Cistanche

Cistanche
Cistanche phelypaea
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Orobanchaceae
Genus:	Cistanche
Species
Cistanche ambigua Cistanche deserticola Cistanche phelypaea Cistanche salsa Cistanche sinensis Cistanche tubulosa others

Cistanche is a worldwide genus of holoparasitic desert plants in the family Orobanchaceae. They lack chlorophyll and obtain nutrients and water from the host plants whose roots they parasitize.

Uses

Along with other members of the genus, Cistanche deserticola is the primary source of the Chinese herbal medicine cistanche (Chinese: 肉苁蓉, pinyin ròucōngróng). The main sources of cistanche are Cistanche salsa and Cistanche deserticola, although it may also be obtained from Cistanche tubulosa, Cistanche sinensis, and Cistanche ambigua. The drug, known in Chinese as suosuo dayun, is collected in spring before sprouting, by slicing the stems of the plant. Cistanche deserticola has been placed on CITES Appendix 2, a list of endangered species not banned from trade but requiring monitoring. With increased consumption of cistanche, the population of the species has decreased and its area of distribution has shrunk. Aside from over-collection or indiscriminate collection, an important factor in the diminished supply of cistanche is a loss of the saxaul host, Haloxylon ammodendron, which is widely used for firewood.

Cistanche has been used as a medicine for about 1800 years and is recorded in the Shennong Bencao Jing and Bencao Gangmu as a tonic. In modern-day Chinese herbalism, cistanche is used for the treatment of male impotence, seminal emission, general lassitude of the loins and knees, constipation and infertility. Most of these claims have never been evaluated through clinical testing, and some (such as menopausal relief) have not been supported in controlled medical studies (e.g.^[1])

clinical studies

Cistanche "exhibits hypocholesterolemic activity in diet-induced hypercholesterolemia mice." ^[2]

Cistanche demonstrates immunomodulatory effects, 'promoteing the phagocytic and secretory functions of the phagocytic ability of peritoneal macrophage'.^[3] Cistanche salsa enhanced antibody production in human lymph node lymphocytes.^[4]

Cistanche may delay aging, which may be related to antagonizing free radical injury and enhancing immunity of aging mice.^[5]

Anti-fatigue properties have been shown in mice. Cistanche 'appeared to enhance the swimming capacity of mice by decreasing muscle damage, delaying the accumulation of lactic acid and by improving the energy storage."^[6]

A recent clinical study found memory enhancing properties in Cistanche; (it) "significantly enhanced learning and memory, as demonstrated by passive avoidance test and novel object recognition test. These results suggest that CHE is useful for improving memory function via its action in upregulating NGF^[7]

The pharmaceutically active ingredients of cistanche include acteoside, echinacoside, and cistanoside.

References

1. ^ C.Z. Zhang, S.X. Wang, Y. Zhang, J.P. Chen, X.M. Liang. 2005. In vitro estrogenic activities of Chinese medicinal plants traditionally used for the management of menopausal symptoms. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 98: 295-300.
2. ^ The hypocholesterolemic effects of Cistanche tubulosa extract, a chinese traditional crude medicine, in mice Shimoda H., Tanaka J., Takahara Y., Takemoto K., Shan S.-J., Su M.-H. American Journal of Chinese Medicine 2009 37:6 (1125-1138)
3. ^ The effect of Cistanche deserticola polysaccharides (CDPS) on marcrophages activation Wang X.-Y., Qi Y., Cai R.-L., Li X.-H., Yang M.-H., Shi Y. Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2009 25:6 (787-789+790)
4. ^ Cistanche salsa extract enhanced antibody production in human lymph node lymphocytes Maruyama S., Hashizume S., Tanji T., Yamada K., Tachibana H. Pharmacologyonline 2008 2 (341-348) Cited by: 1
5. ^ Effect of Cistanche tubulosa (Scheuk) Whight acteoside on telomerase activity and immunity of aging mice Zhang H.-Q., Weng X.-J., Chen L.-L., Li X. Chinese Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology 2008 22:4 (270-273)
6. ^ Antifatigue activity of phenylethanoid-rich extract from Cistanche deserticola Cai R.-L., Yang M.-H., Shi Y., Chen J., Li Y.-C., Qi Y. Phytotherapy Research 2010 24:2 (313-315)
7. ^ Cistanches Herba enhances learning and memory by inducing nerve growth factor." Choi J.G., Moon M., Jeong H.U., Kim M.C., Kim S.Y., Oh M.S. Behavioural Brain Research 2011 216:2 (652-658)