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| Original plant of Semen Cuscutae |
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| Dried seeds |
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| Name |
Latin Name: Semen Cuscutae
Common Name: Cuscuta seed, Chinese Dodder seed
Scientific Name: Cuscuta chinensis Lam
Chinese Name: 菟絲子
Pinyin Name: Tu si zi |
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| Origin |
| The ripe seed of Cuscuta chinensis Lam.; an annual voluble parasitic herb of the family Convolvulaceae.[1] |
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| Where Does It Grow? |
| It is mainly distributed in Jiangsu, Liaoning, Jilin, Hebei, Shandong and Henan provinces of China[2]. |
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| Nature and Taste |
| It is sweet in taste, warm in nature and manifests its therapeutic actions in the liver, kidney and spleen meridians. |
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| Identified Active Components/ Major Chemical Constituents[3] |
Chemical constituents in Semen Cuscutae include biological alkaloids, anthraquinone, coumarin, flavones, glycoside sterols, terpene, tannic acid and others. Compounds that contain flavones include quercetin, astragalin, and hyperin, with the total flavone amount being approximately 3.0% in the raw herb[3-4]. Compounds that include sterols include: cholesterol, campesterol, beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol and beta-amyrin[5]. The amino acid content is approximately 0.076%, and the total polysaccharide content is 8.5%-9.2% in the raw herb[4,6]. Microelements identified so far in this herb are calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and copper (Cu).[7]
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| Historical Use |
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The Chinese name of Tusizi is actually comprised of three Chinese words. The first word "Tu" (菟) incorporates the word "rabbit" (兔)below the character for "herb"( ). The second word "Si" (絲) means "filament,"and the third word "Zi" (子) refers to "seed". During the Ming Dynasty, Li Shizhen wrote in the Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica) "Below the herb Tusizi, there lies the root of a 'hidden rabbit'. Without that root, its filament does not grow. If the 'hidden rabbit' is withdrawn, the filament herb will die... As the young root of the herb looks like a 'rabbit', it is given the name of 'rabbit filament' (Tusi)."
The main effect of Tusizi is to replenish the kidney essence or "jing" in order to support healthy sexual and reproductive functioning. Through the mother-son relationship between kidney and liver, it also benefits the eyes, tendons and other physiological functions related to the kidneys and liver.
The uses of this herb date back to the Bencao Gangmu which described its functions as "invigorating deficiencies, benefiting qi (vital energy) and strengthening and promoting health." It goes on to say: "Taken appropriately on a long term basis, it benefits the eyes, keeps the individual fit and prevents aging ... Due to its nourishment of the muscles and yin, and reinforcement of the tendons and bone, it is mainly used to treat excessive coldness in male genital organs, involuntary discharge of semen, dribbling during urination, a bitter taste in the mouth accompanied by a dry and thirsty feeling and to treat an accumulation of cold blood."
Li Shi Zhen thought the herb worked by "obtaining and gathering together the harmonized and normal yang qi. The single stem coming out from the whole plant is formed by "sensing" the qi of the branch. Hence, it tends to invigorate defensive qi and support an individual's tendons and vessels." In Chinese medicine, the liver governs the tendons and vessels. The liver, being a wood organ, needs a mother, which contains a water element. This water element is represented by the kidneys whose main function is to store essence or "jing." This essence is what gives the tendons and vessels their nourishment. Therefore, it is said that the kidneys and liver share a mother-son relationship. |
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| What is It Used for in TCM? |
Today, Semen Cuscutae is used in Chinese medicine to invigorate the kidneys and consolidate kidney essence (jing), nourish the liver, improve eyesight, arrest diarrhea and soothe an unborn fetus.[1]
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It is used in syndromes caused by a kidney deficiency that exhibit symptoms such as lower back pain, erectile dysfunction, involuntary discharge of semen, urinary frequency and leucorrhea. |
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It is used for symptom treatment of blurred and dark vision and decreased visual acuity, which are caused by insufficient nourishment of the eyes due to liver and kidney deficiencies. |
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It treats diarrhea problems caused by spleen and kidney deficiencies. |
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It is used for cases of abnormal fetal movement caused by liver and kidney deficiencies. |
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It can also be used in increased thirst symptoms caused by a kidney deficiency. |
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| Pharmacological Actions |
| 1. |
Chronic Prostatitis |
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Clinical studies |
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A formula of Semen Cuscutae, Rhizoma Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae, Rhizoma Dioscoreae, Fructus Alpiniae Oxyphyllae, Rhizoma Alismatis, Fructus Corni, and Herba Patriniae was used once per day to treat 53 cases of chronic prostatitis, for periods ranging from one to three months. The overall effective rate was reported to be 90.6%.[1] |
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| 2. |
Improve Sperm Abnormality |
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Clinical studies |
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Semen Cuscutae was used together with Herba Cistanches, Fructus Lycii, Radix Polgoni Multiflori, Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata and Fructus Schisandrae to treat 105 cases of sperm abnormality. In this review paper, the type of sperm abnormality was not defined. The patients took the medicine either once a day or every other day. One month was regarded as one treatment period. After three treatment periods, 31 cases demonstrated complete recovery, 65 cases showed some extent of recovery while 11 cases experienced no change.[10] |
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| 3. |
Gynecological Effects |
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Clinical studies |
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Effective in treating threatened abortion: Radix Dipsaci, Colla Corii Asini, Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae, Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae and Semen Cuscutae were used to treat 110 cases of threatened abortion. The patients took the medicine once a day for 10 days, and the overall effective rate was found to be 96.36% [12]
Effects on small uteruses (lnfantile uterus): In a study of 46 cases of infantile uteruses, patients were treated with a compound formula containing Semen Cuscutae , Radix Morindae Officinalis, Rhizoma Curculiginis, Herba Epimedii, Cervus elaphus, Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata and Radix Polgoni Multiflori. Starting from the 5th day of the menstrual cycle, the medication was taken, together with 1mg diethylstilbestrol, once a day for 20 days. Following treatment, 37 cases showed complete recovery while nine cases demonstrated improvement.[11] |
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Animal studies |
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Gavage feeding 25g/kg Semen Cuscutae water extract to mice once a day for ten days was able to promote keratinization of vaginal tract epithelium and increase the weight of the uterus.[10] |
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| 4. |
Improve Chranic Bronchits |
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Clinical studies |
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Effective in treating threatened abortion: Radix Dipsaci, Colla Corii Asini, Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae, Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae and Semen Cuscutae were used to treat 110 cases of threatened abortion. The patients took the medicine once a day for 10 days, and the overall effective rate was found to be 96.36% [12]
Effects on small uteruses (lnfantile uterus). In a study of 46 cases of infantile uteruses, patients were treated with a compound formula containing Semen Cuscutae , Radix Morindae Officinalis, Rhizoma Curculiginis, Herba Epimedii, Cervus elaphus, Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata and Radix Polgoni Multiflori. Starting from the 5th day of the menstrual cycle, the medication was taken, together with 1mg diethylstilbestrol, once a day for 20 days. Following treatment, 37 cases showed complete recovery while nine cases demonstrated improvement.[11] |
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| 5. |
Delay Cataract Formation |
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Animal studies |
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Delay cataract formation in rats:
Rats on a galactose diet were given by gavage 4g/kg/day of a Semen Cuscutae water extract for 30 consecutive days. Results showed that Semen Cuscutae could delay the formation of cataracts in rats with a reported overall effective rate of 33.3%14. It was suggested that Semen Cuscutae did this by reducing the activity of aldose reductase and other enzymes that are responsible for galactose induced cataract formation and by enhancing the activities of sorbitol dehydrogenase, hexokinase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in the rat eye lens.[15] |
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Yang Strengthening Effects |
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Animal studies |
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Improve the overall wellness of yang deficient mice:
After mice were rendered yang deficient by hydrocorticoid treatment, mice were gavage fed with a 5g/kg Semen Cuscutae decoction once a day for 7 days. It was observed that their body, kidney and thymus gland weight increased as well as increasing their white cell count, red cell count, hemoglobin content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Male mice gavage fed with 5g/kg Semen Cuscutae decoction once a day for 10 consecutive days showed prolonged swimming and hypoxia survival times. When fruit flies were fed with 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0% Semen Cuscutae water extracts for 10 days, their copulation frequency, within 11 minutes, increased. Their copulation rate increased by 47.49%, 65.52% and 78.86%, respectively.[16] |
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Effects on Na+/K+-ATPase activity |
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Animal studies |
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Mice gavage fed with a 6g/kg Semen Cuscutae decoction once a day for 10 days showed increase in Na+/K+-ATPase activity.[17] |
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| 8. |
Effect on Heart Rate and Blood Pressure |
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Animal studies |
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Modulate heart rate and blood pressure: Decoction and tincture preparations of Semen Cuscutae were shown to affect contractility in an in vitro toad heart model. Heart rate was shown to increase with the decoction preparation but was reduced with the tincture. Intravenous injection of a 0.1g/kg Semen Cuscutae decoction to anaesthetized dogs showed reduction in their blood pressure.[18] |
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| 9. |
Effects on the Endocrine System |
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Animal studies |
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Modulate the function of the anterior pituitary-hypothalamus-ovary axis:
When female rats were fed by gavage with 10g/kg water extract of Semen Cuscutae twice a day for five consecutive days, the weights of their anterior pituitary glands, ovaries and uterus were increased. Although no change in plasma LH levels was noted, the numbers of hCG/LH receptors increased such that the Ka value was smaller when compared to the control group. [19]
Increase LRH sensitivity in ovariectomized rats: Ovariectomized rats were fed by gavage with 10g/kg water extract of Semen Cuscutae twice a day for five days. On day six, following anesthesia, the animals were i.v. injected with d-C-LRH (luteinizing releasing hormone). Results showed that Semen Cuscutae was able to further promote luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion induced by LRH. Plasma LH levels of Semen Cuscutae treated rats reached its highest peak 90 minutes after d-C-LRH injection with an average percentage increase of 241.58%. This study demonstrated that the stimulatory effects of Semen Cuscutae on yellow body (corus luteum) production along the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis were not due to its direct stimulation on the pituitary; but thought to be due to Semen Cuscutae's ability to increase ovary receptor sites sensitive towards LRH and LH, respectively.[19] |
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| 10. |
Anti-aging Effects |
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Animal studies |
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Mulberry leaves, soaked with a 20% Semen Cuscutae decoction, were fed to silkworms three times a day. Results showed that Semen Cuscutae could prolong the larval stage of the worms, as well as their lifespan.[20] |
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Anti-cancer Effects |
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Cell culture studies |
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At concentrations of 300mg/ml and 3000mg/ml, Semen Cuscutae water extracts were able to inhibit DNA synthesis in Ehrlich ascite carcinoma cells.[21] |
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Anti-bacterial Effects |
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Cell culture studies |
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Decoction of Semen Cuscutae has been shown to have in vitro inhibitory effects on Staphylococcus, Shigella flexneri, and Bacillus typhosus.[5] |
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| Toxicity |
Acute toxicity: The LD50 of ethanol extracts of Semen Cuscutae injected intradermally (i.d.) into mice was found to be 2.465g/kg[18]
Subchronic toxicity: Rats gavage fed with 30-40g/kg of Semen Cuscutae water extract did not appear to have any intoxification symptoms. Furthermore, when rats were administered with 4.15g/kg Semen Cuscutae water extract or tincture, once a day for 70 days by gavage feed, no developmental abnormality and/or pathological change was noted.[18]
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| Administration and Dosage |
A decoction is typically made with 10-15g of Semen Cuscutae with three to four cups of boiling water until the volume is reduced by half.[1] A decoction is usually taken orally and split into two doses but this dose may taken all at once or escalated depending on the person's condition and recommendation by the Chinese medicine practitioner
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| Adverse Effect, Side Effects and Cautions |
| It is contraindicated in individuals with excessive fire in the kidneys that increase libido and prolong erectness of the penis or in individuals who have constipation and dry stools.[22] |
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| References |
| 1. |
雷載權主編《中藥學》上海科學技術出版社, 2000年6月。
Lui Dai Quan, ed. Chinese Medicine. Shanghai Scientific and Technical Publishers, 2000-6. |
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| 2. |
李家實主編《中藥鑒定學》上海科學技術出版社, 2000年2月。
Li Jia Shi, ed. Chinese Medicine Identification. Shanghai Scientific and Technical Publishers, 2000-6. |
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| 3. |
金曉，等•菟絲子黃酮類成分的研究•中國中藥雜誌1992; 17(5)：292
Jin Xiao, ed. Study of flavone content in Semen Cuscutae. China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 1992;17(5)：292.* |
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| 4. |
郭澄，等•菟絲子質量研究•中國中藥雜誌1991; 16(10)：581
Guo Cheng, et al. Research on the quality of Semen Cuscutae. China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 1991;16(10)：581.* |
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| 5. |
吉林省中醫中藥研究院•長白山植物誌•長春 吉林人民出版社 1982：935
Jilin Province Chinese Medicine Research Institute. Botanicals in Chang Bai Shan. Chang Chun, Ji Lin People's Publisher, China 1982：935.* |
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| 6. |
葉苹，等•大菟絲子與菟絲子化學成分的比較研究•中成藥1992; 14(3):36
Ye Pin, et al. Comparison between big Semen Cuscutae and Semen Cuscutae. Proprietary Chinese Medicine1992;14(3):36.* |
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| 7. |
趙春桂，等•6種安胎中草藥微量元素的光譜測定•中國中藥雜誌;15(5):43
Zhao Chungui, et al. Spectrometric analyses of microelements contained in 6 Chinese herbs that soothe fetus. China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica1990;15(5):43.* |
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| 8. |
李時珍《本草綱目》1578.Li Shizhen, Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica) |
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| 9. |
周聰和，等•益精降濁湯治療慢性前列腺炎53例•遼宁中醫雜誌1992; 19(3):27
Zhou Conghe, et al. Use a essence tonifying decoct to treat 53 cases of chronic prostatitis, Liaoning Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 1992;19(3):27.* |
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| 10. |
周洪，等•菟絲子湯治療精子畸型症105例療效觀察•吉林中醫藥1992;(5):10
Zhou Xiong, ed. To study the effect of Semen Cuscustae decoct on sperm abnormality, Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chinese Materia Meidca of Jilin 1992;(5):10.* |
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| 11. |
朱金風，等•壽胎丸加味治療先兆流產的臨床觀察及實驗研究•中西藥結合雜誌1987; 7(7):407.
