Atractylodes--- Does it have health benefits?

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Atractylodes
This article was published on February 22, 2009

Atractylodes, a genus in the plant family-Asteracease, are very popular in
Asian herbal medicine. Atractylodes macrocephala (Rhizoma Atractylodis; 白
朮) is an herb used in traditional Chinese medicine. Without much scientific
support, atractylodes macrocephala is believed to benefit people at risk of
diabetes. [Wikepedia]

Other species include Atractylodes carlinoides, Atractylodes chinensis,
Atractylodes comosa, Atractylodes cuneata, Atratylodes erosodentata,
Atractylodes japonica, Atractylodes koreana, Atractylodes ovata and
Atractylodes rubra. [Wikepedia]
What are the potential health benefits of Atractylodes rhizomes?
Atractylodes japonica

Researchers from Tohoku University, Japan, demonstrated the hypoglycemic
actions of atractans A, B and C from buyaku-jutsu (Atractylodes japonica) in
normal and alloxan-induced hyperglycemic mice. [2]

The aqueous extract of Atractylodes japonica was found to suppress nitric
oxide production and prostaglandin E2 synthesis by inhibition of the
lipopolysaccharide-stimulated enhancement of inducible nitric oxide synthase
and cyclooxygenase-2 mRNAs expressions in RAW 264.7 macrophages.
These results support the idea that Atractylodes japonica may have anti-
inflammatory and analgesic activities.[11]

Korean researchers combined extracts from Achyranthes bidentata and
Atractylodes japonica and they found that this formula reduced collagen-
induced arthritis, adjuvant-induced arthritis, and zymosan-induced
inflammation. [10]

Atractylodes lancea

Kimura I from Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University claimed that
beta-Eudesmol found in Atractylodes lancea rhizome has a desensitizing
channel blocking action to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, anti-angiogenic
action in vascular
endothelium, and neuronal differentiation actions. These multiple
pharmacological
actions benefit for treating angiogenic diseases like retinopathy and
nephropathy of diabetes and certain cancers. [9]

Atractylodes ovata

The dried rhizome of Bai Zhu (Atractylodes ovata) is widely used as a
Chinese
herbal medicine. Researchers from Taipei Medical University Hospital isolated
two sesquiterpenolides - atractylenolide I, AT-I and atractylenolide III, AT-
III. They found atractylenolide I showed dose-dependent cytotoxic activities
on the human promyeloleukemic HL-60 cells but atractylenolide III didn't.
The AT-I appeared to exhibit both pro-oxidant and antioxidant properties. [7]

Atroctylodes rhizomes / Atractylodis macrocephalae

Extracts of Atroctylodes rhizomes showed antihepatotoxic activities in vitro
studies. Ingredients, such as atractylon, beta-eudesmol, and hinesol, are
found to exert significant liver-protective effects. [1]

Researchers from Xi'an Jiaotong University demonstrated significant anti-
inflammatory activities of five components extracted from Atractylodis
macrocephalae in a study of mice suffered from ear edema. [3]

In a study of 158 patients suffered from late gastric carcinoma, researchers
from Ruijin Hospital, China, found a herbal formula containing Radix
Codonopsis Pilosulae, Radix Astragali seu Hedysari, Rhizoma Atractylodes,
Herba Solani Hyrati, Herba Oldenlandiae and Herba Salviae enhanced the
outcome of some popular chemotherapies. Enhanced immunity, especially
the function of peripheral NK cells, was observed in some of the patients.
While the formula given to mice bearing Ehrlich ascites tumor, the cancer cell
count decreased and the survival rate of the animals increased. [13]

Zee-Cheng RK from University of Kansas Medical Center suggested an
important Chinese herbal formula for cancers - Shi-Quan-Da-Bu-Tang (Ten
Significant Tonic Decoction; SQT (Juzentaihoto, TJ-48) in his review article.
Shi-Quan-Da-Bu-Tang, formulated by Taiping Hui-Min Ju in Chinese Song
Dynasty (AD 1200), is a mixture of ten herbal extracts - Rehmannia
glutinosa, Paeonia lactiflora, Liqusticum wallichii,
Angelica sinesis, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Poria cocos, Atractylodes
macrocephala,
Panax ginseng. Astragalus membranaceus and Cinnamomum cassia. This
formula has been used to tone the blood and vital energy, and strengthen
health and immunity. It has been believed to benefit people suffered from
anemia, anorexia, extreme exhaustion, fatigue, kidney and spleen
insufficiency and general weakness during recovery. [14]

Animal models and clinical studies have revealed that SQT has a low toxicity
(LD50 > 15 g/kg op murine). This formula has been shown to potentiate the
therapeutic effects of anti-cancer drugs such as mitomycin, cisplatin,
cyclophosphamide and fluorouracil as well as radiotherapy. It also helps to
lower the side adversed effects, such as
anorexia, nausea, vomiting, hematotoxicity, immunosuppression, leukopenia,
thrombocytopenia, anemia and nephropathy, of many anticancer drugs. [14]

Professor Ling Changquan from Changhai Hospital studied 552 patients
suffered from liver cancer with various herbal medicine. He claimed that most
herbs, including Atractylodes macrocephala, he studied actually could
improve appetite, remove toxics and subside tumor growth. [4] In 2008,
researchers from various Chinese institutes reported atractylenolide I
extracted from large-head atractylodes rhizome could help in management
of gastric cancer. They found the chemical helps in alleviating symptoms, in
modulating cytokine and in inhibiting PIF proteolysis of gastric cancer
cachexia. [5]

Korean researchers extracted selina-4(14),7(11)-dien-8-one (a
sesquiterpenoid compound) from the extract of Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba -
and they found it dramatically reduced melanin synthesis of melan-a cells
without any apparent cytotoxicity. They thought this sesquiterpenoid
compound could decrease the expression of melanogenic enzymes such as
tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP-1), and tyrosinase-related
protein 2 (TRP-2). [6]

Chukmesundan containing Panex ginseng, Atractylodes macrocephala, Poria
cocos, Pinellia ternata, Brassica alba, Aconitum carmichaeli, Cynanchum
atratum and Cuscuta chinensis has been used to treat hypertension and
cerebrovascular disorders in Korea. Researchers from Sungkyunkwan
University and National Research Laboratory for Glycobiology further
demonstrated that this herbal combination might also offer health benefits
of neural protection. [8]

In a study of 75 cases of gastric disease caused by campylobacter pyloridis,
Fu-zheng, a combination of Astragalus membranaceus, Atractylodes
macrocephala and Paeonia lactiflora enhanced the effect of gentamycin. The
author, Dr Fang JY, Jiangsu Provincial Hospital of TCM, Nanjing, explained the
enhancement was related to modulation of immune function. He believed
combined uses of Chinese traditional medicine and drug decrease the side
effects and enhance the therapeutic effects. [12]

Atractylenolide I (8,9-dehydroasterolide), 4,15-epoxy-8 beta-
hydroxyasterolide and atractylenolide III (8 beta-hydroasterolide inhibited
the gastrointestinal movement of rat and the spasm induced by the
agonists. Their activities are shown to be related to the inhibition of
cholinergic system and calcium ions. [My question: Does it cause
constipation as a side effect, especially when the user overdoses
his/herself?]

Reference:

[1] Kiso Y, Tohkin M, Hikino H. Antihepatotoxic principles of Atractylodes
rhizomes. J Nat Prod. 1983 Sep-Oct;46(5):651-4. [2] Konno C, Suzuki Y,
Oishi K, Munakata E, Hikino H. Isolation and Hypoglycemic Activity of
Atractans A, B and C, Glycans of Atractylodes japonica Rhizomes1. Planta
Med. 1985 Apr;51(2):102-3. [3] Dong H, He L, Huang M, Dong Y. Anti-
inflammatory components isolated from Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz.
Nat Prod Res. 2008;22(16):1418-27. [4] Sun Z, Su YH, Yue XQ. Professor
Ling Changquan's experience in treating primary liver cancer: ananalysis of
herbal medication. 6: Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao. 2008 Dec;6(12):1221-5 [5]
Liu Y, Jia Z, Dong L, Wang R, Qiu G. A Randomized Pilot Study of
Atractylenolide I on Gastric Cancer Cachexia Patients. Evid Based
Complement Alternat Med. 2008 Sep;5(3):337-344. [6] Chang YH, Kim C,
Jung M, Lim YH, Lee S, Kang S. Inhibition of melanogenesis by selina-4(14),7
(11)-dien-8-one isolated from Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba. Biol Pharm Bull.
2007 Apr;30(4):719-23. [7] Wang CC, Lin SY, Cheng HC, Hou WC. Pro-
oxidant and cytotoxic activities of atractylenolide I in human
promyeloleukemic HL-60 cells. Food Chem Toxicol. 2006 Aug;44(8):1308-15.
Epub 2006 Feb 28. [8] Chung TW, Koo BS, Choi EG, Kim MG, Lee IS, Kim CH.
Neuroprotective effect of a chuk-me-sun-dan on neurons from ischemic
damage and neuronal cell toxicity. Neurochem Res. 2006 Jan;31(1):1-9. [9]
Kimura I. Medical benefits of using natural compounds and their derivatives
having multiple pharmacological actions. Yakugaku Zasshi. 2006 Mar;126(3):
133-43. [10] Han SB, Lee CW, Yoon YD, Lee JH, Kang JS, Lee KH, Yoon WK,
Lee K, Park SK, Kim HM. Prevention of arthritic inflammation using an oriental
herbal combination BDX-1 isolated from Achyranthes bidentata and
Atractylodes japonica. Arch Pharm Res. 2005 Aug;28(8):902-8. [11] Jang MH,
Shin MC, Kim YJ, Kim CJ, Kim Y, Kim EH. Atractylodes japonica suppresses
lipopolysaccharide-stimulated expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase
and cyclooxygenase-2 in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Biol Pharm Bull. 2004 Mar;
27(3):324-7. [12] Fang JY. Effect of fu-zheng qu-xie on gastric disease
infected with Campylobacter pyloridis Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1991 Mar;11
(3):150-2, 133. [13] Wang GT. Treatment of operated late gastric carcinoma
with prescription of strengthening the patient's resistance and dispelling the
invading evil in combination with chemotherapy: follow-up study of 158
patients and experimental study in animals. Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1990
Dec;10(12):712-6, 707. [14] Zee-Cheng RK. Shi-quan-da-bu-tang (ten
significant tonic decoction), SQT. A potent Chinese biological response
modifier in cancer immunotherapy, potentiation and detoxification of
anticancer drugs. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol. 1992 Nov;14(9):725-36.
[15] Zhang Y, Xu S, Lin Y. Gastrointestinal inhibitory effects of sesquiterpene
lactones from Atractylodes macrocephala. Zhong Yao Cai. 1999 Dec;22(12):
636-40.