Stephania tetrandra
Encyclopedia
Stephania tetrandra is a herbaceous
perennial
vine
of the Menispermaceae family. It grows from a short, woody caudex
, climbing to a height of around four meters. The leaves
are arranged spirally on the stem, and are peltate, i.e. with the leaf petiole attached near the centre of the leaf. Its root is used medicinally.
. The standard pinyin according to the Chinese [Herbal] Pharmacopia of the People's Republic of China is: fen fang ji , but it is more commonly known as Han Fang ji . Other plants named fang ji are sometimes substituted for it. Notable among these is guan fang ji , Aristolochia
fanchi, whose main toxic component is aristolochic acid
, a potent carcinogen and nephrotoxin.
, a potent smooth muscle relaxant under investigation for treatment of cardiovascular problems and many forms of cancer.
when Aristolchia fanghi is substituted for Stephania tetrandra. Ingestion can lead to renal failure
and even death; Aristolochia is used in TCM
only with great caution. In May, 2000, the FDA began detaining any plants or medicines suspected of containing aristolochic acid, unless laboratory testing indicated they were negative for aristolochic acid. (Only tests which use a liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry [LC/MS/MS] method with a precision better than 0.5 parts per million (PPM
) are acceptable.) The traditional route of ingestion of guang fang ji is via water decoction. Since aristolochic acid has low water solubility, water decoction is believed to be a much safer route than taking guang fang ji as an uncooked powder.
s have curare
-like action, and can selectively inhibit T-cell-dependent immune reactions. The root contains many isoquinoline
alkaloids: tetradrine (0.6-0.9%), fangchinoline (0.5%), cyclanoline (0.1%) and dimethyltetrandrine iodide (muscle relaxant). The root also contains flavanoids. The main active alkaloid
s are: tetrandrine (12 to 23 grams/kg) and fangchinoline (0.3–3 mg/kg). Also present are: dimethyltetradine iodide, cyclanoline, menisine, menisidine, oxofangchirine, stephenanthrine, stepholidine
and bisbenzylisoquinoline.
The root also contains flavanoids.
Herbaceous
A herbaceous plant is a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. They have no persistent woody stem above ground...
perennial
Perennial plant
A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives for more than two years. The term is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter lived annuals and biennials. The term is sometimes misused by commercial gardeners or horticulturalists to describe only herbaceous perennials...
vine
Vine
A vine in the narrowest sense is the grapevine , but more generally it can refer to any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent, that is to say climbing, stems or runners...
of the Menispermaceae family. It grows from a short, woody caudex
Caudex
A caudex is a form of stem morphology appearing as a thickened, short, perennial stem that is either underground or near ground level . It may be swollen for the purpose of water storage, especially in xerophytes...
, climbing to a height of around four meters. The leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
are arranged spirally on the stem, and are peltate, i.e. with the leaf petiole attached near the centre of the leaf. Its root is used medicinally.
Etymology in Chinese medicine
Stephania tetrandra is among the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicineTraditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to a broad range of medicine practices sharing common theoretical concepts which have been developed in China and are based on a tradition of more than 2,000 years, including various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage , exercise , and dietary therapy...
. The standard pinyin according to the Chinese [Herbal] Pharmacopia of the People's Republic of China is: fen fang ji , but it is more commonly known as Han Fang ji . Other plants named fang ji are sometimes substituted for it. Notable among these is guan fang ji , Aristolochia
Aristolochia
Aristolochia is a large plant genus with over 500 species. Collectively known as birthworts, pipevines or Dutchman's pipes, they are the namesake of the family . They are widespread and occur in the most diverse climates. Some species, like A. utriformis and A...
fanchi, whose main toxic component is aristolochic acid
Aristolochic acid
Aristolochic acids are a family of carcinogenic, mutagenic, and nephrotoxic compounds commonly found in the Aristolochiaceae family of plants, including Aristolochia and Asarum, which are commonly used in Chinese herbal medicine. Aristolochic acid I is the most abundant of the aristolochic acids...
, a potent carcinogen and nephrotoxin.