Zhu Jinfeng, et al. Experimental and clinical studies on the effect of Shou Tai Wan and additives on threatened abortion. Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine1987;7(7):407.* |
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| 12. |
殷林茂，等•中西醫結合治療幼小子宮46例•河北中醫1992; 14(4):40
Yan Linmao, ed. Integrating Chinese and western medicine to treat Infantile uterus, Herbal Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine1992;14(4):40.* |
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| 13. |
景曉東，等•補腎法治療慢性支氣管炎68例•吉林中醫藥1991;(1):11
Jin Xiaodong, et al. Treating 68 cases of chronic bronchitis using kidney tonifying approach, Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chinese Material Medica of Jilin1991;(1):11.* |
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| 14. |
楊濤，等•菟絲子等對大鼠半乳糖性白內障防治作用•北京醫科大學學報1991;23(2):97
Yang Tao, et al. Effect of Semen Cuscustae on galactose induced cataract in rat. Journal of Beijing Medical University 1991;23(2):97.* |
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| 15. |
楊濤，等•四種中草藥對大鼠半乳糖性白內障相關 活性的影響•生物化學雜誌1991; 7(6):731Yang Tao, et al. Effects of four Chinese herbs on the activities of enzymes related to galactose-induced cataract formation. Journal of Biological Chemistry (China)1991;7(6):731.* |
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| 16. |
宓鶴鳴，等•三種菟絲子補骨壯陽作用的比較•中草藥 1991;22(12):547
Mi Hemin, ed. Comparison study on the bone support and yang strengthening effects of three types of Semen Cuscustae, Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs 1991;22(12):547.* |
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| 17. |
丁安榮，等•黃精等六種補益藥對小鼠細胞膜Na+/K+-ATP活性的影響•中成藥 1990; 12(9):28
Ding Anrong, et al. Effects of six tonifying medicines on membrane Na+/ K+-ATPase activity in mice. Proprietary Chinese Medicine 1990;12(9):28.* |
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| 18 |
江蘇新中醫學院•中藥大辭典下冊•上海人民衛生出版社, 中國上海1997;2006
Jiangsu New Medical College, Pharmacopoeia of Chinese medicine, Shanghai People Hygiene Publisher, Shanghai, China 1997;2006.* |
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| 19. |
李炳茹，等•補腎藥對下丘腦-垂體-性腺軸功能影響•中醫雜誌1984;25(7):543
Li Bingru, et al. Effects of kidney tonifying medicine on the function of anterior pituitary-hypothalamus-sex gland axis, Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine1984;25(7):543.* |
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| 20. |
項平，等•七種中藥抗老年作用的實檢觀察•遼宁中醫雜誌1982;6(3):44
Xiang Pin, et al. Experimental observation of the anti-aging effects of seven Chinese medicines. Liaoning Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 1982;6(3):44. |
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| 21. |
段秀梅，等•國內外關於菟絲子屬植物研究概況•長白山中醫藥研究與研發1992;1(2):53
Duan Xiumei, et al. Researches on Semen Cuscutae botanicals. Research and Development of Chinese medicine in Chang Bai Shan 1992;1(2):53. |
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| 22. |
吳儀洛《本草從新》1757。
Wu Yiluo. New Compilation of Materia Medica, 1757. |
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Quoted in "Wang BX ed. Modern Pharmacological studies on Chinese Medicine. Tianjin Scientific Technology Publishing, 1999: 1248-1250" 引述自"王本祥編‧現代中藥藥理學‧天津科學技術出版社, 1999: 1248-1250" |
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