Achyranthes bidentata.  怀 牛 膝 Huái niú xī  Two toothed Amaranthus   Family: Amaranthaceae  
Similar to Cyathula officinalis- Chuan niu xi

PART USED: Roots
Nature- neutral    FLAVOR: Bitter, sour/acrid
FUNCTIONS- This is a guiding herb that will direct the benefits of other herbs in formulas to the legs.
GROUP: Regulate Blood and removing Stasis
1. Tone up Liver and Kidney.[1,2]
2. Strengthen tendons, muscles and bone.[1,2]
3. Promotes blood circulation.[2]  Promotes menstrual regularity.[1]
4. Brings down blood pressure.[2] Diuretic.[1]
5. Drains pus and resolves bruises.[1]
ACTIONS: Antirheumatic, anodyne.[3]
INDICATIONS
1. Kidney deficiency- Sore pain across the loins and in the knees, spasms of lower limbs. Beri-beri, rheumatism pains.[1]  Impotency.[1]
2. Suppression of menstruation.[2] Amenorrhea.[1]
3. Hypertension.[2]
4. Diphtheria preventive.[1]
5. Enuresis, hematuria.[1] Urinary difficulties.[3]
6. Malaria fever.[3] Puerperal conditions and cutaneous diseases.[3]
PATENT COMBINATIONS
PREPARATIONS: Decoction.  Roots 15 g each dose.[1]  Dried root 4-9 g.[2] The variety with the large purple joints (pistillate one) is better than the variety with small green joints (staminate one) for medical purposes.[3]
  
PART USED: Stalk and leaves
FUNCTIONS- Similar to those of the root.
INDICATIONS
1. Chronic malarial and palludal poisoning (marsh poisoning).[3]
HABITAT: Grows wild along roadsides and waste places.
DESCRIPTION: Perennial herb. Height 40-90cm. Roots fine and long, dirt yellow. Stem; erect, spindle-shaped or oblong, nodes enlarged, young branches pubescent. Leaves; opposite, ovate or lanceolate, apexes acute, bases cuneate, margins intact, petioled. Flowers; in summer, growing from apical or axillary stem, small green, forming a spike inflorescence. Ascocarp; long rounded, containing 1 seed inside.
This is an Amaranteaceus plant, with greenish-purple stems, having large joints resembling the knee of an ox, whence the chinese name "ox-knee."
References
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Research

