6.2 A Qi Invigorating Herb - Schisandra Berry

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來自 The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology 的課程

Health Concepts in Chinese Medicine

35 個評分

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Health Concepts in Chinese Medicine

35 個評分

Course Overview: https://youtu.be/L0-cZt1Hw7c Chinese Medicine and Modern Medicine are two distinct medical systems, yet they both aim at the prevention and treatment of human diseases. With this in mind, we should understand the practice of Chinese Medicine in the context of Modern Medicine. In this course, we explore the basic theories underlying the practice of Chinese Medicine, compare and contrast the use of Chinese Medicine and Modern Medicine in Preventive Health, and discuss how to restore a healthy condition and understand the pharmacological basis of different types of Chinese tonifying herbs. By the end of this course, you will be able to: - state the important Chinese Medicine literature from 5th century B.C. to 16th century A.D. - describe and interpret basic Chinese Medicine theories - apply the basic Chinese Medicine theories (such as the balance between Yin and Yang and the interaction among organs) to restore a healthy condition - compare and contrast the use of Chinese Medicine and Modern Medicine in Preventive Health - explain how the balance of Yang/Qi and/or Yin/Blood can be restored by using Chinese tonifying herbs - adapt the Chinese Medicine concepts by reviewing the contemporary researches on pharmacological activities in Chinese tonifying herbs

從本節課中

Seminar 3-4: Qi Invigoration and Chinese Tonifying Herbs for Promoting Health

In Chinese Medicine, Yin Yang Balance generates Qi. In the last module of the course, Prof. Ko gives a thorough explanation of the nature of Qi from the biochemical perspective. Schisandra Berry - a common Qi invigorating tonifying herb is used for illustration on how Qi invigoration is important to our health. Due to the gradual change of diseases over the past century from the prevalence of infectious diseases to age-associated diseases, Chinese Medicine is highly regarded as a gold mine for exploring alternative ways to prevent and treat these diseases. Prof. Ko wraps up the course by summarizing the use of different categories of Chinese tonifying herbs and when we should use them for preventive health.

6.1 Qi Invigorating Action in Chinese Medicine4:29

6.2 A Qi Invigorating Herb - Schisandra Berry5:40

與講師見面

Robert Ko
Professor
Division of Life Science

In a quest for naturally-occurring antioxidants for preventive health measures,

we have focused on the Schisandra Berry,

which is a commonly used herb in Chinese Medicine.

Sun Simiao, who was renowned as the "King

of Herbal Medicine" in the Tang Dynasty in China,

anecdoted that

"Taking Schisandra Berry can invigorate the Qi of the five visceral organs".

This statement reveals much of the Qi-invigorating action of

the Schisandra Berry in various organs of the body.

The Schisandra Berry is called "Wǔ Wèi Zi" in Chinese,

which literally means "the fruit of five tastes".

According to the Five Element theory of Chinese Medicine,

the five tastes of the Schisandra Berry indicate

its pharmacological action targeting at five visceral organs;

sour to liver, bitter to heart,

sweet to spleen, pungent to lung and salty to kidney.

To investigate the pharmacological basis of

the Qi-invigorating action of the Schisandra Berry in various organs,

we first isolate Schisandrin B,

an active component of this Schisandra Berry.

We then examine the effect of Schisandrin B on ROS-induced tissue damage in rats.

Over the past two decades,

experimental results have shown that Schisandrin B is

protective against oxidant injury in various tissues including brain,

heart, kidney, liver and skin.

The tissue protection afforded by Schisandrin B in

experimental animal has been validated

by studies using cultured cells derived from various tissues.

Pre-incubation of Schisandrin B was found to

protect against oxidant injury induced in cultured cells.

Further, in-depth investigations have revealed that

the biochemical mechanism underlying the tissue or cellular protection

afforded by Schisandrin B involves an increase in

the resistance of mitochondria to ROS-induced oxidative stress.

The oxidative stress induced disruption of

mitochondrial structural and functional integrity can

eventually lead to cell apoptosis, with

the resultant development of age-associated diseases.

The increase in mitochondrial resistant to oxidative stress results in

enhanced cell survival and ultimately to a longer health lifespan.

With regard to aging,

"Mitochondrial Decay" is the leading hypothesis in explaining the cause of aging.

Under normal conditions, mitochondrial generates more amount of ROS,

which are beneficial in safeguarding health.

When mitochondria was damaged by ROS,

the resulting malfunction generally increase amounts of ROS,

with further disruption of mitochondrial structural and functional integrity.

In this regard, a growing body of scientific evidence has suggested that involvement of

mitochondrial dysfunction in number of

age-associated diseases such as Alzheimer's disease,

Parkinson's disease, cardiovascular diseases,

diabetic complications and liver diseases.

The "Mitochondrial Decay" theory of aging

is supported by the demonstration of a negative correlation between the extent of

mitochondrial ROS production in tissues such as that of

the liver and maximum lifespan of a number of primates, including humans.

The extrapolation from the correlation graph indicates

that humans should be able to live up to 120 years.

This prediction has been confirmed by longevity record held by

a French woman, named Jeanne Calment, who lived for 122 years.

For an ultimate test to determine if Schisandrin B,

which may mitigate mitochondrial decay,

can extend lifespan, a longevity study was conducted using mice.

Experimental result indicated that dietary supplementation

of Schisandrin B improved the survival of both male and female mice.

In conclusion, Schisandrin B,

which can preserve the structural and functional integrity of mitochondria,

the cell origin of Qi,

may help prevent,

or at least delay,

the onset of age-associated diseases, and

thus favor a long and healthy lifespan.

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