The efficacy, function and consumption method of Radix Trichosanthis

There are many functions and effects of Radix Trichosanthis. It can help us enhance our body's immunity and has good anti-cancer and anti-tumor effects. Radix Trichosanthis also has a good inhibitory effect on the human immunodeficiency virus in the cells of AIDS patients.

1. Enhance immunity.

Trichosanthin protein is immunogenic and can promote the production of immunoglobulins. It has strong antigenicity and can cause allergic reactions in animals. It can gradually increase the IgE and IgG antibodies against trichosanthin protein in the serum of pregnant women. Trichosanthin is a nonspecific immunopotentiator.

2. Anti-cancer.

It has an inhibitory effect on tumor cells S180 and U14. Trichosanthin has a unique therapeutic effect on choriocarcinoma and can selectively damage choriocarcinoma cells and melanoma cells. It is effective in the clinical treatment of malignant hydatidiform mole and choriocarcinoma. Local injection and intraperitoneal injection of trichosanthin tumor tissue can significantly inhibit the growth of rat WK256, mouse reticulum cell sarcoma ascites type, U14 ascites type and mouse breast cancer. It has a significant inhibitory effect on both solid tumor and ascites types of mouse liver cancer, can reduce the amount of ascites and prolong survival. In addition, Radix Trichosanthis polysaccharides also have anti-cancer activity.

3. Antiviral.

Trichosanthin has a strong inhibitory effect on the replication and spread of human immunodeficiency virus in the cells of AIDS patients, and reduces the ratio of infected cells to uninfected cells. In recent years, it has been used to treat AIDS. The backbone structure of trichosanthin is consistent with that of abrin A chain and ricin A chain, and both have cytotoxic and immunotoxin activities. Using RNA and DNA as substrates, trichosanthin can degrade their single strands, unwind and relax their double strands, and can stop protein synthesis by catalytically inactivating the ribosome 60S subunit. This is of guiding significance for clarifying the antiviral mechanism of action of trichosanthin.

4. Impact on blood sugar.

The extract of this product can increase the blood sugar of three types of rabbits: normal, hungry, and diabetic, and can also increase the content of liver glycogen and muscle glycogen in hungry rabbits. However, the five polysaccharide components isolated from Radix Trichosanthis can lower the blood sugar level in mice.

It is now widely used in clinical treatment of diabetes. Radix Trichosanthis contains both blood sugar-raising and blood sugar-lowering components, and their effects offset each other.