Coptis chinensis

Chinese goldthread
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Ranunculales
Family:	Ranunculaceae
Genus:	Coptis
Species:	C. chinensis
Binomial name
Coptis chinensis Franch.[1]

The Chinese goldthread (Coptis chinensis) is a species of goldthread native to China.

Etymology

• Coptis chinensis Franch. var. chinensis^[2]
  • (syn. Coptis teeta Wallich var. chinensis Finet & Gagnepain)^[2]

Chemical constituents

The rhizomes of Coptis chinensis are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine and serve as a source for the isoquinoline alkaloids berberine^[3], palmatine, hydrastine, and coptisine among others.^[4]

Traditional uses

Coptis chinensis is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine, where it is called duǎn è huánglián (Chinese: 短萼黄连). In Chinese medicine it clears heat and drys dampness, 'purging fire to eliminate toxin'.

Pharmacology

A 1996 study found Coptis chinensis to be effective against the gastrointestinal parasite Blastocystis hominis.^[5] A study in rats suggested Coptis and berberine (the primary alkaloid in Coptis) are potential agents for preventing intestinal injury.^[6] Berberine may also have anti-atherosclerosis effects.^[7] Berberine and basic extacts of Coptis chinensis also have demonstrated positive effects in an animal model of neurodegeneration.^[8] Animal studies suggest Coptis chinensis rhizomes may help with the pain of irritable bowel syndrome.^[9]. In rats, it significantly reduced the serotonin (5HT) concentration from the distal colon.^{[citation needed]}

Other uses

Because of the strong coloring quality of berberine, it has been traditionally used as a dye, especially for wool and other fibers.^[10]

Footnotes

1. ^ USDA ARS/GRIN
2. ^ ^{a b} Coptis chinensis in BoDD – Botanical Dermatology Database
3. ^ Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases [1]
4. ^ Complementary and Alternative Healing University (Chinese Herbology)
5. ^ Yang, Q.; Singh, Mulkit; Yap, E. H.; Ng, G. C.; Xu, H. X.; Sim, K. Y. (1996), "In vitro response of Blastocystis hominis against traditional Chinese medicine", Journal of Ethnopharmacology 55 (1): 35–42, doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(96)01471-7, PMID 9121165 
6. ^ Preventive effect of Coptis chinensis and berberine on intestinal injury in rats challenged with lipopolysaccharides Zhang Q., Piao X.-L., Piao X.-S., Lu T., Wang D., Kim S.W. [In Process] Food and Chemical Toxicology 2011 49:1 (61-69)
7. ^ Wu M., Wang J., Liu L.-T.,"Advance of studies on anti-atherosclerosis mechanism of berberine ," Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine 2010 16:2 (188-192)
8. ^ Zhang J., Yang J.-Q., He B.-C., Zhou Q.-X., Yu H.-R., Tang Y., Liu B.-Z."Berberine and total base from rhizoma coptis chinensis attenuate brain injury in an aluminum-induced rat model of neurodegenerative disease" Saudi Medical Journal 2009 30:6 (760-766)
9. ^ Tjong Y, Ip S, Lao L, Fong HH, Sung JJ, Berman B, Che C.,"Analgesic effect of Coptis chinensis rhizomes (Coptidis Rhizoma) extract on rat model of irritable bowel syndrome." J Ethnopharmacol. 2011 Apr 12;
10. ^ Berberine and Huangbo: Ancient Colorants and Dyes (British Library Studies in Conservation Science)

See also

• Chinese herbology

External links

• Coptis chinensis Photos (Google Images)
• Complementary and Alternative Healing University (Chinese Herbology)
• List of Chemicals in Coptis chinensis (Dr. Duke's Databases)