Psoralea, Bu Gu Zhi 补骨脂

Scurfpea
Bakuchi, Bakuci, Somaraji (Ayurveda)
Karpoogarisi, Karpokarici (Siddha)
Babchi (Unani)
Bu Gu Zhi (TCM)
So ma ra ja  སོ་མ་ར་ཇ་ ; Ba gu ji  བ་གུ་ཇི་ (Tibet)
Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, 1803

Psoralea corylifolia
(Photo by Biswarup Ganguly) (Wikimedia)

Botanical name:

Psoralea corylifolia (syn. Cullen corylifolium)

Parts used:

Seed

Temperature & Taste:

Warm, dry. Pungent, Sweet, Bitter

Classification:

N. Tonic

Uses:

1. Warms the Yang, Strengthens the Kidneys (TCM, Ayurveda):
-Impotence, Premature Ejaculation; Aphrodisiac
-frequent Urination; incomplete or dribbling urine; enuresis in children
-coldness or cold pain of the lower back and limbs; chronic back pain
-consolidates Essence
-‘Improves Sight and Hearing’ (Da Ming)
-‘Damaged and Decayed Bone Marrow’. (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
-‘functions of the Ming Men, warms the Dan Tian’ (Li Shi Zhen)
-‘Arthralgia and Numbness’ (Zhen Quan)
-Uterine Bleeding
-Threatened Miscarriage. (Ben Cao Gang Mu)

2. Warms the Yang, Strengthens the Spleen (TCM, Ayurveda):
-Chronic Diarrhea and chronic Indigestion from Cold Stomach and Spleen
-Cold-Phlegm-Damp Abdominal pain
-‘good for treating five overstrains and seven damages’ (Ben Cao Gang Mu)

3. Clears Phlegm, Stops Wheezing:
-Asthma from Wind and Phlegm (Ayurveda)
-disorders of the Throat and Lungs (Tibet)

4. Benefits Chronic Skin disease: (Ayurveda, Tibet, TCM)
-despite being classed as hot, it is important for Blood-heat skin disorders
-Eczema, Psoriasis, Vitiligo, Boils, Itchy red macules, Leprosy, Elephantiasis
-rough and discolored skin
-Scabies, Ringworm
-for skin diseases, seed powder can be taken, then the patient is exposed to sunlight.

5. Kills Worms

6. Externally:
-topically as a tincture to Alopecia
-Psoriasis, Eczema, Vitiligo (oil or tincture topically)
-Leucoderma (oil)

Dose:

1. When treating skin conditions, the powdered seeds are taken and the patient is exposed to sunlight or UV light for a given period each day.
Decoction: 3–9 grams
Powder: 1–3 grams (up to 9 grams daily);
Tincture (1:3): 3–15mls.

Comment:

Other traditional attributes given to Psoralea:
1. ‘Astringes the Spirit and Soul’ (Li Shi Zhen)
2. ‘links the Fire in the pericardium with that in the Ming Men’. (Li Shi Zhen)

Correctives:

1. Butter, Ghee, Oil
2. Its effect are corrected and enhanced with Walnut and Sesame seed. (Li Shi Zhen)

Preparation:

1. Dry-Fried Psoralea (Chao Bu Gu Zhi):
  Dry fry until yellowish but not burnt. This lessens the Bitter and Pungent nature, and makes it better to warms the Kidneys and stop Diarrhea. Some older sources have stated that the drug should always be lightly stir-fried before use.
2. Wine-prepared Psoralea:
  Soak the seed in wine overnight, then wash in water and dry in the sun. Lei Xiao recommended steaming after being steeped in alcohol and washed. This moderates its dry nature and slight toxicity.
3. Ginger-prepared Psoralea:
  In India the seed is purified by steeping in Ginger juice for 7 days, then drying.
4. Salt-Fried Psoralea (Yan Chao Bu Gu Zhi):
  Stand the fruit in salt water for a period, then dry fry or bake until dry. This leads the medicine to the Kidney, making it stronger to tonify and secure Yang Qi in the lower abdomen. Used for Incontinence, Urinary Frequency and Impotence.

Substitutes:

Cassia tora seed (Unani)

Main Combinations:

