Gleditsia sinensis 皂 角 Zào jiǎo Honey locust  Family: Leguminosae
皂 角 刺  Zào jiǎo cì  Spine/thorn  
Nature: Warm    FLAVOR:  Pungent, Acrid, salty   CHANNELS: Liver, Stomach, Large intestine, Lung
FUNCTIONS
GROUP: Antitussive and expectorants- Resolving Cold Phlegm
1. Dispels Phlegm,[1] loosens congestion.[1]
2. Reduces swelling and dissipates pus.[4] Pull out poison, facilitate eruption of carbuncles.[2] Reduces abscesses.[4]
3. Relieves constipation.[1] Kills parasites.[4]
4. Invigorates the Blood.[4] Expels Wind.[4]
INDICATIONS
1. Early stages of swollen sores to encourage suppuration, or induces those already formed to burst.[4] Carbuncle unable to erupt, tinea.[2]
2. Stroke and lockjaw.[1] Acute numbness of the throat.[1] Epilepsy.[1]
3. Leprosy and ringworm.[4]
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Pregnancy and when ulcers have already burst.[4]
PATENT COMBINATIONS
PREPARATIONS: Dried spine or thorn 3-9 g.[2] Decoction- legumes or thorns from stem 3-9 g.[1] A suitable amount may be crushed and used for blowing into the nostrils.[1]
        
皂 荚 Zào jiá  Fruit, Soap bean    
The pods have been used in China for at least 2000 years as a detergent.[3] 
Nature- warm    FLAVOR:  Pungent.   TOXICITY: Slightly toxic.
FUNCTIONS
GROUP: Antitussive and expectorants- Resolving Cold Phlegm
1. Disperses Phlegm.[4]
2. Open up the orifices and revives the Spirit.[2,4] Expel sputum, counteract toxic effects.[2]
3. Dissipates lumps and reduces swellings.[4]
4. As a suppository, unblocks the bowels and expels roundworms.[4]
INDICATIONS - This herb has a strong Phlegm dispelling effect.[4]
1. Cough with sputum obstructing, asthma.[2] Phlegm obstruction, phlegm nodules, and coughing or wheezing with copous sputum that is difficult to experctorate.[4]
2. Sudden loss of consciousness, facial paralysis or seizures in apoplexy, due to excessive Phlegm.[2,4] Fainting.[2]
3. Initial stages of abscesses and boils, or bascesses in which there is difficulty with the discharge of pus.[4]
4. External use for carbuncle and skin eruptions.[2] Constipation and internal obstruction due to roundworms, as a suppository.[4]
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Pregnancy.[4] Qi or Yin deficiency, or hemoptysis.[4] Overdosage can cause vomiting and diarrhea.[4]
COMBINATIONS
PREPARATIONS: Dried ripe fruit 1-1.5 g.[2] 0.6-1.5 g in pill and powder form only.[4] Also applied topically.[4] Good quality is thick, full, hard, dark purple and shiny.
    
HABITAT: Found growing along valley streams or level land.
DESCRIPTION: Deciduous tree up to 15 m in height. Stem has thick thorns, cone-shaped. Leaves; alternate, evenly pinnate compound once, leaflets long oval-ovate, apexes obtuse or sharp, bases cuneate, oftentimes inclined, margins finely serrated. Blooms; in spring, axillary yellowish white flowers forming racemose inflorescences. Legumes; flat, length about 30 cm. 
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.
Constituents
Research

Ethanol extract of Gleditsia sinensis thorn suppresses angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo
Jin-Mu Yi, Jong-Shik Park, Se-Mi Oh, Jun Lee, Jinhee Kim, Dal-Seok Oh, Ok-Sun Bang and No Soo Kim
Abstract
Background
Gleditsia sinensis thorns have been widely used in traditional Korean medicine for the treatment of several diseases, including obesity, thrombosis, and tumor-related diseases. The aim of the study is to determine the antiangiogenic effect of Gleditsia sinensis thorns in vitro and in vivo in a bid to evaluate its potential as an anticancer drug.
Methods
Ethanol extract of Gleditsia sinensis thorns (EEGS) were prepared and used for in vitro and in vivo assays. In vitro antiangiogenic effect of EEGS was determined in HUVEC primary cells by cell migration and tube formation assays. In vivo antiangiogenic effect of EEGS was determined by measuring vessel formation and vascular endothelial cells migrating into the implanted matrigels in nude mice. The angiogenesis-related proteins of which expression levels were altered by EEGS were identified by proteomic analysis.
Results
EEGS exerted a dose-dependent antiproliferative effect on HUVEC cells without significant cytotoxicity. Angiogenic properties, such as cell migration and tube formation, were significantly inhibited by EEGS in a dose-dependent manner. New vessel formation was also suppressed by EEGS, as determined by the directed in vivo angiogenesis assays in nude mice. EEGS reduced the expression of proangiogenic proteins, endothelin 1 and matrix metallopeptidase 2, in HUVEC cells.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that EEGS can inhibit angiogenesis by down-regulating proangiogenic proteins, and therefore it should be considered as a potential anticancer drug targeting tumor-derived angiogenesis. biomedcentral.com

Gleditsia sinensis fruit extract is a potential chemotherapeutic agent in chronic and acute myelogenous leukemia
Larry Ming Cheung Chow, Chung Hin Chui, Johnny Cheuk On Tang, Ivy Tuang Ngo Teo, Fung Yi Lau, Gregory Yin Ming Cheng, Raymond Siu Ming Wong, Thomas Wai Tong Leung, Ka Bik Lai, Mabel Yin Chun Yau, Dean Gou, Albert Sun Chi Chan
Abstract
The anti-leukemia activity of the saponin rich Gleditsia sinensis Lam. fruit extract (GSE) was investigated on cancer cell lines and bone marrow cells obtained from consented patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) during presentation. The growth inhibitory activity of the extract was determined by [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium] (MTS) assay. Colony formation assay was performed to investigate the regeneration potential. Cellular morphology change was studied. Apoptosis was demonstrated by DNA electrophoresis, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and flow cytometry. The mean concentration to inhibit the cell growth by 50% (MTS50) was 18+/-1.6 micro g/ml for K562 CML cell line and 12+/-1.3 micro g/ml for HL-60 acute promyelocytic leukemia cell line. Patient samples showed a mean MTS50 of 13-28 micro g/ml. Non-malignant hematological disorder bone marrow samples showed a mean MTS50 from 45 to 53 micro g/ml. Loss of regeneration property after treatment with GSE of these two cancer cell lines were confirmed by colony formation assay. GSE was able to induce cell shrinkage in K-562. DNA laddering was observed by incubating the leukemia cells with GSE. RT-PCR demonstrated that the pro-apoptic gene bax was induced while the anti-apoptic gene bcl-2 and cell cycle active gene PCNA were reduced. Flow cytometric analysis showed that the apoptotic effect of GSE on leukemia cell line was time- and dose-dependent. Thus GSE might be potentially used as a chemotherapeutic drug to treat patients with acute and chronic myelogenous leukemia.
Oncol Rep Sep-Oct 2003;10(5):1601-7. PMID: 12883747 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Aqueous extract of Gleditsia sinensis Lam. fruits improves serum and liver lipid profiles and attenuates atherosclerosis in rabbits fed a high-fat diet
Peng Lai, Jun-Rong Du, Meng-Xue Zhang, Xi Kuang, Yong-Jie Li, Ya-Shu Chen, Yao He
Abstract
Ethnopharmacological relevance: Gleditsia sinensis Lam. has been used in the traditional Chinese medicine as a chief ingredient of many polyherbal formulations for the treatment of obesity and thrombosis.
Aim of the study: To evaluate the effects of Gleditsia sinensis Lam. fruit aqueous extract (GAE) on hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis in Japanese white rabbits on a high fat diet. Materials and methods: Rabbits were divided into four groups: the normal control with a normal diet, and high-fat diet-fed model group and GAE-treated groups supplemented with GAE (6 or 12 mg/kg/day, p.o.), respectively. The groups fed high-fat diets were given i.v. with bovine serum albumin (BSA) on the 4th week to induce atherosclerosis. The serum lipid profile, including triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), was determined on the 0th, 4th, 8th and 14th week, respectively. And the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and creatine kinase (CK) were measured simultaneously. At the end of the experiment, the rabbits were sacrificed, and the atherosclerotic plaques as well as the histopathological changes of aorta and liver were assessed by oil-red or HE staining, respectively, and the aorta and liver lipid profiles were also assayed.
Results: Results showed that the prophylactic treatment with GAE could significantly decrease the lipid levels of serum, aorta and liver, attenuate aortic atherosclerosis and improve aortic remodeling without the significant liver and muscle toxicity.
Conclusion: The present findings suggest that GAE can effectively attenuate the atherosclerotic at least through anti-hyperlipidemic activity and thus has the therapeutic potential in treating hyperlipidemia-related cardiovascular diseases.
