Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cuscuta chinensis Lam. (or C. epithymum L.) (Convovulaceae)

(Syns.: C. carinata R.Br.; C. chinensis var. carinata (R. Br.) Engelm.; C. martiana Mak.)

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Handbook of 200 Medicinal Plants

Abstract

A yellowish , rootless, apparently leafless, thread-like perennial parasitic vine, often found on many trees in temperate and tropical regions, especially China and India. Cuscuta species known as dodder , have been used in traditional medicines of eastern and south Asian countries as liver and kidney tonic. C. chinensis is used in the traditional medicines of China, Korea, Pakistan, Vietnam, India, Thailand and other countries as an antiaging, anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent, and aphrodisiac. Ibn al-Baitar described Aftimun as flowers of a hard plant citing Dioscorides. He says the best is the one that is strongly aromatic and reddish in color. Referencing to Avicenna, he mentioned it beneficial for epilepsy, provided it is not boiled for long, and also for the treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding. In Unani medicine, it is regarded anti-inflammatory, carminative, anthelmintic, emolient, and purgative of phlegm and black bile; and is used in the treatment of insanity, melancholy, and epilepsy. It was one of the most commonly used drugs in ancient times in China, and is classified as a superior drug in Chinese medicine. Dried ripe seeds, known as Tu-si-zi , are commonly used in TCM to nourish and improve liver and kidney conditions. Water extract of the whole plant is also used for nocturnal emissions and prescribed for impotence in China. The plant contains flavonoids, saponins, sterols/triterpenes and tannins; alkaloids, coumarins and quinones are reportedly absent. Hot water extract of the whole plant produced CNS depressant activity in mice, protected liver against CCl4-hepatotoxicity in rats, and produced anti-inflammatory activity against carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats. Water extract of the whole plant was also immunomodulatory, and markedly delayed the appearance, and retarded growth of skin papillomas and carcinomas in mice. Aqueous extract as a multicomponent prescription, administered to AIDS patients to replenish the Ying and Yin of the heart, spleen and kidney, resulted in improvement of the patients.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 299.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 379.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Akbar S, Nisa M, Tariq M. CNS depressant activity of Cuscuta chinensis Lam. Int J Crude Drug Res. 1985;23:91–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Bao X, Wang Z, Fang J, Li X. Structural features of an immunostimulating and antioxidant acidic polysaccharide from the seeds of Cuscuta chinensis. Planta Med. 2002;68:237–43.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Donnapee S, Li J, Yang X, et al. Cuscuta chinensis Lam.: a systematic review on ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and pharmacology of an important traditional herbal medicine. J Ethnopharmacol. 2014;157:292–308.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Ge QS, Zhang YW, Shen LZ. Induction of ovulution with kidney-replenishing herbal drugs: analysis of 95 cases. CTC. 1982;23:19–22.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Guo C, Zhang Z, Zheng H, Shu Z, Li C. Studies of the herbal and botanical origins of seman Cuscutae. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 1990;15:138–40, 189 (Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Hajimehdipoor H, Kondori BM, Amin GR, et al. Development of a validated HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of flavonoids in Cuscuta chinensis Lam. by ultraviolet detection. Daru. 2012;20:57.

    Google Scholar 

  7. He XH, Yang WZ, Meng AH, et al. Two new lignan glycosides from the seeds of Cuscuta chinensis. J Asian Nat Prod Res. 2010;12:934–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Jafarian A, Ghannadi A, Mohebi B. Cytotoxic effects of chloroform and hydroalcoholic extracts of aerial parts of Cuscuta chinensis and Cuscuta epithymum on Hela, HT29 and MDA-MB-468 tumor cells. Res Pharm Sci. 2014;9:115–22.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Jin X, Li J, Yan M. Flavonoids in the seed of Cuscuta chinensis Lam. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 1992;17:292–4 (Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Kim MS, Lee NG, Lee JH, Byun SJ, Kim YC. Immunopotentiating activity of water extract of some crude drugs. Korean J Pharmacog. 1988;19:193–200.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Liao JC, Chang WT, Lee MS, et al. Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of Cuscuta chinensis seeds in mice. Am J Chin Med. 2014;42:223–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Liu ZY, Yang YG, Zheng B. Effect of improving memory and inhibiting acetylcholinesterase activity by invigorating-qi and warming-yang recipe. Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1993;13:675–6, 646 (Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Masamoto Y, Iida S, Kuto M. Inhibitory effect of Chinese crude drugs on tyrosinase. Planta Med. 1980;40:361–5.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Mobli M, Qaraaty M, Amin G, et al. Scientific evaluation of medicinal plants used for the treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding by Avicenna. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2015;292:21–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Nisa M, Akbar S, Tariq M. Anti-inflammatory activity of Cuscuta chinensis. Fitoterapia. 1985;56:315–7.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Nisa M, Tariq M, Akbar S. Effect of Cuscuta chinensis Lam. (Aftimun) on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage. IRCS Med Sci. 1985;13:150.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Nisa M, Akbar S, Tariq M, Hussain Z. Effect of Cuscuta chinensis water extract on 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced skin papillomas and carcinomas in mice. J Ethnopharmacol. 1986;18:21–31.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Raju N, Sakthivel KM, Kannan N, Vinod Prabhu V, Guruvayoorappan C. Cuscuta chinensis ameliorates immunosuppression and urotoxic effect of cyclophosphamide by regulating cytokines—GM-CSF and TNF-Alpha. Appl Biochem Biotechnol. 2015;176:742–57.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Rizk AM, Heiba HI, Ma’Ayergi HA, Batanouny KH. Constituents of plants growing in Qatar. Fitoterapia. 1986;57:3–9.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Shin S, Lee YJ, Kim EJ, et al. Effect of Cuscuta chinensis on renal function in ischemia/reperfusion-induced acute renal failure rats. Am J Chin Med. 2011;39:889–902.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Sun K, Zhao C, Chen XF, et al. Ex vivo relaxation effect of Cuscuta chinensis extract on rabbit corpus cavernosum. Asian J Androl. 2013;15:134–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Sun SL, Guo L, Ren YC, et al. Antiapoptosis effect of polysaccharide isolated from the seeds of Cuscuta chinensis Lam. on cardiomyocytes in aging rats. Mol Biol Rep. 2014;41:6117–24.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Umehara K, Nemoto K, Ohkubo T, et al. Isolation of a new 15-membered macrocyclic glycolipid lactone, Cuscutic Resinoside A from the seeds of Cuscuta chinensis: a stimulator of breast cancer cell proliferation. Planta Med. 2004;70:299–304.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Wang Z, Fang JN, Ge DL, Li XY. Chemical characterization and immunological activities of an acidic polysaccharide isolated from the seeds of Cuscuta chinensis Lam. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2000;21:1136–40.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Wang Z, Fang JN. Studies on the polysaccharide H3 of Cuscuta chinensis Lam. Yao Xue Xue Bao. 2001;36:192–5 (Article in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  26. Woo WS, Lee EB, Chang I. Biological evaluation of Korean medicinal plants. II. Yakhak Hoe Chi. 1977;21:177–83.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Yang HM, Shin HK, Kang YH, Kim JK. Cuscuta chinensis extract promotes osteoblast differentiation and mineralization in human osteoblast-like MG-63 cells. J Med Food. 2009;12:85–92.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Yang L, Chen Q, Wang F, Zhang G. Antiosteoporotic compounds from seeds of Cuscuta chinensis. J Ethnopharmacol. 2011;135:553–60.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Ye M, Li Y, Yan Y, Liu H, Ji X. Determination of flavonoids in Semen Cuscutae by RP-HPLC. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2002;28:621–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Ye M, Yan Y, Ni X, Qiao L. Studies on the chemical constituents of the herba of Cuscuta chinensis. Zhong Yao Cai. 2001;24:339–41 (Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  31. Ye M, Yan YN, Qiao L, Ni XM. Studies on chemical constituents of Cuscuta chinensis. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2002;27:115–7 (Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  32. Yen FL, Wu TH, Lin LT, et al. Nanoparticles formulation of Cuscuta chinensis prevents acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Food Chem Toxicol. 2008;46:1771–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Yen FL, Wu TH, Lin LT, Lin CC. Hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of Cuscuta chinensis against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2007;111:123–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Yu J, Chen KJ. Clinical observations of AIDS treated with herbal formulas. Int J Orien Med. 1989;14:189–93.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Zhen GH, Jiang B, Bao YM, Li DX, An LJ. The protect effect of flavonoids from Cuscuta chinensis in PC12 cells from damage induced by H2O2. Zhong Yao Cai. 2006;29:1051–5 (Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Stockton, CA, USA

    Shahid Akbar

Authors
  1. Shahid Akbar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shahid Akbar .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Akbar, S. (2020). Cuscuta chinensis Lam. (or C. epithymum L.) (Convovulaceae). In: Handbook of 200 Medicinal Plants. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16807-0_85

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation