Traditional Chinese Medicine Cognition and Modern Pharmaceutical Research on Effect of Cassia Twig and Cinnamomum Cassia in Treating Paralysis / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ABSTRACT

Cinnamomi Ramulus and Cinnamomi Cortex are widely used to treat paralysis in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). There are numerous and complicated relative records in ancient literatures. Doctors often use Cinnamomi Ramulus to dispel wind and cold, remove blood stasis and combine with warm-natured and heat-natured herbs to treat excess paralysis and early-stage paralysis. And Cinnamorni Cortex is used to warm and invigorate kidney Yang and combine with warm-benefiting herbs to treat deficiency paralysis and chronicle paralysis. However, modern pharmaceutical studies reported that their active substances are almost the same. The active substances in Cinnamomi Cortex are more than those in Cinnamomi Ramulus. The mechanisms of treating paralysis includesuppressing inflammation and regulating immunity by down-regulating nuclear factors(NF)-κB, mitogen activated protein kinase(MAPK), Janus kinase-signal transducers/activators of transcription(JAK/STAT) signaling pathways, regulating cell proliferation by inhibiting the proliferation of fibroblasts, osteoclasts and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and promoting the proliferation of osteoblast, resisting oxidation by scavenging oxygen free radicals, regulating pain by mediating TRPA1 and TRPV1,and enhancing substance metabolism and losing weight by regulating the secretion of intestinal hormones (Ghrelin, GLP-1) and improving insulin resistance. The main active ingredient Cinnamaldehyde is unstable in vivo and easily oxidized to cinnamic acid. The toxicity of the two medicines and their components are relatively low. This paper reviews and analyses relative records in ancient literatures, traditional Chinese medicine cognition of their effects in treating paralysis, the achievements and problems of chemical,pharmacological,pharmacokinetic and toxicological researches in recent years, with the aim to provide theoretical basis for further research and application.