J Ethnopharmacol 2011 Oct 11;137(3):1061-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2011.06.023. Epub 2011 Jun 21. PMID: 21718773 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2011.06.023 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Gleditsia sinensis thorn extract inhibits human colon cancer cells: the role of ERK1/2, G2/M-phase cell cycle arrest and p53 expression
Se-Jung Lee, Keerang Park, Sang-Do Ha, Wun-Jae Kim, Sung-Kwon Moon
Abstract
The thorns of Gleditsia sinensis are used as a medicinal herb in China and Korea. However, the mechanisms responsible for the antitumor effects of the water extract of Gleditsia sinensis thorns (WEGS) remain unknown. HCT116 cells treated with the WEGS at a dose of 800 μg/mL (IC₅₀) showed a significant decrease in cell growth and an increase in cell cycle arrest during the G2/M-phase. G2/M-phase arrest was correlated with increased p53 levels and down-regulation of the check-point proteins, cyclinB1, Cdc2 and Cdc25c. In addition, treatment with WEGS induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38 MAP kinase and JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinases). Moreover, inhibition of ERK by treatment of cells with the ERK-specific inhibitor PD98059 blocked WEGS-mediated p53 expression. Similarly, blockage of ERK function in the WEGS-treated cells reversed cell-growth inhibition and decreased cell cycle proteins. Finally, in vivo WEGS treatment significantly inhibited the growth of HCT116 tumor cell xenografts in nude mice with no negative side effects, including loss of body weight. These results describe the molecular mechanisms whereby the WEGS might inhibit proliferation of colon cancer both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that WEGS has potential as an anticancer agent for the treatment of malignancies.
Phytother Res 2010 Dec;24(12):1870-6. doi: 10.1002/ptr.3214. PMID: 20564491 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.3214 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Anti-breast cancer triterpenoid saponins from the thorns of Gleditsia sinensis
Jinqian Yu, Gang Li, Yan Mu, Honglei Zhou, Xiao Wang, Peng Yang
Abstract
One new triterpenoid saponin (1), as well as six known ones (2-7), were isolated from the ethanol extract of the thorns of Gleditsia sinensis. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis in conjunction with chemical evidence. Cytotoxic activity of compounds 1-6 was evaluated against human breast cancer MCF 7 cells in vitro by the MTT method. Our results revealed moderate activities for compounds 1-6 with IC50 values of 18.43, 30.47, 18.46, 10.02, 30.76, and 17.32 μM, respectively. Furthermore, compounds 1, 3, 4, and 6 induced apoptosis in MCF 7 cell, with 1 and 6 causing late apoptosis of MCF 7 cells, while 3 and 4 acting oppositely.
Nat Prod Res 2019 Aug;33(16):2308-2313. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2018.1443092. Epub 2018 Feb 23. PMID: 29473437 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2018.1443092 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Gleditsia sinensis thorn extract inhibits the proliferation and migration of PDGF‑induced vascular smooth muscle cells
Sung-Soo Park, Wun-Jae Kim, Sung-Kwon Moon
Abstract
The thorns of Gleditsia sinensis have been used to prevent or treat numerous diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism of the ethanol extract of Gleditsia sinensis thorns (EEGS) on platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)‑treated vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). EEGS treatment was found to inhibit DNA synthesis in PDG\F-treated VSMCs in a dose-dependent manner, without cell toxicity. These inhibitory effects were associated with G1-phase cell-cycle arrest, which was caused by the decreased expression of cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and the upregulation of p27KIP1 expression in PDGF-stimulated VSMCs. Among the pathways examined, EEGS treatment was observed to only inhibit the PDGF‑induced phosphorylation of Akt. In addition, EEGS treatment suppressed the migration and invasion of VSMCs in the presence of PDGF as determined by wound-healing and Matrigel™ invasion assays. Furthermore, zymographic and western blot analyses revealed that EEGS treatment suppressed matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 expression in PDGF‑treated VSMCs, which was attributed to a reduction in the binding activities of nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF‑κB), activator protein (AP)‑1 and specificity protein (Sp)‑1. These results demonstrate that EEGS induces p27KIP1‑mediated G1-phase cell-cycle arrest, reduces Akt phosphorylation and prevents MMP‑9 expression by decreasing the binding activities of NF‑κB, AP‑1 and Sp‑1 in PDGF-treated VSMCs, thus resulting in growth inhibition and the suppression of migration and invasion. These results may suggest a novel perspective for the use of EEGS in the treatment and prevention of vascular proliferative diseases.
