Torreya grandis. T. nuciferae.   Torrya   Family: Taxaceae
Torreya grandis and T. nuciferae are closely related.[3]


榧子 Fěi zi  Seed
Nature: Neutral  FLAVOR: Sweet, pleasant yet biting   CHANNEL: Stomach, Large Intestine, Lung
FUNCTIONS
GROUP: Anthelmintics
1. Anthelmintic.[2,3] Kills worms.[1]
2. Eliminate accumulations. Laxative.[1] Eliminates marasmus caused stoppages.[1]
INDICATIONS
1. Ascariasis and taeniasis. Abdominal pain due to intestinal worms.[1] Malnutrition in children, abdominal pain due to parasites.
2. Constipation due to dryness of intestine. Constipation associated with hemorrhoids.[1]
PREPARATIONS: Decoction: Dry ripe Seed  9-15 g.[1,2]  or 10-20 seeds.[1]
For parasitic infestation; 15-30 g (fried) for chewing, or prepared as pill or powder.[3]
For constipation: Fresh sample prepared as powder.[3]

PART USED: Dried plant
Nature- neutral   FLAVOR: Sweet
FUNCTIONS
GROUP: Anthelmintics
1. Eliminate accumulations, expel worms.[2]
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

Effects of Japanese torreya (Torreya nucifera) seed oil on lipid metabolism in rats.
Endo Y, Osada Y, Kimura F, Fujimoto K.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
We investigated effects of Japanese torreya (Torreya nucifera) seed oil containing non-methylene-interrupted polyunsaturated fatty acid of all-cis-5,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid (sciadonic acid) on rat lipid metabolism.
METHODS:
Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed the experimental diets based on AIN-93 containing 10% corn, soybean, or torreya oil for 4 wk. Blood and tissues were recovered from each rat, and concentrations of triacylglycerol, cholesterol, and phospholipid in plasma and liver were determined by enzymatic assays. Moreover, fatty acid composition was analyzed for triacylglycerol, cholesterol ester, and phospholipid isolated from plasma and liver lipids by gas liquid chromatography.
RESULTS:
Plasma triacylglycerol level in rats fed torreya oil was lower than that in rats fed corn or soybean oil, although there were no significant differences in plasma cholesterol and phospholipid levels in all rats. Liver triacylglycerol level was also lower in rats fed torreya oil, whereas liver cholesterol and phospholipid levers were same for all rats. omega-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids such as 22:6 (omega-3) were lower in plasma and liver lipids of torreya and corn oil groups, whereas omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids such as 22:4 (omega-6) and 22:5 (omega-6) were higher. Considerable amounts of sciadonic acid were detected in cholesterol ester, triacylglycerol, and phospholipid in plasma and liver of rats fed torreya oil.
CONCLUSION:
These observations suggest that torreya seed oil can modify lipid metabolism, resulting in lower triacylglycerol levels in plasma and liver of rats.
PMID: 16600818 DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2005.08.012 Nutrition. 2006 May;22(5):553-8. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Antioxidant activities of abietane diterpenoids isolated from Torreya nucifera leaves.
Lee WS, Kim JR, Han JM, Jang KC, Sok DE, Jeong TS.
Abstract
Investigation on antioxidant compounds from the ethanolic extracts of Torreya nucifera leaves resulted in the isolation of abietane diterpenoids, a known 18-methylesterferruginol (1) and a new 18-dimethoxyferruginol (2). The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were elucidated on the basis of their spectroscopic analyses. Compounds 1 and 2 inhibited the Cu2+-mediated, 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane)hydrochloride-mediated and 3-morpholinosydnonimine-1-mediated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation in the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances assay as well as the macrophage-mediated LDL oxidation. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited the potent antioxidant activities in the conjugated diene production, relative electrophoretic mobility, and apoB-100 fragmentation on copper-mediated LDL oxidation. Compound 1 also suppressed nitric oxide production and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells.
PMID: 16848519 DOI: 10.1021/jf060896c  J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Jul 26;54(15):5369-74. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Src/Syk/IRAK1-targeted anti-inflammatory action of Torreya nucifera butanol fraction in lipopolysaccharide-activated RAW264.7 cells.
Kim SH, Park JG, Hong YD, Kim E, Baik KS, Yoon DH, Kim S, Lee MN, Rho HS, Shin SS, Cho JY.
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:
Seed of Torreya nucifera (L.) Siebold & Zucc is used to treat several diseases in Asia. Reports document that T. nucifera has anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative activities. In spite of numerous findings on its pharmacological effects, the understanding of the molecular inhibitory mechanisms of the plant remains to be studied. Therefore, we aimed to explore in vitro anti-inflammatory mechanisms of ethyl acetate fraction (Tn-EE-BF) prepared from the seed of T. nucifera in LPS-stimulated macrophage inflammatory responses.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
For this purpose, we measured nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in LPS-stimulated macrophages. Additionally, using RT-PCR, luciferase reporter gene assay, immunoblotting analysis, and kinase assay, the levels of inflammatory genes, transcription factors, and inflammatory signal-regulatory proteins were investigated. Finally, the constituent of Tn-EE-BF was identified using HPLC.
RESULTS:
Tn-EE-BF inhibits NO and PGE2 production and also blocks mRNA levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in a dose dependent manner. Tn-EE-BF reduces nuclear levels of the transcriptional factors NF-κB (p65) and AP-1 (c-Jun and FRA-1). Surprisingly, we found that Tn-EE-BF inhibits phosphorylation levels of Src and Syk in the NF-κB pathway, as well as, IRAK1 at the protein level, part of the AP-1 pathway. By kinase assay, we confirmed that Src, Syk, and IRAK1 are suppressed directly. HPLC analysis indicates that arctigenin, amentoflavone, and quercetin may be active components with anti-inflammatory activities.
CONCLUSION:
Tn-EE-BF exhibits anti-inflammatory activities by direct inhibition of Src/Syk/NF-κB and IRAK1/AP-1.
PMID: 27178629 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2016.05.008 J Ethnopharmacol. 2016 Jul 21;188:167-76. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2016.05.008.  Epub 2016 May 10. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Antioxidant activity and chemical composition of Torreya grandis cv. Merrillii seed.
Shi H, Wang H, Wang M, Li X.
Abstract
Torreya grandis cv. Merrillii is an endemic tree species in China, seeds of which are used as a popular snack, possessing beneficial effects on preventing angiosclerosis and coronary heart diseases. In this study, antioxidant activity and chemical constituents of T. grandis cv. Merrillii seed (TGMS) were investigated. The antioxidant activity of different fractions and the ethanol extract was evaluated using 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and lipid peroxidation assays. The oil, CH2Cl2 and n-BuOH fractions, and ethanol extract of TGMS all showed antioxidant activities in these models, especially the DPPH one. By GC-MS analysis, twenty-seven constituents were identified from the oil fraction of TGMS. The total content of phenolic compounds in the CH2Cl2 and n-BuOH fractions and ethanol extract was also determined by the Folin-Ciocalteau method as 17.6, 21.6 and 12.9 microg/mg, respectively. In addition, analysis of the CH2Cl2 fraction yielded four phenolic compounds: 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, 4-methoxy pyrocatechol, coniferyl aldehyde, 4-hydroxy cinnamaldehyde, and two steroids, beta-sitosterol and daucosterol. These results provide scientific support for the empirical use of TGMS as a medicinal food for cardiovascular diseases.
PMID: 19967992  Nat Prod Commun. 2009 Nov;4(11):1565-70. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov


Composition and Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Kernel Oil from Torreya grandis, Carya Cathayensis, and Myrica R ubra.
Ni L, Shi WY.
Abstract
In this study, we measured the composition and free radical scavenging activity of several species of nuts, namely, Torreya grandis, Carya cathayensis, and Myrica rubra. The nut kernels of the aforementioned species are rich in fatty acids, particularly in unsaturated fatty acids, and have 51% oil content. T. grandis and C. cathayensis are mostly produced in ZheJiang province. The trace elements in the kernels of T. grandis and C. cathayensis were generally higher than those in M. rubra, except for Fe with a value of 64.41 mg/Kg. T. grandis is rich in selenium (52.91-68.71 mg/Kg). All three kernel oils have a certain free radical scavenging capacity, with the highest value in M. rubra. In the DPPH assay, the IC50 of M. rubra kernel oil was 60 μg/mL, and OH was 100 μg/mL. The results of this study provide basic data for the future development of the edible nut resources in ZheJiang province.
PMID: 24734074 PMCID: PMC3985239  Iran J Pharm Res. 2014 Winter;13(1):221-6. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov