Radix Morindae Officinalis
- Name
- Origin
- Where Does It Grow?
- Nature and Flavor
- Identified Active Components / Major Chemical Constituents
- Drug Actions in TCM
- Traditional Uses in TCM
- Pharmacological Actions
- Toxicology
- Administration and Dosage
- Adverse Effect, Side Effects and Cautions
- References
Name
Latin Name: Radix Morindae Officinalis
Common Name: Morinda root
Scientific Name: Morinda officinalis How
Chinese Name: 巴戟天
Pinyin Name: ba ji tian
Origin
The dried root of Morinda officinalis How; family Rubiaceae.1
Where Does It Grow?
Morinda root is mainly distributed in Guangdong, Guangxi and Fujian provinces of China.1,2
Nature and Flavor
Morinda root is sweet and pungent in flavor, slightly warm in nature, and mainly manifests its therapeutic actions in the kidney and liver meridians.1
Identified Active Components / Major Chemical Constituents
Identified active ingredients of morinda root include: rubiadin, rubiadin-1-methyl-ether, methyl-ether from Radix et Rhizoma Rhei, monotropein, tetraacetylasperuloside, β-sitosterol, palmitic acid, nonadecalkane4-7 and dimethyl-alkane8. Morinda root also contains monosaccharides, polysaccharides, resin, vitamin C, 11 free amino acids and 17 amino acid hydrolysates.8
The cortex of Radix Morindae Officinalis (pic.a) contains reducing sugars and glycosides, cardiac glycosides, flavones, triterpenoid steroids, amino acids, organic acids, micro-anthraquinone and metal elements. More abundant microelements include potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg). The lead content in the cortex is lower than in the root core (pic.b). Other elements like iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn) and 16 others are higher in the cortex than in the root core.10-11
Drug Actions in TCM
Morinda root invigorates kidney yang, strengthens bones and tendons, and dispels dampness and wind.1Traditional Uses in TCM
Morinda root is often used to treat reproductive dysfunction associated with kidney deficiency; and also bi syndrome. 1
•Kidney yang deficiency leads to impotence, infertility, menstruation disorders, and cold pain in the lower abdomen.
For a declined sexual function, morinda root can be combined with epimedium, processed rhemannia rhizome, Chinese wolfberry and palmleaf raspberry fruit; for infertility, morinda root can be combined with ginseng, Chinese wolfberry, cistanche and Chinese yam; for irregular menses and pain in the lower abdomen, morinda root can be combined with cassia bark, medicinal evodia fruit and galangal.
•Liver and kidney deficiencies that have tendon and bone wasting or weakness, soreness and pain in the lower back and knees.
Morinda root can be combined with cyathula root, mulberry mistletoe, cassia bark, epimedium and snack products to relieve the painful symptoms. For active joint problem, morinda root can work with eucommia bark and seven-lobed yam rhizome to inhibit the inflammatory reactions of the joint.
Modern TCM also uses morinda root to treat problems due to declined estrogen or adrenalin level.
Pharmacological Actions
1. Effects on Reproductive Organs
Animal studies
A 30g/kg/day dose of Radix Morindae Officinalis decoction was administered to castrated mice once a day for 15 days. Results showed that the weights of levator ani muscles, seminal vesicle and prostate were not significantly effected.11
Female rats, administered with 20g/kg Radix Morindae Officinalis decoction twice a day by gavage for five days, showed increments in weights of the ovaries, uterus and pituitary glands. Blood luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were unchanged. However, the binding affinity of HCG/LH receptors and the number of HCG/LH receptors were both increased. Consequently, the value for dissociation constant (Kd) increased when compared to the control group. When rats were injected with LRH, LH secretion was enhanced. After 90 minutes, plasma LH level raised to 51.20ng/ml.12
2. Effects on Stress Response
Animal studies
When 20g/kg Radix Morindae Officinalis decoction was given once per day to mice by gavage, for 11 consecutive days, it was shown that the body weights of the mice were increased, and that they could swim for a longer duration of time.11
When 5, 10 and 50g/kg/day of Radix Morindae Officinalis infusion was given for eight consecutive days, it did not have the ability to prolong the lifespan of rats whose adrenal glands had been previously removed.13
3. Effects on Thymus Glands
Animal studies
When immature mice were orally administered with 64 and 80g/kg of Radix Morindae Officinalis warms water extracts, or 60g/kg of an ethanol extract, or injected i.p. with 10g/kg of a warm water extract once a day for four consecutive days, it was noticed that their mammary glands became atrophic.13 However, when mature mice were administered 20g/kg Radix Morindae Officinalis decoction by gavage once a day for 11 days, the thymus gland weight and white blood cell count increased. Radix Morindae Officinalis was also able to restore depressed white cell counts in gamma-radiated mice.11
Toxicology
Acute toxicity: Mice were fed with 50g/kg Radix Morindae Officinalis decoction four times a day. The accumulated dose was 250g/kg. Mice were then observed for three days. No animal death was observed.11
Genotoxicity: Using the SOS chromotest (a genotoxicity test using an E. coli tester strain), it was shown that Radix Morindae Officinalis decoction had no mutagenic or genotoxic effects on Escherichia Coli PQ37 DNA.11
Administration and Dosage
For decoction, the usual dose of morinda root is 10～15g.
Adverse Effect, Side Effects and Cautions
Individuals who are yin vacuity with internal heat should not take morinda root. The herb is also not recommended for kids.
References
- Lui Daiquan, ed. Chinese Medicine. Shanghai Scientific and Technical Publishers, Jun-2000.
- Li Jiashi, ed. Chinese Medicine Identification. Shanghai Scientific and Technical Publishers, Feb-2000.
- Wu Yiluo. Bancao Congxin (New Compilation of Materia Medica). 1757AD.
- Li Sai, ed. Study of chemical ingredients of in Radix Morindae Officinalis, China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 1991; 16(11):675.
- Zhou Faqing, et al. Study of chemical ingredients of in Radix Morindae Officinalis, Yixue Tongbao 1986; 21(6):373.
- Chen Yucheng, et al. Study of chemical ingredients of in Radix Morindae Officinalis, Zhongyao Tongbao 1987; 12(10):37.
- Wang Yanfang, et al. Study of chemical ingredients of in Radix Morindae Officinalis, Zhiwu Xuebao 1986; 28(5):566.
- Li Sai, et al. Study of chemical ingredients of in Radix Morindae Officinalis with GC-MS computer integration, Proprietary Chinese Medicine 1990; 12(10):33.
- Li Sai, et al. Ingredients comparison between the cortex and core of Radix Morindae Officinalis, Zhongyao Tongbao 1990; 12(10):33.
- Li Sai, et al. Study on the chemical ingredients in Radix Morindae Officinalis, Study on Proprietary Chinese Medicine 1990; 12(10):33.
- Qiao Zhisheng, et al. Comparison of pharmacological activities of different Radix Morindae Officinalis species, Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine 1991; 11(7):415.
- Ma Rou, et al. The effects of paired and single ingredient Chinese Medicine on the hematopoietic cells, Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine 1984:4(9):533.
- Shen Daoxiu, et al. Study of Chinese herbal medicine Radix Morindae Officinalis, Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine 1985; 5(3):192.
- Quoted in "Wang BX ed. Modern Pharmacological studies on Chinese Medicine. Tianjin Scientific Technology Publishing, 1999: 1255-1256"
