Zhu Ling Opelousas LA

Internal administration, 10 to 15g of the herb are taken in a decoction and administrated orally.

5:1 concentrated extract: 2-3 grams/day.

Carnogenic test: negative (PPS extract/mice/hypodermic or intraperitoneal injection, 0.5, 50mg/kg daily for 6 consecutive months).
Teratogenic test: negative (PPS/mice/200mg/kg, intraperitoneal injection).(1)

Polyporusdextran I; Polyporusteron A, B, C, D, E, F, G; Ergosta-4, 6, 8(14), 22-tetraen-3-one; 25-deoxymakisterone A; 25-deoxy-24(28)-dehydromakisterone A; Ergosta-7, 22-dien-3-one; Ergosta-7, 22-dien-3-ol; Ergosta-5, 7, 22-trien-3-ol; 5a, 8a-epidioxyergosta-6, 22-dien-3-ol; a-hydroxytetracosanoic acid; 3, 4-dihydroxy benzaldehyde; Axungia; Isoleucine; Leucine; Aspartic acid; D-mannose; D-galactose; D-glucose.(2),(3),(4),(5) (6),(7)

It contains trace elements, including calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), copper (Cu), sodium (Na), potassium (K), and sulfur (S).

Zhu Ling is contraindicated for interior dryness (lest causing injury to yin-fluids). Reported adverse effects of Zhu Ling include skin rashes, dermatitis, transient tinnitus, colporrhagia, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), arthritis, and arthralgia. (8),(9),(10),(11),(12),(13),(14),(15)

Zhu Ling can reduce the occurrence rate of B-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine (BBN)-induced bladder tumors in rats, the number of tumors per rat, the tumor diameter, and the tumor malignity.(16) Experiments show that toxin-L extracted from the ascitic fluid of patients with primary hepatoma can cause notable fat hydrolysis in vitro, inhibit the ingestion functions of rats, decrease the serum zinc levels, and increase the serum copper levels. It has been established that toxin-L can produce neoplastic cachexia, and that polyporus polysaccharides can inhibit toxin-L's neoplastic cachexia-promoting activities.(17)

Experiments on mice have shown that polyporus polysaccharides can enhance Concanavalin A and bacterial lipopolysaccharide-induced proliferation reactions of splenocytes, increase the number of specific antibody-secreting cells, enhance heterotypic splenocyte-induced hypersensitivity reactions, and enhance the killing capacity of splenotoxic T lymphocytes.(18) Experiments also have shown that polyporus polysaccharides can enhance the phagocytic and bactericidal functions of the human neutrophilic granulocytes,(19) and that it has a dose-dependent and interferon-g (TFN-g)-synergistic effects that promote the production of nitric oxide by the mice's macrophage.(20)

When administered to mice by intraperitoneal injection at 0.8, 1.2, 1.6, and 4.0mg/kg, polyporus polysaccharides have inhibited cyclophosphamide-induced micronucleus formation with inhibition rates of 17.34%, 25.22%, 37.03%, 42.51%, and 55.12%, respectively.(21) Polyporus polysaccharides can also inhibit a cyclophosphamide-induced increase in the MNR of bone marrow PCE (perchloroethylene), and inhibit cyclophosphamide-induced decreases in white and red blood cell counts and hemalbumin (Hb).(22) When used in combination with cisplatin, polyporus polysaccharides can enhance the latter's inhibitory effect on transplanted S180, Lewis, and H22 tumors in mice, as well as reducing cisplatin's side effects (e.g., causing a drop in white blood count, atrophy of immune organs, and a reduction in the macrophage's phagocytic function).(23)

Experiments have shown that polyporus polysaccharides can lessen carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)- and D-aminogalactose-induced damage to liver tissues, and promote recovery from these damages. It has also promoted the generation of the hepatitis B surface antibody (HbsAb) in guinea pigs and Assamese macaques, and enhanced of the ability of celiac macrophage in normal and injured mice livers to release H2O2.(24),(25) When administered to mice by intraperitoneal injection at 0.25mg per mouse, polyporus polysaccharides have shown to have a moderate inhibitory effect on the expression of hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) in the serum of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-transgenic mice.(26)