Glehnia littoralis.  北 沙 參 Běi shā shēn   Coastal glehnia root   Family: Umbelliferae    
Sha shen has two types- Northern- Bei sha shen and Southern- Nan sha shen
Nature- cool     FLAVOR: Sweet, slightly bitter
FUNCTIONS
GROUP: Herbs that Tonify Yin
1. Nourish Yin.
2. Lubricate the Lungs, relieve cough.[1]
3. Nourish Stomach fluids.[1]
INDICATIONS
1. Dry cough due to Dry Lungs.[1]
2. Dehydration and thirst in Hot diseases.[1]
PREPARATIONS: Dried root  4.5-9 g.[1]
    
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-inflammatory activity of methylene chloride fraction from Glehnia littoralis extract via suppression of NF-kappa B and mitogen-activated protein kinase activity.
Yoon T, Cheon MS, Lee AY, Lee DY, Moon BC, Chun JM, Choo BK, Kim HK.
Abstract
Glehnia littoralis (Umbelliferae) has been used traditionally in Korean, Japanese, and Chinese medicine for the treatment of immune-related diseases; however, its anti-inflammatory activity and underlying mechanism remain to be defined. We investigated the anti-inflammatory effect and inhibitory mechanism on inflammation by the methylene chloride fraction from Glehnia littoralis extract (MCF-GLE), which was more effective than Glehnia littoralis extract (GLE). MCF-GLE inhibited 12-O-Tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced inflammation in an inflammatory edema mouse model. Also, MCF-GLE strongly inhibited the releases of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and significantly suppressed the mRNA and protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, MCF-GLE suppressed NF-kappaB activation and IkappaB-alpha degradation. MCF-GLE also attenuated the activation of ERK and JNK in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicate that MCF-GLE has an inhibitory effect on the in vivo and in vitro inflammatory reaction and is a possible therapeutic agent. Our results suggest that the anti-inflammatory properties of MCF-GLE may result from the inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators, such as NO, PGE(2), TNF-alpha, and IL-1beta via suppression of NF-kappaB- and mitogen-activated protein kinases-dependent pathways.
PMID: 20093788 J Pharmacol Sci. 2010;112(1):46-55. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Constituents of the underground parts of Glehnia littoralis.
Yuan Z, Tezuka Y, Fan W, Kadota S, Li X.
Abstract
From the underground parts of Glehnia littoralis FR. Schmidt ex Miquel (Umbelliferae), 26 compounds, including two new lignan glycosides [giehlinosides A (1) and B (2)], a new neolignan glycoside [glehlinoside C (3)], and a new phenylpropanoid glycoside 14-[beta-D-apiofuranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxyl-3-methoxypropiophenone (4)1, were obtained and their structures were determined by analysis of their spectral data. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging assay disclosed quercetin (8), isoquercetin (9), rutin (10), chlorogenic acid (11), and caffeic acid (24) as the major antioxidative constituents in this crude drug.
PMID: 11824588 Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 2002 Jan;50(1):73-7. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 participate in anti-inflammatory activity of imperatorin from Glehnia littoralis.
Huang GJ, Deng JS, Liao JC, Hou WC, Wang SY, Sung PJ, Kuo YH.
Abstract
In this study, we have investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of imperatorin, a compound isolated from the roots of Glehnia littoralis, using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mouse macrophage (RAW264.7) in vitro and a carrageenan (Carr)-induced mouse paw edema model in vivo. When RAW264.7 macrophages were treated with imperatorin together with LPS, a significant concentration-dependent inhibition of NO production was detected. Western blotting revealed that imperatorin blocked the protein expression of iNOS and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages significantly. In the anti-inflammatory test, imperatorin decreased the paw edema at 4 and 5 h after Carr administration and increased the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase in paw edema. We also demonstrated that imperatorin significantly attenuated the malondialdehyde level in the edema paw at the fifth hour after Carr injection. Imperatorin decreased the NO and tumor necrosis factor and prostaglandin E2 levels on serum at 5 h after Carr injection. Western blotting revealed that imperatorin decreased Carr-induced iNOS and COX-2 expressions at 5 h in edema paw. An intraperitoneal injection treatment with imperatorin also diminished neutrophil infiltration into sites of inflammation as did indomethacin. The results suggested that imperatorin had anti-inflammatory effects in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and Carr-injected mice, respectively. In addition, inhibition of elevated iNOS and COX-2 protein expression as well as neutrophil infiltration of Carr-injected paws may be involved in the beneficial effects of imperatorin.
PMID: 22188242 DOI: 10.1021/jf204297e J Agric Food Chem. 2012 Feb 22;60(7):1673-81. doi: 10.1021/jf204297e. Epub 2012 Feb 8. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Glehnia littoralis Root Extract Induces G0/G1 Phase Cell Cycle Arrest in the MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cell Line.
de la Cruz JF, Vergara EJ, Cho Y, Hong HO, Oyungerel B, Hwang SG.
Abstract
Glehnia littoralis (GL) is widely used as an oriental medicine for cough, fever, stroke and other disease conditions. However, the anti-cancer properties of GL on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells have not been investigated. In order to elucidate anti-cancer properties and underlying cell death mechanisms, MCF-7cells (5 X 104/well) were treated with Glehnia littoralis root extract at 0-400 ug/ml. A hot water extract of GL root inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Analysis of the cell cycle after treatment of MCF-7 cells with increasing concentrations of GL root extract for 24 hours showed significant cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase. RT-PCR and Western blot analysis both revealed that GL root extract significantly increased the expression of p21 and p27 with an accompanyingdecrease in both CDK4 and cyclin D1. Our reuslts indicated that GL root extract arrested the proliferation of MCF-7 cells in G1 phase through inhibition of CDK4 and cyclin D1 via increased induction of p21 and p27. In summary, the current study showed that GL could serve as a potential source of chemotherapeutic or chemopreventative agents against human breast cancer.
PMID: 26745047 Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2015;16(18):8113-7. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Antibacterial and antifungal polyine compounds from Glehnia littoralis ssp. leiocarpa.
Matsuura H, Saxena G, Farmer SW, Hancock RE, Towers GH.
Abstract
Glehnia littoralis F. Schmidt ssp. leiocarpa (Mathias) Hult. (Apiaceae), a species of ethnopharmacological interest in British Columbia, has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Antibacterial and antifungal compounds include two hitherto unreported polyine compounds, (9Z)1,9-heptadecadiene-4,6-diyne-3,8,11-triol and (10E)1,10-heptadecadiene-4,6-diyne-3,8,9-triol.
PMID: 8693041 DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-957872 Planta Med. 1996 Jun;62(3):256-9. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov