OPINION: Dr Ken Romeo 775-870-6942
“Du Zhong," also known as Eucommia ulmoides (EU) is a plant containing various kinds of chemical constituents such as lignans, iridoids, phenolics,
- Du Zhong Bark
steroids, flavonoids, and other compounds.
Du Zhong (EU) possess various medicinal properties and has been used in Chinese Traditional Medicine as a folk drink and functional food for several thousand years.
This plant is widely cultivated in China on a large scale because of its medicinal importance. About 112 compounds have been isolated from EU which include lignans, iridoids, phenolics, steroids, and other compounds. Complementary herbs formula of this plant (such as a delicious tea) has shown some medicinal properties.
The leaf of EU has higher activity related to cortex, flower, and fruit [1,2]. The leaves of EU have been reported to enhance bones strength and body muscles [3], thus leading to longevity and promoting fertility in humans [4].
Delicious tea formula made from the leaf of EU was reported to reduce fattiness and enhance energy metabolism. Flavonoid compounds (such as rutin, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, and caffeic acid) have been reported to exhibit antioxidants activity in the leaves of EU [5].
It has been widely used solely or in combination with other compounds to treat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, bone health, sexual dysfunction, metabolic syndrome, and neurological diseases.
The HARGC makes no claim as to the efficacy of Du Zhong or its potential side-effects.
Yours in Health!
Dr. Ken Romeo
Dr. Ken Romeo is a Principal and Chief Clinical Data Coordinator for the Healthy Aging Research and Genomic Council (HARGC) in Reno, NV.
Though each article contained on this Blog is derived from published Clinical and Research data contained in various national and international databases with links provided,
NO ARTICLE OR CONCLUSION IS MEANT TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, PREVENT OR CURE DISEASE.
CONSULT YOUR HEALTH PROFESSIONAL BEFORE MAKING ANY CHANGES TO YOUR HEALTH REGIMEN.
Contact: DrKenRomeo1@yahoo.com
Source: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2016;2016:5202908. doi: 10.1155/2016/5202908. Epub 2016 Mar 2
1. Yen G.-C., Hsieh C.-L. Antioxidant activity of extracts from Du-zhong (Eucommia ulmoides) toward various lipid peroxidation models in vitro. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 1998;46(10):3952–3957. doi: 10.1021/jf9800458.
2. Zhang Q., Su Y.-Q., Yang F.-X., Peng J.-N., Li X.-H., Sun R.-C. Antioxidative activity of water extracts from leaf, male flower, raw cortex and fruit of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. Forest Products Journal.2007;57(12):74–
3. Kwon S.-H., Lee H.-K., Kim J.-A., et al. Neuroprotective effects of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. Bark on amyloid beta25–35-induced learning and memory impairments in mice. Neuroscience Letters.2011;487(1):123–127. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2010.10.042
4. Nakazawa Y., Takeda T., Suzuki N., et al. Histochemical study of trans-polyisoprene accumulation by spectral confocal laser scanning microscopy and a specific dye showing fluorescence solvatochromism in the rubber-producing plant, Eucommia ulmoides Oliver.
Planta. 2013;238(3):549–560. doi: 10.1007/s00425-013-1912-2
5. Kulomaa A., Sirén H., Riekkola M.-L. Identification of antioxidative compounds in plant beverages by capillary electrophoresis with the marker index technique. Journal of Chromatography A. 1997;781(1-2):523–532. doi: 10.1016/s0021-9673(97)00357-9