Anti-osteoporosis activity of a novel Achyranthes bidentata polysaccharide via stimulating bone formation.
Zhang S, Zhang Q, Zhang D, Wang C, Yan C.
Abstract
Achyranthes bidentata is an important Traditional Chinese Medicine for the treatment of osteoporosis. In this study, A. bidentata polysaccharide (ABPB), which was extracted with alkali from the root of A. bidentata at room temperature, significantly increased the bone mineral density, bone mineral content, trabecular thickness, trabecular number and biomechanical properties of ovariectomized (OVX) rats, indicating that ABPB had prominent curative effects on osteoporosis in OVX rats. A novel polysaccharide (ABPB-3) was purified from ABPB, and its structure was characterized as a repeating unit consisting of →4)-α-d-GalpA-(1→, →2,4)-α-l-Rhap-(1→, →5)-α-l-Araf-(1→, →2,3,5)-α-l-Araf-(1→, →3)-β-d-Galp-(1→, →3,4,6)-β-d-Galp-(1→, terminated with α-l-Araf, α-l-Rhap and β-d-Galp. Up to now, there were no literature reports relevant to the structure of ABPB-3. In the zebrafish model of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP), ABPB-3 significantly increased the relative fluorescence intensity of the skull bone mass in a concentration-dependent manner, indicating that it stimulated bone formation activity. Thus, ABPB and ABPB-3 have the potential to be used for the anti-osteoporosis medicine.
PMID: 29352921 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.12.070
Carbohydr Polym. 2018 Mar 15;184:288-298. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.12.070. Epub 2017 Dec 30. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Achyranthes bidentata polypeptides confer neuroprotection through inhibition of reactive oxygen species production, Bax expression, and mitochondrial dysfunction induced by overstimulation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors.
Shen H, Yuan Y, Ding F, Hu N, Liu J, Gu X.
Abstract
Achyranthes bidentata polypeptides (ABPP), the important constituents separated from the aqueous extract of Achyranthes bidentata, have been shown to attenuate N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced cell apoptosis in cultured hippocampal neurons through differential modulation of NR2A- and NR2B-containing NMDA receptors. The present study sought to investigate the possible mechanism underlying the neuroprotective effect of ABPP on NMDA-induced cell death. Western blot analysis and colorimetric enzymatic assay demonstrated that ABPP pretreatment inhibited NMDA-induced increase of Bax protein expression or caspase-3 activity in cultured hippocampal neurons. Fluorescence measurements after staining with 2,7-dichlorofluorescin diacetate and rhodamine 123 showed that ABPP treatment also reversed NMDA-induced intracellular radical oxygen species (ROS) elevation and mitochondrial membrane potential depression in cultured hippocampal neurons. Furthermore, the in vivo effects of ABPP on cerebral neuronal damage during focal ischemia-reperfusion were also investigated. In rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model, ABPP attenuated the increase in the neurological deficit and cerebral infarction induced by focal ischemia-reperfusion, showing in vivo neuroprotective effects. The results collectively suggest that ABPP might exert neuroprotective actions through inhibiting Bax protein expression, caspase-3 activity, ROS production, and mitochondrial dysfunction that are all caused by overstimulation of NMDA receptors.
PMID: 19774671 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.22221 J Neurosci Res. 2010 Feb 15;88(3):669-76. doi: 10.1002/jnr.22221. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Achyranthes bidentata polysaccharide suppresses osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption via inhibiting RANKL signaling.
Song D, Cao Z, Huang S, Tickner J, Li N, Qiu H, Chen X, Wang C, Chen K, Sun Y, Dong S, Xu J.
Abstract
Osteoclasts are highly differentiated multinucleated giant cells that play fundamental roles in bone resorption and in the pathogenesis of osteolytic conditions, such as osteoporosis and cancer-induced bone loss. Achyranthes bidentata polysaccharide (ABP) is a hydrophilic compound with anti-oxidation and anti-aging characteristics. The impact of ABP on RANKL-induced osteoclast formation and bone resorption has not been assessed, hence, in this study we investigated the effect of ABP on osteoclast formation and resorption in murine bone marrow derived osteoclasts. We found that ABP was able to suppress RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption activity at concentrations above 6.5 µM, while demonstrating no cytotoxicity at concentrations up to 10 µM. The actions of ABP were mediated through inhibition of RANKL-induced c-Fos and NFATc1 gene and protein expression. Furthermore, we found that ABP suppressed NFATc1 transcriptional activity, and the phosphorylation of MAPK pathways induced by RANKL. Collectively, ABP attenuates RANKL-mediated osteoclast activity and signaling, and might serve as a potential therapeutic candidate for preventing bone loss related diseases.
PMID: 29345352 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.26682 J Cell Biochem. 2018 Jun;119(6):4826-4835. doi: 10.1002/jcb.26682. Epub 2018 Mar 9. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The protective effects of Achyranthes bidentata root extract on the antimycin A induced damage of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells
Kwang Sik Suh, Young Soon Lee, and Eun Mi Choicorresponding author
Abstract
Achyranthes bidentata (A. bidentata) Blume is a medicinal herb with the property of strengthening bones and muscles and ensuring proper downward flow of blood in terms of the therapeutic theory of traditional medicine. In the present study, the effect of A. bidentata root extract (AE) on osteoblast function was investigated in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. AE caused a significant elevation of alkaline phosphatase activity, collagen synthesis, osteocalcin production, and mineralization in the cells (P < 0.05). AE also decreased the production of TNF-α, IL-6, and RANKL induced by antimycin A, mitochondrial electron transport inhibitor. Exposure of MC3T3-E1 cells to antimycin A caused significant reduction of cell viability and mineralization. However, pretreatment with AE prior to antimycin A exposure significantly reduced antimycin A-induced cell damage by preventing mitochondrial membrane potential dissipation, ATP loss, ROS release, and nitrotyrosine increase, suggesting that AE may be useful for protecting mitochondria against a burst of oxidative stress. Moreover, AE increased the phosphorylation of cAMP-response element-binding protein inhibited by antimycin A. Our study demonstrates that A. bidentata could significantly prevent osteoblast damage in aged patients.
Cytotechnology. 2014 Dec; 66(6): 925–935.
Published online 2013 Oct 10. doi: 10.1007/s10616-013-9645-4
PMCID: PMC4235941 PMID: 24113920 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The immunomodulatory effect of Achyranthes bidentata polysaccharides- Article in Chinese
Li ZK, Li DD.
Abstract
Achyranthes bidentata polysaccharides(ABPS) was extracted from the root of Achyranthes bidentata Blume with molecular weight of 1400. It composed of fructose and glucose residues. The molar ratio was 8.7:1.0. It was a water-soluble neutral polysaccharide of white powder in purity of 99.9%. The effect of ABPS 0.625 x 10(2)-2.00 x 10(3) mg.L-1 on lymphocyte proliferation to Con A on splenocytes from aged mice was evaluated to be about 1.11-3.26 folds in vitro. ABPS 1.00 x 10(3) mg.L-1 was shown to increase IL-2 production in Con A-stimulated aged mouse splenocytes from 6.7 +/- 1.0 u.ml-1 to 19.3 +/- 5.7 u.ml-1 in vitro. Sandwish-ELISA was used for the determination of TNF-alpha, TNF-beta and sIL-2R in cell suspension. The spectrophotometry with Griess reagent was used for the determination of NO in cell suspension. A method was developed for the determination of NOS activity in biological sample by HPLC. ABPS 50, 100 mg.kg-1 i.p. was found to markedly promote TNF-beta and NO release, but decrease sIL-2R production from Con A-stimulated aged rat splenocytes, the activity of NOS in those cells was increased. ABPS 100 mg.kg-1 i.p. elevated serum TNF-alpha and NO contents and the NOS activity induced by LPS 0.3 mg.kg-1 i.p. in aged rats. ABPS 50-800 mg.L-1 elevated TNF-alpha and NO production from PM phi and increased the NOS activity in PM phi in vitro, but showed no significant influence on TNF-alpha, NO release and on NOS activity induced by LPS 10 mg.L-1 for PM phi from aged rats. ABPS 100 mg.kg-1 i.p. elicited TNF-alpha, NO production and NOS activity for PM phi from aged rats, ABPS 100 mg.kg-1 i.p. showed a synergetic action with LPS 10 mg.L-1. When rats were treated with ABPS 50-800 mg.L-1 i.p., there was no significant difference on NO production on, and NOS activity in the cerebral cortex between those isolated from aged rats and those isolated from young rats. These results indicate that ABPS may prime and trigger M phi and has restorative effects on the deficiency of the immune system associated with aging in mice and rats.
PMID: 11596182 Yao Xue Xue Bao. 1997 Dec;32(12):881-7. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov