Sea Holly, a traditional Chinese medicine. Sea Holly is used for treating worm infestations. It is used for treating roundworm infections, eliminating mucus, and eliminating toxins in infants.
[Chemical Composition of Sea Holly]
Sea Holly contains Sea Holly acid and a small amount of Difuran acid, as well as polysaccharides such as Agar, glycyrrhizic acid and mannose, volatile oil, amino acids, peptides, organic acids, etc. It also contains 0.2% iodine, betaine, etc.
[Pharmacological Effects of Sea Holly]
Sea Holly acid is the effective ingredient for worm expulsion. However, when used alone, the rate of inhibition of worm eggs is not high. When used in combination with Shan Dao Nian (adult dosage: 50-100mg Shan Dao Nian, 5-7.5mg Sea Holly acid), it can improve the therapeutic effect.
The worm-expelling effect of Sea Holly acid is due to the inhibition of dehydrogenase in the muscle of pig roundworms, or the reduction of iron-containing respiratory enzymes in the epithelial cells of pig roundworms.
Based on experiments with earthworms and pig roundworms, it is speculated that the mechanism of action of Sea Holly acid in worm expulsion is to induce abnormal motor excitement in the worms (or consume their energy or paralyze their movement), and disrupt their sugar metabolism.
The worm-expelling effect of Sea Holly decoction is better than that of Sea Holly acid (based on clinical and experimental observations), so it is believed that Sea Holly contains other effective worm-expelling ingredients.
Although the mannose glycoside glycyrrhizic acid sodium salt in Sea Holly cannot inhibit dehydrogenase, it can paralyze the autonomous movement of earthworm nerve-muscle specimens. When administered to puppies, it also has worm-expelling effects.
Magnesium salts (magnesium lactate and Sea Holly acid magnesium) in Sea Holly can inhibit the oxygen consumption of roundworm muscle homogenates, and have a strong effect on roundworm movement and tissue respiration.
The volatile oil in Sea Holly (including various terpenes containing camphor, phenols containing m-cresol, and fatty acids containing myristic acid) has similar effects to Sea Holly acid, but weaker.
Based on experiments with earthworms and pig roundworms, the P substance extracted from Sea Holly has a contractile effect on the overall movement of pig roundworms, while the mannose glycoside glycyrrhizic acid sodium salt has a relaxant effect. The P substance has a strong inhibitory effect on tissue respiration, and the volatile oil also has this effect, but the mannose glycoside glycyrrhizic acid sodium salt does not have this effect.
[Toxicity of Sea Holly]
At clinical doses, there are no significant side effects in humans. Injecting 1-2mg/kg of Sea Holly acid into rabbits can inhibit the heart, damage the liver and kidneys, and cause changes in blood cell count. Subcutaneous injection in dogs can directly affect smooth muscles and stimulate the vomiting center, causing vomiting.
The median lethal dose of Sea Holly acid is 0.024mg/g when injected subcutaneously in mice, and 0.12mg/g when taken orally. The toxicity of mannose glycoside glycyrrhizic acid sodium salt is also relatively low, as no deaths were observed when mice were given more than 6mg/g orally.
[Indications of Sea Holly] Expelling roundworms.
[Dosage and Administration of Sea Holly] Oral administration: decoction, 6-9g; or powdered.
[Prescription for Sea Holly]
① Expelling roundworms: 9g Sea Holly, 18g Semen Arecae, decocted with water, add a little sugar, and take in one dose. (From "Modern Practical Chinese Medicine")
② Treating roundworm infection-induced eye disease: Sea Holly, Black Atractylodes Rhizome, Bitter Coix Seed, Rhubarb, Licorice. Grind the five ingredients together, decoct with water, and take orally. (From "Ophthalmology Compendium")