Mol Med Rep 2014 Oct;10(4):2031-8. doi: 10.3892/mmr.2014.2422. Epub 2014 Jul 28. PMID: 25069874 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2014.2422 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

One new flavanocoumarin from the thorns of Gleditsia sinensis
Jinqian Yu, Yunxia Xian, Gang Li, Daijie Wang, Honglei Zhou, Xiao Wang
Abstract
One new flavanocoumarin (1), as well as six known flavonoids (2-7), was isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the thorns of Gleditsia sinensis. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic measurements and comparison with data reported in literatures. Cytotoxic activities of compounds 1-6 were evaluated against human liver cancer SK-hep-1 cells in vitro by the MTT method, with compound 1 displaying moderate activity (IC50 of 62.53 μM). Furthermore, compound 1 could increase the number of apoptosis cells in a concentration-dependent manner.
Nat Prod Res 2017 Feb;31(3):275-280. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2016.1233406. Epub 2016 Oct 3. PMID: 27690627 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2016.1233406 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The fruits of Gleditsia sinensis Lam. inhibits adipogenesis through modulation of mitotic clonal expansion and STAT3 activation in 3T3-L1 cells
Ji-Hye Lee, Younghoon Go, Bonggi Lee, Youn-Hwan Hwang, Kwang Il Park, Won-Kyung Cho, Jin Yeul Ma
Abstract
Ethnopharmacological relevance: Gleditsia sinensis Lam. (G. sinensis) has been used in Oriental medicine for tumor, thrombosis, inflammation-related disease, and obesity.
Aim of the study: The pharmacological inhibitory effects of fruits of G. sinensis (GFE) on hyperlipidemia have been reported, but its inhibitory effects on adipogenesis and underlying mechanisms have not been elucidated. Herein we evaluated the anti-adipogenic effects of GFE and described the underlying mechanisms.
Materials and methods: The effects of ethanol extracts of GFE on adipocyte differentiation were examined in 3T3-L1 cells using biochemical and molecular analyses.
Results: During the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells, GFE significantly reduced lipid accumulation and downregulated master adipogenic transcription factors, including CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-α and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, at mRNA and protein levels. These changes led to the suppression of several adipogenic-specific genes and proteins, including fatty acid synthase, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1, stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1, and acetyl CoA carboxylase. However, the inhibitory effects of GFE on lipogenesis were only shown when GFE is treated in the early stage of adipogenesis within the first two days of differentiation. As a potential mechanism, during the early stages of differentiation, GFE inhibited cell proliferation by a decrease in the expression of DNA synthesis-related proteins and increased p27 expression and suppressed signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) activation induced in a differentiation medium.
Conclusions: GFE inhibits lipogenesis by negative regulation of adipogenic transcription factors, which is associated with GFE-mediated cell cycle arrest and STAT3 inhibition.
J Ethnopharmacol 2018 Aug 10;222:61-70. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2018.04.020. Epub 2018 Apr 22. PMID: 29689351 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2018.04.020 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Antiasthmatic effects of Gleditsia sinensis in an ovalbumin-induced murine model of asthma
Mee-Young Lee, In-Sik Shin, Chang-Seob Seo, Heykyung Ha, Hyeun-Kyoo Shin
Abstract
This study evaluated the antiasthmatic effects of Gleditsia sinensis ethanolic extract (GSEE) and its underlying mechanisms, using an in vivo murine model of asthma. Female BALB/c mice were sensitized, challenged with ovalbumin, and then examined for asthmatic reactions. The results showed that GSEE exerted profound inhibitory effects on the accumulation of eosinophils in the airways and reduced the levels of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and immunoglobulin E (IgE) in BALF and plasma. Gleditsia sinensis ethanolic extract also suppressed the production of reactive oxygen species in BALF and inflammatory infiltration, in a dose-dependent manner, and it inhibited goblet-cell hyperplasia in lung tissue. Thus, GSEE shows antiasthmatic effects in a murine model of allergic asthma, which appeared to be mediated partially by the reduction of oxidative stress and airway inflammation. These results indicate that GSEE could be an effective novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of allergic asthma.
