Rhus chinensis

Chinese sumac
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Anacardiaceae
Genus: Rhus
Species: R. chinensis
Binomial name
Rhus chinensis
Mill.
Synonyms

Rhus javanica auct.
Rhus semialata Murray

Rhus chinensis, the Chinese sumac[1] or nutgall tree, is a plant species in the genus Rhus.

The species is used to produce galls, called Chinese gall, Galla Chinensis or Wu Bei Zi (五倍子) in Chinese, which are rich in gallotannins,[2][3] a type of hydrolysable tannins. The infestation by Chinese sumac aphids (Melaphis chinensis Bell) can lead to a gall which is valued as a commercial product. Chinese galls are used in Chinese medicine to treat coughs, diarrhea, night sweats, dysentery and to stop intestinal and uterine bleeding.[4]

Rhus chinensis compounds possess strong antiviral, antibacterial, anticancer, hepatoprotective, antidiarrheal and antioxidant activities.[5] The gall of Rhus chinensis, Galla chinensi, has long been considered to possess many medicinal properties.[6]

Gallic acid (3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid),isolated from Rhus chinensis, induces apoptosis in human monocytic lymphoma cell line U937 and may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent against lymphoma.[7] The gall of Rhus chinensis inhibits alpha-glucosidase activity.[8]

References

  1. "Rhus chinensis". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  2. "Identification and structure–activity relationship of gallotannins separated from Galla chinensis". Fang Tian, Bo Lia, Baoping Ji, Guizhi Zhang and Yangchao Luo, LWT - Food Science and Technology, Volume 42, Issue 7, September 2009, Pages 1289-1295 doi:10.1016/j.lwt.2009.03.004
  3. "Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of consecutive extracts from Galla chinensis : The polarity affects the bioactivities". Fang Tian, Bo Lia, Baoping Ji, Jinhua Yang, Guizhi Zhang, Yang Chen and Yangchao Luo, Food Chemistry, Volume 113, Issue 1, 1 March 2009, Pages 173-179 doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2008.07.062
  4. "Aphid", Henry G. Stroyan, McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology, 8th Edition, 1997, ISBN 0-07-911504-7
  5. Djakpo O, Yao W, "Rhus chinensis and Galla Chinensis--folklore to modern evidence: review." Phytother Res. 2010 Dec;24(12):1739-47
  6. Zhang J, Li L, Kim SH, Hagerman AE, Lü J. 2009. "Anti-cancer, anti-diabetic and other pharmacologic and biological activities of penta-galloyl-glucose." Pharm Res 26: 2066–2080.
  7. Kim NS, Jeong SI, Hwang BS, Lee YE, Kang SH, Lee HC, Oh CH "Gallic acid inhibits cell viability and induces apoptosis in human monocytic cell line U937." J Med Food. 2011 Mar;14(3):240-6
  8. Young-Jun Shima, Ho-Kyung Doob, Se-Young Ahnb, Yong-Suk Kimc, Je-Kyung Seongd, In-Sun Parke, Bon-Hong Mina, "Inhibitory effect of aqueous extract from the gall ofRhus chinensis on alpha-glucosidase activity and postprandial blood glucose." Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 85, Issues 2-3, April 2003, Pages 283-287
Wikispecies has information related to: Rhus chinensis
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rhus chinensis.

Plants for a Future

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/21/2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.