Rou Cong Rong herb extract by Ray
Sahelian, M.D.
February 13 2016
The dried fleshy stems of Cistanche deserticola in known in China as Rou Cong Rong. In Japan, the species used is Cistanche salsa. Rou cong rong also grows in Mongolia. According to one Chinese researcher, Rou Cong Rong is one of the commonly used drugs in Chinese traditional medicine. It is used to reinforce the vital function of kidney and to influence fertility, leukorrhea and metrorrhagia in women.
What's in rou cong rong?
Several compounds have been isolated from Cistanche deserticola including
cistanosides, beta-sitosterol, tubuloside, daucosterol, succinic acid,
triacontanol, acteoside, betaine phenylethanoid glycosides, and polysaccharose.
Rou Cong Rong is an officinal plant that grows in arid or
semi-arid areas. The dried fleshy stem has been generally used as a tonic in
China and Japan for many years. Modern pharmacology studies have since
demonstrated that it possesses broad medicinal functions, especially for use in
hormone regulation, aperient, immunomodulatory, neuroprotective, antioxidative,
anti-apoptotic, anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory, anti-fatigue activities and
the promotion of bone formation. The phenylethanoid glycosides (PhGs) have been
identified as the major active components.
What does the research say?
Studies in rodents show that administration of Rou cong rong improves energy levels.
Mice given Rou cong rong are able to swim for longer periods. Many of the compounds
found in Rou cong rong have antioxidant properties and protect the liver from
toxins. Rou cong rong extracts can enhance the ability of learning, memorizing,
anti-oxidation, and improve immune function. However, I could not find any studies evaluating the role of Rou cong rong
in menstrual disorders in women or its effects on
fertility in humans.
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Review article
Am J Chin Med. 2012. Cistanche
deserticola Y. C. Ma, "Desert ginseng": a review. Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma
(C. deserticola, "Rou Cong Rong" in Chinese) is an officinal plant that grows in
arid or semi-arid areas. The dried fleshy stem of C. deserticola has been
generally used as a tonic in China and Japan for many years. Modern pharmacology
studies have since demonstrated that C. deserticola possesses broad medicinal
functions, especially for use in hormone regulation, aperient, immunomodulatory,
neuroprotective, antioxidative, anti-apoptotic, anti-nociceptive,
anti-inflammatory, anti-fatigue activities and the promotion of bone formation.
The phenylethanoid glycosides presented in C. deserticola have been identified
as the major active components.
Side effects of Rou Cong Rong
Increased body temperature has been noted which may limit the use of Rou cong rong.
Another potential side effect is blurred
vision that can last a few hours and
can be annoying. Individuals report that they have difficulty reading small
print for a few hours.
Increased body temperature
would make it unpleasant to take this
herb on days when it is hot and humid. Blurring of vision and sleepiness are potential
setbacks to the use of high dose Rou cong rong. Long term studies determining
benefits and risks are not available.
Rou Cong Rong research
Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity caused by Cistanche deserticola
in rodents.
Lin LW. China Medical College, 91 Hsieh Shih Road, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2002.
In the present study, the rhizomes of Cistanche deserticola
were extracted with 50% ethanol and isolated orderly by ethyl acetate, n-butanol
and water. The analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of Cistanche deserticola
extract and three layers were evaluated in several animal models. Cistanche
deserticola extracts effectively inhibited writhing response induced by 1%
acetic acid and biphasic licking responses caused by 1% formalin, and also
reduced the edema induced by 1% carrageenan but not zymosan. These results revealed that
rou cong rong has analgesic and
anti-inflammatory effects, and the butanolic and aqueous layers are mainly
active constituents. Furthermore, the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of
the butanolic layer of rou cong rong extract were not related to opioid
receptors and immune system.
Anti-oxidative action of the glycosides of Cistanche in the tissue of mice
Wang X, Li L. Xinjiang Medical College, Wulumuqi.
Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 1998
To study the anti-oxidative action of rou cong rong in the tissues of mice.
Contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and
lipofuscin in the heart, liver, brain and kidney of mice were measured: It was found that the
rou cong rong had a
significantly higher SOD activity and lower MDA contents in brain and kidney
than that in control group.
The results suggest that Cistanche could increase the antioxidative action in vivo
significantly and prevent lipoperoxidative damages in tissues.
Hepatoprotective activity of phenylethanoids from Cistanche deserticola.
Xiong Q. Toyama
Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Japan.
Planta Med. 1998.
Four phenylethanoids isolated from the stems of rou cong rong, acteoside, 2'-acetylacteoside, isoacteoside and tubuloside B,
significantly suppressed NADPH/CCl4-induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver
microsomes.
Kidney reinforcing and yang supporting action of
cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma before and after preparation
He W. China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing.
Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 1996
The weights of seminal vesicle and prostate gland of castrated young rats
were significantly increased by administration of alcoholsoluble extract from
decoction of rou cong rong. The weights of testes, seminal vesicle and prostate
gland in mice and rats were also increased by the extract. The results showed no statistical
differences between crude and prepared drugs. The maximum oral tolerance for
mouse was 40 g/kg.
Rou cong rong plant is shaped somewhat like a cross between a pineapple and a pine cone,
with thick, fleshy stems and large, yellow flowers that grow smaller as the
plant’s apex. Rou cong rong is collected in the spring, dried in the sun and then
sliced for use.
For a list of herbs used in Chinese medicine, see
Chinese Herbs.