Chinese Herbs In Western View - Ma Chi Xian (Herb Portulacae Oleraceae) Health Benefits And Side Effects

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Ma Chi Xian is also known as Pigweed. The sour and cold herb has been used in TCM as antibiotic, anti-hypertensive and anti tumors and to promote contraction of uterus, prevent and treats dysentery, get rid of  parasites , treat post partum bleeding, etc, as it clears Heat, expels toxins; cools Blood, stops bleeding, etc., by enhancing the functions of large intestine, liver chasubles.

Ingredients
1. Omega-3 fatty acid
2. Noradrenaline
3. Dopamine
4. Dopa
5. Galacturonic acid
6. β – Amyrin
7. Lupeol
8. Oxalic acid
9. Etc.

Health Benefits
1. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects
In a review of the records in both folkloric and scientific literature, conducted by Zayed Complex for Herbal Research and Traditional Medicine, indicated that Portulaca has many medicinal uses. After our previous preliminary screening of three species of the family for analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, Portulaca oleracea L. subsp. sativa (Haw.) Celak. (a cultivar) was chosen for further work due to its abundant availability from reliable sources. The 10% ethanolic extract of the aerial parts (dried leaves and stem) showed significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic after intraperitoneal and topical but not oral administration when compared with the synthetic drug, diclofenac sodium as the active control. Results indicate this cultivar species of Portulaca also possesses some of the claimed traditional uses of the wild species in the relief of pain and inflammation(1).

2. Diabetic endothelial dysfunction
In the study to  investigate the protective effect of the aqueous extract of Portulaca oleracea L. (AP), an edible plant used as a folk medicine, on diabetic vascular complications. Dr. Lee AS and the research team at the Wonkwang University, showed that the insulin immunoreactivity of the pancreatic islets remarkably increased in AP treated db/db mice compared with untreated db/db mice. Taken together, AP suppresses hyperglycemia and diabetic vascular inflammation, and prevents the development of diabetic endothelial dysfunction for the development of diabetes and its vascular complications(2).

3. Hepatoprotective activity
In the study to investigate the hepatoprotective activity of the aqueous extract of the aerial parts of Portulaca oleracea (P. oleracea) in combination with lycopene against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity in rats, showed that both the treatment groups showed hepatoprotective effect against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity by significantly restoring the levels of serum enzymes to normal which was comparable to that of silymarin group(3).

4. Type-2 diabetes mellitus
In the study to investigate antidiabetic activity of purslane seeds on type-2 diabetic subjects and to provide scientific basis for the clinical use of Portulaca oleracea (PO), scientists at the Sana’a University, Madbah, Sana, indicated that PO seeds could be effective and safe as adjuvant therapy for Type-2 diabetic subjects. These results demonstrated that PO seeds possessed notable hypoglycaemic, hypolipidaemic and insulin resistance reducer effects; possibly due to its contents of polyunsaturated fatty acids, flavonoids, and polysaccharides(4).

5. Etc.

Side Effects
1. No not use the herb in case of spleen and stomach deficiency.
2. Do not use the herb in newborn, children, or if you are pregnant or breast feeding without firast consulting with the related field specialist.
3. Etc.

Sources
(1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11090998
(2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22474522
(3) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22022001
(4) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21718775

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