside F, Cistanoside G, Cistanoside H, Cistanoside I, Osmanthuside B, Decaffeoylacteoside; C. tubulosa: Tubuloside A, Tubuloside B, Tubuloside C, Tubuloside D, Tubuloside E, Echinacoside, Acteoside, Acteoside isomer, 2'-Acetylacteoside, Syringalide A 3'-α-L-rhamnopyranoside, Isosyringalide 3'-αL-rhamnopyranoside, Syringin Other: Acteoside, 2'-Acetylacteoside, Isoacteoside, Tubuloside B; Alkaloids and Crystalline neutral substances are reported to be contained. |
| Pharmacological effects | |
| Indications | As tonic apply to impotence, cold pain of knee and weist, ?, sterility, metrorrhagia and merostaxis and constipation. As hemostatic apply to bladder and kidney bleeding. |
| Diseases | Impotence, Infertility, Leukorrhea, Constipation, Adynamia of muscle and bone, Adynamia of hip and knee |
| Formulas | |
| Meridian tropism | Kidney, Large intestine |
| Property | Warm |
| Flavor | Sweet, Salty |
| Classification in "Shen-non Ben-cao Jing" | Superior |
| TCM: Classification | Yang tonics |
| TCM: Medicinal effects | To reinforce the kidney, replenish vital essence and blood, and induce laxation. For deficiency of kidney yang, deficiency of essence and blood, impotence and infertility, soreness and weakness in the low back and knees , lack of strength of sinew and bone, constipation caused by intestinal dryness. |
| Remarks | Listed in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia 18th ed. |
| References | NI: N. Isshiki, Methods of Quality Evaluation and Preparation of Wakan-yaku, Tohodo Shoten, Tokyo, 1987. |
