Paeoniflorin and Peony Root Extract.White.Red.

  seminal trace...White Peony Root Extract.10:1.Radix Paeoniae Alba.Peony Root Extract, White.Paeoniflorin 10%.20%.90%.C23H28O11,CAS RN:23180-57-6.Chinese Peony Root Extract.Paeonia lactiflora,Paeonia officinalis,Bai Shao Yao,Paeonol,C9H10O3,Benzoylpaeoniflorin,C30H32O12...

   Basic Botanical Data Identification of White Peony Root (Radix Paeoniae Alba):
 
 White Peony Root (Radix Paeoniae Alba)
 Medical Name: Radix Paeoniae Alba
 Latin Name: Paeonia lactiflora Pall, a perennial plant of the family Paeoniaceae
 Latin: Radix Paeoniae Alba
 Pinyin Name: Bai shao
 Common names:Chinese Peony Root.
 Synonyms:Paeonia alblflora Pallas., P. edulis Salisb., P. officinalis Thunb.
 Selected vernacular names: Baishao, bo-baishao, chuan-baishao, hang-baishao, mu-shaoyao, mudan, paeoniae alba, paeony, pai shao yao, pe-shou, peony, peony root, Pfingstrose, shakuyaku, shaoyao, syakuyaku, white peony, white-flowered peony.
 Origin: Root, sun-dried,Root of Paeonia lactifiora Pall.
 Taste: Bitter, sour and sweet
 Where to find it: A garden plant that thrives in most soils.
 Flowering time: Late spring.
 Astrology: A herb of the Sun and under the Lion.
 Habitat:Zhejiang, Anhui and Sichuan provinces, China
 Flavor & Property:Bitter,sour; and sweet in flavor, slightly cold in nature, it is related to the liver and spleen channels.
 Effects of White Poeny Root: Promotes blood circulation, regulates menstruation, nourishes liver
 Organoleptic properties:Odour, slight; taste, slightly sweet at first, followed bya sour or astringent taste and a slight bitterness.
 Microscopic characteristics"Literature description not available; to be established in accordance with national requirements.
 Applications: a) Headaches;b) Dizziness;c) Costal and abdominal pain;d) Spasmodic pain of the limbs;e) Anemia; f) Menstrual disorders;g) Spontaneous sweating and night sweating
 Powdered plant material:Light greyish brown powder; masses of gelatinized starch granules fairly abundant, 5-25 in diameter; clusters of calcium oxalate 11-35 in diameter,packed in parenchyma cells in rows or singly; bordered, pitted, or reticulate vessels 20-65µm in diameter, walls thickened and slightly lignified.
 The root ,fresh gathered, cures the falling-sickness.The well-known garden perennial. The stems are brown and the flowers a beautiful purplish-red. The roots run deep into the ground.
 


 Basic Botanical Data Identification of White Peony Root.Radix Paeoniae Alba.:
 Botanical Description of White Peony Root.:
 Botanical Description of Red Peony Root.Radix Paeonia Rubra.Chi Shao.:
 Phytochemicals:Red Peony Root,White Peony Root and Paeoniflorin
 Origin of of White Peony Root.Radix Paeoniae Alba.:
 Phytochemicals and Constituents of of White Peony Root.:
 Functions of of White Peony Root.:
 Common medicinal uses of of White Peony Root.:
 Pharmacological Action of of White Peony Root.:
 Uses and combinations of of White Peony Root.:
 How to take of White Peony Root.:
 Precautions and Cautions on Use of White Peony Root.:
 Safety and Acute toxicity.:
 Modern Researches of White Peony Root,Red Peony Root.Paeoniflorin and Peony Root Extract.:


   Botanical Description of White Peony Root.:

 This herb is the root of Paeonia lactiflora Pall.(family Ranunculaceae)which is chiefly produced in Zhejiang, Anhui and Sichuan provinces and all white peony is cultivated. The root is dug in summer or autumn and washed clean. After removal of the lateral roots and skin, it is boiled for a short while and then dried in the sun, sliced and used unprepared, stir-baked or stir-baked with wine.
 Characteristics:Root terete, flattened at both ends, 5-18 cm long, 1-2 cm in diameter. Surface reddish brown when the cork removed, with knife-cutting marks. Prepared as transversecutting pieces, cut surface even, nearly white or slightly brown, with marked annular lines and radial vascular bundles. Bitter and sour in taste , slightly cold in nature, and attributive to liver channeL
 Paeollia lactiflora Pallas is a perennial herb, 50-80cm high, with a stout branched root. Leaves alternate and biternately compound, the ultimate segments red- veined, oblong-elliptical. The leaflets are narrow-ovate or elliptical, 8-12 cm long and 2-4cm wide. The petioles are 6-10cm long. Flowers large (5-10cm in diameter), solitary, and red, white, or purple. Sepals 4, herbaceous, persistent. Petals 5-10, larger than sepals. Stamens numerous and anthers yellow; carpels 3-5, many-seeded. Fruit, 3-5 coriaceous few-seeded follicles. Seeds large, subglobose; testa thick.
 


  Botanical Description of Red Peony Root.Radix Paeonia Rubra.Chi Shao.:

 Historical or traditional use:Peony is an ancient, traditional Chinese herbal medicine. The plant was and is extensively cultivated as an ornamental plant as well. Peony is named for the mythical Greek figure Paeon, who was said to be a student of Aesculapius, the great physician. Paeon used the peony plant (various species also grow in Europe) to heal a wound for the god Pluto. This earned Aesculapius's jealous wrath, but Pluto saved Paeon from death by turning him into a peony plant.

 Bai shao or white peony was considered useful for hypertension, chest pain, muscle cramping and spasms, and fever. It was an important remedy for female reproductive conditions ranging from dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation) to irregular menses. Chi shao or red peony was used for bleeding or lack of blood movement, depending on how it was prepared. Moutan was also considered helpful for problems characterized by bleeding, such as nosebleeds, bleeding wounds, or menorrhagia (excessive menstrual bleeding).
 

  Phytochemicals:Red Peony Root,White Peony Root and Paeoniflorin

 Peony contains a unique glycoside called paeoniflorin. Proanthocyanidins, flavonoids, tannins, polysaccharides, and paeoniflorin are all considered to contribute to the medicinal activity of various forms of peony. Paeoniflorin's major effect seems to be to calm nerves and alleviate spasm. One study has confirmed the efficacy of formula with peony and licorice for relieving muscle cramps due to cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes, and dialysis,approved for treatment of muscle cramps. Another formulation combines peony root with dong quai and four other herbs and has been found to effectively reduce symptoms of cramping and pain associated with dysmenorrhea (painful menses).

 Paeoniflorin and peony extracts also enhance mental function in animal studies, suggesting a potential benefit for dementia. Human studies have not yet been conducted to confirm this theory.

  Paeoniflorin:

 CAS RN:23180-57-6.
 Molecular Formula:C23H28O11  Molecular Weight: 480.47
 Synonyms:5beta-[(Benzoyloxy)methyl]tetrahydro-5-hydroxy-2-methyl-2,5-methano-1H-3,4-dioxacyclobuta[cd]pentalen-1alpha(2H)-yl-beta-D-glucopyranoside
 

 Red peony root and moutan bark have both shown antioxidant activity in test tubes, likely due to the presence of paeoniflorin, proanthocyanidins, and flavonoids. Polysaccharides found in peony bark and root have shown an ability to stimulate immune cells in the test tube.

 Animal studies have found that red peony root, alone or in combination with other Chinese herbs, could help prevent liver damage due to various chemical toxins. A crude extract of red peony root was shown in a small, preliminary trial to reduce liver fibrosis in some patients with chronic viral hepatitis. Other case studies published in Chinese have found red peony root helpful for people with viral hepatitis.

 Crude red peony root extracts and combinations of these extracts with other Chinese herbs inhibit platelet aggregation, thrombosis, and excessive clotting in the test tube and in animals.A rabbit study found that peony was effective at lowering cholesterol levels in the aorta. A preliminary human study confirmed that peony could inhibit platelet clumping. This suggests that peony might be helpful for prevention of atherosclerosis. However, clinical studies are needed to confirm this effect.
 One uncontrolled clinical trial reported that moutan bark could significantly lower blood pressure in people with hypertension.

 Peony shows some weak estrogen-like effects, acting like a very weak anti-estrogen, particularly as part of the formula shakuyaku-kanzo-to. In a preliminary study, this formula was shown to improve fertility in women affected by polycystic ovary syndrome.
 


   Origin of of White Peony Root.:

 The root of Paeonia lactiflora Pall, a perennial plant of the family Paeoniaceae. Peonies are known for their large, showy blossoms. All but two species are native to Europe and Asia; Paeonia browni and Paeonia californica are found along the Pacific coastal mountains of North America.
 There are two distinct groups of peonies: the herbaceous and the tree, or moutan, peonies. The herbaceous peonies are perennials that grow to a height of almost 1 m and have large, glossy, much-divided leaves borne on annual stems produced by fleshy rootstocks. In late spring and early summer they produce large single and double flowers of white, pink, rose, and deep-crimson color.
 The fragrant Chinese Paeonia lactiflora and the European common peony (Paeonia officinalis) have given rise to most of the familiar garden peonies. Paeonia lactiflora has provided hundreds of cultivated varieties, including the Korea types, with one or two rows of petals surrounding a cluster of partially formed petals in the centre.
 The tree peonies have developed from the wild Chinese species Paeonia suffruticosa. They are shrubby, with permanent woody stems. The plants sometimes attain a height of 1.2 to 1.8 m. They begin flowering in late spring. The blossoms vary in color from white to lilac, violet, and red.
 Tree peonies require a hot, dry summer season for best growth, and they can be grafted in late summer or autumn on the roots of herbaceous peonies. A race of hybrids, developed by crossing the tree peony with the yellow Chinese Paeonia lutea, has both single and double flowers, sometimes tinged with red. Many varieties have been grafted onto supportive rootstock and so cannot be readily propagated by simple division. Peonies are seldom grown from seeds except in breeding programs; the seed takes about two years to germinate.
 The species Paeonia lactiflora is native to east Asia, and is grown on dry open stony slopes, riverbanks and sparse woodland edges in China, Siberia, Mongolia and Korea.
 White peony grows to about 0.75 m by 0.5 m. It is in flower in June, and the seeds ripen in August. The scented flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by insects. The plant is self-fertile and can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires dry or moist soil.
 In China, white peony is produced chiefly in Zhejiang, Sichuan and Anhui provinces and cultivated in all parts of China. The root is dug in summer and autumn from cultivated plants that are 4 - 5 years old, then is washed clean. After removal of the rootlets, head, tail and coase skin, it is boiled to be soften and then dried in the sun, sliced and used unprepared, or baked with vinegar ot wine.
 When the whole root is harvested it is called Chi Shao Yao (red peony root), if the bark is removed during preparation then it is called Bai Shao Yao (white peony root).
 Also called Chinese Peony Root.
 


   Phytochemicals and Constituents of of White Peony Root.:

 Main content: Paeoniflorin,C23H28O10 (3.3%~9.4); paeonol,C9H10O3 (0.0283%); benzoylpaeoniflorin, C30H32O12 (0.04%).
 Other Consituents:albiforin (0.06%~0.07%); culapedungin; gallotannin; oxypaeoniflorin; paeoni-florigenone (0.04%); oxgpaeonigflorin (0.12%~0.21%); gallotcnnin; benzoic acid (1.07%); ¦Â-sitosterol; gallic acid;ether gallic acid; D-catechin; palbinone;¦Â-pailactone; galloylpaeoniflorin; daucosterol; etc.
 

   Functions of of White Peony Root (Radix Paeoniae Alba):

 Replenishes blood, regulates menstruation, suppresses hyperactivity of liver-yang and astringes yin to arrest sweating.
 White peony root has been used for over 1,500 years in Chinese medicine. It is known most widely as one of the herbs used to make 'Four Ingredients Soup (Si Wu Tang)', a woman's tonic, and it is also a remedy for gynaecological problems and for cramp, pain and giddyness.
 As a sweet and sour herb, this has yin-forcing effect, hence, it can replenish blood of the liver and nourish liver-yin; being bitter and cold in property, it can also suppress hyperactivity of liver-yang and clear liver-fire, supplement its deficiency and reduce its hyperactivity.
 It is thus a main herb for treating liver and is often used to treat syndromes of hyperactivity of liver-yang due to yin-deficiency, failure in nourishing liver due to blood-deficiency, night sweat due to yin-deficiency and blood deficiency.
 


   Common medicinal uses of of White Peony Root.:

 Peony root is a famous and highly prized blood tonic used to relax muscle and cleanse the blood. It is one of the most highly prized women's herbs used traditionally to help regulate the female hormonal cycle and to tonify and purify the blood. It is also used as a pain reducing agent and as an emotional stabilizer by women. It is said to relieve cramps and spasms anywhere in the body. In particular, it is considered to be highly effective in relieving menstrual cramps. Peony root is also believed to extend life and to promote beauty. An old Chinese saying states that "a woman who consumes Peony root regularly becomes as beautiful as the Peony flower itself." Men should use Peony as well, since it has an antiaging effect without effecting hormones.
 The effects of White Peony include nourishing the blood, regulating menstruation, reinforcing yin with astringent action to stop sweating, nourishing the liver pain and suppressing the liver-yang.
 Peony Root is a famous and highly prized blood tonic used to relax muscles and cleanse the blood. It is one of the most highly prized women's herbs used traditionally to help regulate the female hormonal cycle. It is also used as a pain reducing agent, and as an emotional stabilizer by women. It is said to relieve cramps and spasms anywhere in the body.
 
 Irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, metrorrhagia and metrostaxis due to blood deficiency. It is often used along with Chinese angelica root, chuanxiong rhizome, and prepared rehmannia root.
 Spontaneous sweating due to exterior deficiency and night sweat due to yin deficiency. For the former, it is often used with cinnamon twig; for the latter, it is often prescribed with oyster shell, dragon's bone, arborvitae seed, etc.
 Pain in the hypochondrium, stomach and abdomen due to disorder of the liver-qi or spasm and pain in the extremities. For pain in the hypochondrium due to stagnation of the liver-qi, it is often dispensed with bupleurum root and cyperus tuber, as in Bupleurum Powder for Dispersing Liver-qi (Chaihu Shugan San); for abdominal pain and diarrhea, it can be used with white atractylodes rhizome, tangerine peel and ledebouriella root, as in Prescription of Importance for Diarrhea with Pain(Tongxie Yaofang); for dysenteric abdominal pain, it can be used with aucklandia root, areca seed and coptis root; for spasmodic pain of the stomach and abdomen or in the extremities, it is often used with liquorice as in Decoction of Peony and liquorice(Shaoyao Gancao Tang).
 For hyperactivity of the liver-yang marked by headache and vertigo, it is often used along with dried rehmannia root, achyranthes root and red ochre, as in Sweeping Down Decoction for Hypertension(Jianling Tang).
 Medicinal virtues: The roots have more virtues than the seed, next the flowers, and then the leaves. The root is washed, crushed and infused for at least 24 hours. It is then strained and a good draught taken morning and evening for several days. This will cure the falling-sickness in old as well as young, if the disease be not of too long standing and past cure. The body can be prepared by taking ale drink-posset made of Betony. The root or the seed beaten to a powder, and given in wine, is effectual for cleansing the womb after childbirth and easing the mother. Taken morning and night, the black seed is effectual for nightmare and melancholy dreams. The distilled water or syrup made of the flowers works the same, but more weakly.


   Pharmacological Action of of White Peony Root.:

 1. Dilating the coronary artery and blood vessels of hind legs in dogs.
 2. Lowering blood pressure transiently.
 3: Inhibiting the intestines in rabbits in vitro.
 4. Its component paeoniflorin inhibits the central nervous system.
 


   Uses and combinations of of White Peony Root.:

  Uses described in pharmacopoeias and in traditional systems of medicine:
 As an analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic drug in the treatment of amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea, and pain in the chest and abdomen. Radix paeniae is also used to treat dementia, headache, vertigo, spasm of the calf muscles, liver disease, and allergies, and as an anticoagulant.

  Used described in folk medicine, not supported by experimental or clinical data:
 The treatment of atopic eczema, boils, and sores; to reduce fevers, induce sterility, and treat burns.

  Irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea,metrorrhagia and metrostaxis due to blood deficiency.
 * Used with Chinese angelica root, chuanxiong rhizome, rehmannia root, It is often used along with Chinese angelica root , chuanxiong rhizome, prepared rehmannia root, etc., as in Decoction of Four Ingredients ( Siwu Tang).
 For blood deficiency marked by shallow complexion and menoxenia, it is often used with Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Radix Pollygoni Multiflori and Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong to enrich blood and promote blood circulation, regulate menstruation and relieve pain, as in Decoction for Enriching Blood (Buxue Tang) and Decoction of Four Ingredients (Siwu Tang); for muscular spasm and pain due to blood deficiency, it is often used with Radix Glycrrhizae to nourish blood, soothe the liver and relieve spasm and pain, as in Decoction of Peony and Liquorice (Shaoyao Gancao Tang).
 

  Pain in stomach, abdomen and extremities due to disorder of the liver- qi, or spasm and pain in the extremities.
 * Used with bupieurum root and cyperus tuber,For pain in the hypochondrium due to stagnation of the liver-qi, it is often dispensed with bupleurum root and cyperus tuber, as in Bupleurum Powder for Dispersing Liver-qi (Chaihu Shugan San); for abdominal pain and diarrhea, it can be used with white atractylodes rhizome, tangerine peel and ledebouriella root, as in Prescription of Importance for Diarrhea with Pain(Tongxie Yaofang) ; for dysenteric abdominal pain, it can be used with aucklandia root , areca seed and coptis root ; for spasmodic pain of the stomach and abdomen or in the extremities, it is often used with liquorice as in Decoction of Peony and liquorice(Shaoyao Gancao Tang).

  Abdominal pain and diarrhea:
 * Used with white atractylodes rhizome, tangerine peel and ledebouriella root

  Dysenteric abdominal pain:
 * Used with aucklandia root, areca seed and coptis root
 

  Spontaneous sweating due to exterior deficiency and night sweat due to yin deficiency:
 Nourish blood and astringe yin: For yin-deficiency and blood-deficiency manifested as menoxenia, menaigia, leucorrhagia and metrorrhagia, usually used together with Radix Rehmanniae and Radix Angelicae Sinensis; for night sweat due to yin-deficiency and spontaneous perspiration due to low body resistance and imbalance between ying-energy and wei-energy, used together with Ramulus Cinnamomi; for muscular spasm and pain of extremities due to blood deficiency, usually used together with Radix Glycyrrhizae; for rheumatism due to insufficiency of yin-blood.
 For the former, it is often used with cinnamon twig; for the latter, it is often prescribed with oyster shell, dragon's bone , arborvitae seed, etc.
 For night sweat due to yin-deficiency, it is used with herbs for nourishing yin and arresting sweating such as Fructus Schisandrae, Ochra Haematitum, Fructus Corni, Os Craconis Fossilia, etc.; for exopathogen invasion owing to weakness of superficial resistance, disharmony between ying and wei, perspiration and aversion to wind, it is often used together with Ramulus Cinnamomi to harmonize ying and wei and stop sweating.
 

  Hyperac-tivity of the liver- yang marked by headache and vertigo:
 Calm liver yang: For deficiency of yin leading to hyperactivity of yang and sthenia of liver-yang manifested as dizziness, headache, irritability and insomnia; also for c6nvulsion of wind-syndrome resulting from sthenic liver-yang, severe heat, yin-deficiency or blood-deficiency.
 Soothe the liver and alleviate pain: For abnormal rising of liver energy or dominant liver energy attacking stomach manifested as pain in the chest and abdomen.
 it is often used along with dried rehmannia root , achyranthes root and red ochre, as in Sweeping Down Decoction for Hyper-tension(Jianling Tang).
 For hyperactivity of liver-yang due go liver-yin insufficiency, tinitus, blurred vision, vertigo, headache, irritability and insomnia, it is often used with herbs for nourishing yin to suppress liver yang, such as Concha Haliotidis, Flos Chrysanthemi, Ochra haematitum, Radix Achyranthis Bidentae, Radix Rehrnanntae, etc.
 


   How to take of White Peony Root.:

  *Dosage & Administration:
 5-10g (boiled in water for oral use);15-3O g. at large dosage.
 5-10gm, or 15-30gm in large dosage, decocted in water for an oral dose. For inducing astringency to reinforce yin, calming the liver and treating dysentery, it is usually used unprepared; for nourishing the liver to relieve pain, it is usually used stir-baked; it is made less cold after stir-baking with wine.
 


   Precautions and Cautions on Use of White Peony Root.:

 The herb should not be used alone in cases of yang exhaustion with cold manifestations of deficiency type. It is incompatible with black hellebore (Radix Veratri).
 Antagonistic to Radix Veratri. Should not be prescribed for pregnant women.
 Contraindications:Reports of traditional use indicate that Radix Paeoniae may have abortifacient activity; therefore, the use of Radix Paeoniae in pregnancy is contraindicated.
 Drug interactions:Radix Paeoniae should not be combined with Fritillaria vericillata, Cuscuta japonica, and Rheum officinale.
 Carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, impairment of fertility:Hot-water or methanol extracts of Radix Paeoniae are not mutagenic in vitro.
 Pregnancy: non-teratogenic effects
 Nursing mothers:Excretion of the drug into breast milk an dits effects on the newborn have not been established; therefore, use of the drug during lactation is not recommended.
 Paediatric use:No information available about general precautions, drug and laboratory test interactions, or teratogenic effects on pregnancy.
 Posology :Maximum daily oral dose of crude plant material, 6-15g, standardized for paeoniflorin.
 


   Safety and Acute toxicity:

 Paeoniflorin

 Chemical name:Paeoniflorin
 CAS No.:23180-57-6. Molecular Formula:C23-H28-O11. Molecular Weight:480.51
 Synonyms:5beta-[(Benzoyloxy)methyl]tetrahydro-5-hydroxy-2-methyl-2,5-methano-1H-3,4-dioxacyclobuta[cd]pentalen-1alpha(2H)-yl-beta-D-glucopyranoside

 Acute toxicity(LD50):Paeoniflorin

 LD50:Lethal dose,50 percent kill. Intraperitoneal. Rodent-mouse. 3530mg/kg.Toxic Effects:Behavioral-somnolence(general depressed activity).
 LD50:Lethal dose,50 percent kill. Intravenous.Rodent-mouse.9530mg/kg.Toxic Effects:Behavioral-sleep. Behavioral-somnolence(general depressed activity).
 Reference:YKKZAJ Yakugaku Zasshi.Journal of Pharmacy.(Nippon Yakugakkai,2-12-15 Shibuya,Shibuya-ku,Tokyo 150,JP)No.1-1881-Volume(issue)/page/year:89,899,1969


  Scientific References:

  1.Paeoniflorin and Peony Root Extract.White.Red.