Du Huo is the dried root of the Umbelliferae plant Angelica pubescens, also known as Ba Dong Du Huo or Rou Du Huo. It is mainly produced in Sichuan, Hubei, Anhui and other regions. Du Huo has the effects of dispelling wind and dampness, and relieving pain and stiffness. It is used for wind-cold-damp bi syndrome, lumbar and knee pain, and headaches caused by the wind of the Shaoyin meridian.
Pain Relief
Du Huo has a pungent and bitter taste, a fragrant and warm nature, and is good at dispelling wind, removing dampness, and relieving pain. It is the main herb used to treat wind-cold-damp bi syndrome. It is effective for various types of pain such as lumbar and knee pain caused by wind-cold-damp pathogens, regardless of the duration of the condition.
Itch Relief
Du Huo can remove dampness and can be used internally and externally to treat skin itching and discomfort.
Antibacterial Properties
The photosensitive substances in Du Huo, such as furanocoumarins, generally do not exhibit significant antibacterial activity. However, when exposed to bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, they can also cause photosensitivity and result in bacterial death. Pepper toxin has a broad antibacterial effect in vitro.
Antitumor Effects
The furanocoumarin compounds in Du Huo, such as imperatorin and pepper toxin, have inhibitory effects on cervical cancer cells and can kill cells of ascitic carcinoma.
Antispasmodic Effects
Components in Du Huo, such as imperatorin and pepper toxin, have significant effects in relieving intestinal spasms in animals.
Sedative Effects
The decoction of Du Huo can produce sedative and hypnotic effects, and can even prevent the convulsions caused by pentylenetetrazol in frogs. In addition, animal experiments have also demonstrated that Du Huo has good analgesic effects.
Improving Myocardial Ischemia
The volatile oil of Du Huo can counteract acute myocardial ischemia caused by posterior pituitary hormone. Furthermore, the volatile oil of Du Huo can significantly increase the nutritional blood flow to the myocardium, thus improving myocardial ischemia.
Lowering Blood Pressure
Crude preparations of Du Huo have antihypertensive effects, but the effects are not long-lasting. The effect of the tincture is greater than that of the decoction. In addition, the extracted part of the water decoction of Du Huo also has antiarrhythmic effects.
Nutritional Value of Du Huo
The main components of Du Huo include furanocoumarins and volatile oils, as well as a small amount of sterols and sugars. The furanocoumarins mainly include imperatorin, angelicin, pepper toxin, falcarinol, isoimperatorin, and psoralen. The anticancer active ingredients are mainly imperatorin, psoralen, angelicin, pepper toxin, falcarinol, and isoimperatorin.
1. Du Huo contains imperatorin, also known as snakebed seed oil, which has a significant inhibitory effect on lung adenocarcinoma and lung squamous cell carcinoma.
2. Du Huo contains psoralen, which has a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of tumors in various animals and humans.
3. The pepper toxin in Du Huo, also known as pepper toxin lactone, oxysanatranol, and yellow toxin, has an inhibitory effect on the growth of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells, human leukemia cells, and human epidermal carcinoma cells.
4. Angelicin in Du Huo has an inhibitory effect on human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells and human breast cancer cells, and can induce apoptosis in tumor cells.
5. Falcarinol in Du Huo has an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells and human bladder cancer cells, and the effect is concentration-dependent.
6. Isoimperatorin in Du Huo has varying degrees of inhibitory effects on human lung cancer cells, human ovarian cancer cells, human skin cancer cell lines, human central nervous system tumor cells, and human colon cancer cells.
Contraindications of Du Huo
1. Du Huo should be used with caution in individuals with yin deficiency and blood dryness.
2. Du Huo has a pungent and bitter nature, which can easily damage yin and consume blood. Therefore, it should be used with caution in individuals with yin deficiency and blood dryness.
3. Du Huo can increase fetal movement and harm the fetus. Therefore, it is best for pregnant women to avoid taking Du Huo during pregnancy.
4. The main function of Du Huo is to dispel wind, resolve dampness, and relieve pain. Generally, infants and young children do not need to consume this type of medicine, so they should be cautious in consuming Du Huo, as it may affect the normal development of their bodies.