Medicinal uses
Fen fang ji is of low toxicity (standard dose is: 4.5 to 9 g, overdose can occur at 30-100 g) and is traditionally used to dispel wind and dampness to relieve pain and to promote diuresis. It is classified as acrid, bitter and cold. The part used is the root. Stephania contains tetrandrineTetrandrine
Tetrandrine a bis-benzylisoquinoline alkaloid, is a calcium channel blocker. It has anti-inflammatory, immunologic and antiallergenic effects. It inhibits the degranulation of mast cells. It has a "Quinidine like" anti-arrhythmic effect. It has been isolated from Stephania tetrandra S Moore, and...
, a potent smooth muscle relaxant under investigation for treatment of cardiovascular problems and many forms of cancer.
Warnings, contraindications
Guang fang ji preparations can contain toxic amounts of aristolochic acidAristolochic acid
Aristolochic acids are a family of carcinogenic, mutagenic, and nephrotoxic compounds commonly found in the Aristolochiaceae family of plants, including Aristolochia and Asarum, which are commonly used in Chinese herbal medicine. Aristolochic acid I is the most abundant of the aristolochic acids...
when Aristolchia fanghi is substituted for Stephania tetrandra. Ingestion can lead to renal failure
Renal failure
Renal failure or kidney failure describes a medical condition in which the kidneys fail to adequately filter toxins and waste products from the blood...
and even death; Aristolochia is used in TCM
Traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to a broad range of medicine practices sharing common theoretical concepts which have been developed in China and are based on a tradition of more than 2,000 years, including various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage , exercise , and dietary therapy...
only with great caution. In May, 2000, the FDA began detaining any plants or medicines suspected of containing aristolochic acid, unless laboratory testing indicated they were negative for aristolochic acid. (Only tests which use a liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry [LC/MS/MS] method with a precision better than 0.5 parts per million (PPM
Parts-per notation
In science and engineering, the parts-per notation is a set of pseudo units to describe small values of miscellaneous dimensionless quantities, e.g. mole fraction or mass fraction. Since these fractions are quantity-per-quantity measures, they are pure numbers with no associated units of measurement...
) are acceptable.) The traditional route of ingestion of guang fang ji is via water decoction. Since aristolochic acid has low water solubility, water decoction is believed to be a much safer route than taking guang fang ji as an uncooked powder.
Chemistry
Stephania alkaloidAlkaloid
Alkaloids are a group of naturally occurring chemical compounds that contain mostly basic nitrogen atoms. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Also some synthetic compounds of similar structure are attributed to alkaloids...
s have curare
Curare
Curare is a common name for various arrow poisons originating from South America. The three main types of curare are:* tubocurare...
-like action, and can selectively inhibit T-cell-dependent immune reactions. The root contains many isoquinoline
Isoquinoline
Isoquinoline is a heterocyclic aromatic organic compound. It is a structural isomer of quinoline. Isoquinoline and quinoline are benzopyridines, which are composed of a benzene ring fused to a pyridine ring. In a broader sense, the term isoquinoline is used to make reference to isoquinoline...
alkaloids: tetradrine (0.6-0.9%), fangchinoline (0.5%), cyclanoline (0.1%) and dimethyltetrandrine iodide (muscle relaxant). The root also contains flavanoids. The main active alkaloid
Alkaloid
Alkaloids are a group of naturally occurring chemical compounds that contain mostly basic nitrogen atoms. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Also some synthetic compounds of similar structure are attributed to alkaloids...
s are: tetrandrine (12 to 23 grams/kg) and fangchinoline (0.3–3 mg/kg). Also present are: dimethyltetradine iodide, cyclanoline, menisine, menisidine, oxofangchirine, stephenanthrine, stepholidine
Stepholidine
-Stepholidine is a naturally occurring chemical compound found in the herb Stephania intermedia. Stepholidine is a dual D2 receptor antagonist and D1 receptor agonist, and has shown antipsychotic activity in animal studies.-See also:*Apomorphine...
and bisbenzylisoquinoline.
The root also contains flavanoids.
Other herbs sometimes used as Fang Ji include
Cocculus trilobus, C. thunbergii Orbiculatus, Aristolochia fangchi, Simomenium actum (Japanese Han Fang Ji or Quinfengteng).See also
- Chinese herbology 50 fundamental herbs
- Stephania and Chinese Herb Nephropathy