Int J Toxicol 2011 Oct;30(5):528-37. doi: 10.1177/1091581811412398. Epub 2011 Sep 9. PMID: 21908652 DOI: 10.1177/1091581811412398 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Inhibitory effects of Gleditsia sinensis fruit extract on telomerase activity and oncogenic expression in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Wing K Tang, Chung H Chui, Sarwat Fatima, Stanton H L Kok, Kai C Pak, Tian M Ou, Kin S Hui, Mei M Wong, John Wong, Simon Law, S W Tsao, King Y Lam, Philip S L Beh, Gopesh Srivastava, Kwok P Ho, Albert S C Chan, Johnny C O Tang
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that the anomalous fruit extract of Gleditsia sinensis (GSE) exhibited apoptotic properties in various solid and non-solid tumors in vitro. However, the inhibitory actions of GSE on oncogenic expression and telomerase activity in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) have not been studied before. In the present study, the anti-cancer effects of GSE were demonstrated in three ESCC cell lines (HKESC-1, HKESC-2 and SLMT-1) by MTS and anchorage-independent clongen-icity assays, expression studies on oncogenes at 11q13 (CCND1, INT2, FGF4 and EMS1) and real-time quantitative telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay to show the inhibitory effect of GSE on telomerase in ESCC. The means of MTS50 of GSE for the ESCC cell lines and non-tumor NIH 3T3 cells were 21 and 163 microg/ml respectively. The anchorage-independent clongenicity assay showed that SLMT-1 cells lost their colony-forming potential which was dose-dependent to GSE. Moreover, GSE demonstrated dose-dependent suppression on the expression of INT2, EMS1 and FGF4, and inhibition of telomerase activity in the ESCC cell lines. Our overall results thus provide the first evidence that the anti-cancer effects of GSE on ESCC involve the suppression of oncogenic expression and inhibition of telomerase activity. Our findings also offer a new opportunity for the future development of GSE as a novel anti-cancer agent for ESCC and possibly for other cancers.
Int J Mol Med 2007 Jun;19(6):953-60. PMID: 17487429 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Antimutagenic constituents from the thorns of Gleditsia sinensis
Jae-Chul Lim, Jong Hee Park, Milos Budesinsky, Alexander Kasal, Yeong-Hwan Han, Byung-Soo Koo, Seung-Il Lee, Dong-Ung Lee
Abstract
Antimutagenic activity-guided fractionation of an extract prepared from the thorns of Gleditsia sinensis LAM. led to the isolation of one triterpenoid and four steroids, which were identified as D:C-friedours-7-en-3-one (1), stigmast-4-ene-3,6-dione (2), stigmastane-3,6-dione (3), stigmasterol (4), and beta-sitosterol (5). Triterpenoid 1 was found for the first time in a natural source and the steroids 2-5 were first isolated from this plant. Stigmasterol was the most active antimutagen, showing 51.2% and 64.2% reduction of the induction factor against the mutagens MNNG and NQO, respectively, in the SOS chromotest. Some NMR data of the steroids 2 and 3 obtained have to be revised.
Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 2005 May;53(5):561-4. doi: 10.1248/cpb.53.561. PMID: 15863930 DOI: 10.1248/cpb.53.561 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Anti-angiogenic potential of Gleditsia sinensis fruit extract
Larry Ming Cheung Chow, Chung Hin Chui, Johnny Cheuk On Tang, Fung Yi Lau, Mabel Yin Chun Yau, Gregory Yin Ming Cheng, Raymond Siu Ming Wong, Paul Bo San Lai, Thomas Wai Tong Leung, Ivy Tuang Ngo Teo, Filly Cheung, Dean Guo, Albert Sun Chi Chan
Abstract
Blood supply plays a crucial role in solid tumour development and leukaemogenesis. It has been suggested that blocking of angiogenesis could be possible in cancer therapy. We have demonstrated the antiproliferative activity of Gleditsia sinensis fruit extract (GSE) on various human solid tumour cancer cell lines as well as leukaemia cell lines and primary cultured leukaemia cells obtained from leukaemia patients. However, the antiangiogenic potential of GSE has not been demonstrated. Here we demonstrated that GSE could reduce vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA expression in dose- and time course-dependently in MDA-MB231 breast cancer and HepG2 hepatoblastoma cell lines as measured by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay further showed that GSE could reduce the VEGF secretion from various cancer cell lines including MDA-MB231, HepG2, HL-60 (acute promyelocytic leukaemia) and eleven primary cultured leukaemia cells obtained from acute myelogenous leukaemia patients. In vivo chick chorioallantoic membrane assay illustrated that GSE could reduce the angiogenic activity of basic fibroblast growth factor. Taken together, the information suggested that GSE could be potentially used as an angiogenic inhibitor in both solid tumour and leukaemia therapy.
Int J Mol Med 2003 Aug;12(2):269-73. PMID: 12851730 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov