The side effects of Acanthopanax spinosus (wu jia pi 五加皮)

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Acanthopanax spinosus Mig. wu jia pi 五加皮

Acanthopanax spinosus Mig. (Acanthopanax gracilistylus Smith.) (wu jia pi 五加皮
acanthopanax root bark; Cortex Acanthopanacis Gracilistyli Radicis) Acanthopanax
gracilistylus can be found in East Asia. It has been used for edema, difficulty in
urination, weakness and rheumatism. However, its side effects can be very serious.
Wines made of acanthopanax can be toxic to heart, prolonged intake of the wine may
lead to death. General side effects of its wine include blindness, numbness in limbs,
dizziness, and headache. [5]

Its phytochemicals include syringin (紫丁香甙), (-)ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid, 16 aplpha
hydroxy-I-kauran-19-oic acid, stearic acid (硬脂酸), d-sesamin (d-芝麻素), vitamins A and
B (维生素 A，B), calcium oxalate (草酸鈣(, palmic acid (棕櫚酸). The skin of its root
contains 五加酸(Ⅰ), kaurenoic acid (Ⅱ) (異貝殼杉烯酸), l-sesamin(Ⅲ) (l-芝麻素), stigmasterol
(Ⅳ) (豆甾醇)，sitosterol(Ⅴ) (β-谷甾醇) and eleutheroside B(Ⅵ) (刺五加苷B)。[5]

Scientific Research - The potential health benefits

Shan BE and co-workers from University of Occupational and Environmental Health,
Kitakyushu, Japan, found acanthopanax gracilistylus extracts markedly suppressed the
proliferative responses of human peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated with

mitogens concanavalin A (Con A) and Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (SAC). The
acanthopanax gracilistylus extracts suppressed the production of interferon-gamma
and immunoglobulin of both T cell and B cells. However, natural killer cell activity was
less sensitive to the suppressive activity of acanthopanax gracilistylus extracts. In
contrast, AGE markedly enhanced monocyte function to produce cytokines. This
suggests that acanthopanax gracilistylus extracts have immunomodulating activity,
implying its application in autoimmune and allergic diseases. [2]

Later on, Shan BE and co-workers at The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University,
China, found that extracts of Acanthopanax gracilistylus halted the proliferation of
tumor cells such as MT-2, Raji, HL-60, TMK-1 and HSC-2 at G0/G1 stage (of cell cycle). It
seems that the extracts do not have direct cytotoxic effect on the tumor cells; the
extract may simply lower the expression of Rb, Cdk2 and Cdk4, cause halt of tumor cell
proliferation. [1,2] And, Chen XC from Hainan Medical College. China, found it could
inhibit human platelet aggregation, liberation, and thrombosis in a test tube study. [3]

Reference:

[1] Shan BE, Fu XM, Hua ZX, Li Q, Liang W, Liu J, Zhang H, Liu G. Study on mechanism
of the anti-tumor activity of Acanthopanax gracilistylus] Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za
Zhi. 2005 Sep;25(9):825-8. [2] Shan BE, Zeki K, Sugiura T, Yoshida Y, Yamashita U.
Chinese medicinal herb, Acanthopanax gracilistylus, extract induces cell cycle arrest of
human tumor cells in vitro. Jpn J Cancer Res. 2000 Apr;91(4):383-9. [3] Shan BE,
Yoshita Y, Sugiura T, Yamashita U. Suppressive effect of Chinese medicinal herb,
Acanthopanax gracilistylus, extract on human lymphocytes in vitro. Clin Exp Immunol.
1999 Oct;118(1):41-8. [3] Chen XC, Xia L, Hu S, Huang G. Inhibitory effects of
Acanthopanax gracilistylus saponins on human platelet aggregation and platelet factor
4 liberation in vitro. Zhongguo Yao Li Xue Bao. 1996 Nov;17(6):523-6. [5] http:
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