Cnidium
Latin name: Rhizome Ligustici
Chinese Name: Chuan-xiong (Cnidium)
Traditional Uses
Actions: Invigorates blood circulation, promotes the flow of ch’i,
dispels wind, controls pain
Applications: Headache, abdominal pain, arthralgia due to cold, spasm
of tendons, amenorrhea, other menstrual disorders
Pharmacology
(1) Antispasmodic effects: The extract inhibits intestinal
and uterine contraction in animals to produce antispasmodic and analgesic
effects. Its active constituent is ferulic acid.
(2) Tranquilizing effect: The essential oil inhibits the
central nervous system.
(3) Hypotensive effect: The aqueous extract slightly lowers
the blood pressure of animals. Intramuscular injection can produce
this effect, but the effect is more pronounced with anesthetized animals
(dogs, cats, and rabbits) when the extract is injected intravenously.
(4) Vasodilative effect: The extract when injected into
the coronary artery increases blood flow in the coronary artery and to
the lower limbs.
(5) Anti-bacterial effect: In vitro it inhibits Escherichia
coli, Bacillus typhi, and dysentery bacteria.
(6) Antifungal effect: In vitro butylphthalide, cnidilide,
and neocnidilide inhibit dermatophytes.
Reference: Hung-yen Hsu, Ph.D. and Associates: Oriental Materia
Medica A Concise Guide 1986, Keats Publishing
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