Cassia seed & Psoralea seed

1. Skin diseases:
i. Psoralea with Madder, Neem and Picrorhiza (Ayurveda)
ii. Obstinate skin diseases, Psoralea with Madder, Plumbago and Shilajit
2. Vitiligo, take Psoralea seed powder with a decoction of Belleric Myrobalan.
3. Ringworm, combine 1 part Sesame seed with 2 parts Psoralea (Ayurveda
4. Chronic Diarrhea from Cold and weak Kidneys:
i. Psoralea with Nutmeg and Chebulic Myrobalan (Ayurveda)
ii. Psoreala with Nutmeg (Er Shen Wan)
iii. Psoralea with Nutmeg and Costus Mu Xiang (Li Shi Zhen)
iv. Psoralea with Nutmeg, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi and Evodia Wu Zhu Yu. (TCM)
5. Urinary frequency:
i. Psoralea with Fennel seed (TCM)
ii. Psoralea with Dodder seed (Tu Si Zi) (TCM)
iii. Psoralea with Tribulus terrestris (Ayurveda)
iv. Psoralea with Chebulic Myrobalan and Tribulus terrestris (Ayurveda)
6. Male Infertility:
i. Psoralea with Withania and Sida cordifolia Bala (Ayurveda)
ii. Psoralea, Walnut, Ginseng, Dioscorea Shan Yao (TCM)
7. Impotence, Psoralea with Epimedium Yin Yang Huo
8. Kidney weakness with lower Back pain, Impotence and Premature Ejaculation:
i. Psoralea (1 part), Walnut (2 parts). Powder, mix with honey to an electuary. Take 1 spoonful every morning with wine or hot water. It warms and strengthens the Yang. Protracted taking makes one happy, improves eyesight, increase strength and promotes long life. (Su Song)
ii. Psoralea with Walnut, Eucommia Du Zhong
Iii. Psoralea, Walnut, Licorice (Azure Exellent Pills, from Chinese Materia Medica, Stuauoft)
9. Kidney deficiency:
i. with Spermatorrhea, Impotence, Lumbago, Psoralea, Rehmannia Shu Di Huang, Ginseng, Lycium Gou Qi Zi, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi
ii. with Impotence, cold and weak lower back and kness, Psoralea with Dodder seed (Tu Si Zi), Cornus Shan Zhu Yu, Walnut
10. Erectile Dysfunction, Psoralea with Fenugreek
11. Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy, Psoralea with Cornus Shan Zhu Yu
12. To nourish Dan Tian (‘Sea of Qi’), Psoralea (1 part) with Walnut (2 parts)
13. Osteoporosis, Psoralea, Eucommia Du Zhong, Walnut
14. Rheumatism, Psoralea with Atractylodes Bai Zhu, Zanthoxylum Hua Jiao, Fennel seed (Xiao Hui Xiang)
15. Cough, Wheezing, Psoralea with Long Pepper, Withania and Licorice (Ayurveda)
16. Tonic, and for Trauma and Wounds, Psoralea with Dodder seed (Tu Si Zi), Walnut, Frankincense, Myrrh, Aloeswood, powdered and made into pills with Honey. (Chinese Materia Medica, Stuauoft)
17. As an ointment for chronic Skin diseases, Psoralea with Turmeric, Barberry, Rock Salt, boiled in Coconut milk (Siddha)
18. Leprosy, Psoralea with Centella
19. Elephantiasis, an oil is prepared for topical application (Tibetan Medicine)

Major Formulas:

Wish-fulfilling Jewel (Bsam phel nor bu) (Tibetan)
Catechu 25 (Seng ldeng 25) (Tibetan)
Codonopsis 18 (Klu bdud bco brgyad) (Tibetan)
Oil for Skin Diseases (Siddha)
Si Shen Wan
Qing E Wan
Qi Bao Mei Ran Dan

Cautions:

1. Use with caution during Pregnancy, avoid large doses or long-term use.
2. Avoid in Hot / Bile constitutions or Yin deficiency
3. Use very cautiously in Liver disease
4. Photo-sensitization occurs with excess use.
5. Side effects may include nausea, vomiting, malaise, headache, purging, and gastric irritation.

Toxicity:

–A systematic review on the safety of Psoraleae Fructus: potential risks, toxic characteristics, underlying mechanisms and detoxification methods.
–Clinicopathological features of Bu Gu Zhi-induced liver injury, a long-term follow-up cohort study.
–[Safety evaluation and risk control measures of Psoralea corylifolia].
–Psoralen induces hepatic toxicity through PERK and ATF6 related ER stress pathways in HepG2 cells.
–Acute liver failure associated with Fructus Psoraleae: a case report and literature review.
–Embryotoxicity of Psoralea corylifolia L.: in vivo and in vitro studies.

Main Preparations used:

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‘Native works on Materia Medica describe the seeds as hot and dry, or according to some cold and dry, laxative, stimulant, and aphrodisiac. They are recommended in leprosy, and other chronic skin diseases which depend upon a vitiated state of the blood, and are given internally and applied externally as a plaster; they are also said to be useful in bilious affections and as an anthelmintic. Ainslie mentions their use in Southern India as a stomachic and deobstruent, and says that they are prescribed in lepra and other inveterate cutaneous affections. He gives Vakoochie as the Sanskrit name. Recently they have been extensively tried in Bombay by Bhao Daji and others as a remedy in leprosy, and I believe with some success. An oleature of Bawachi is prepared and sold by Messrs. Kemp and Co., of Bombay. The plant is a common weed in the Deccan and Bombay, and the, seeds are used in the Concan in making a perfumed oil which is applied to the skin. Dr. Kanny Loll Dey strongly recommends the oleo-resinons

extract of the seeds diluted with simple unguents as an application in Leucoderma. He says:— “After application for some days the white patches appear to become red or vascular; sometimes a slightly painful sensation is felt. Occasionally some small vesicles or pimples appear, and if these be allowed to remain undisturbed, they dry up, leaving a dark spot of pigmentary matter, which forms as it were a nucleus. From this point, as well as from the margin of the patch, pigmentary matters gradually develop, which ultimately coalesce with each other, and thus the whole patch disappears. It is also remarkable that the appearance of fresh patches is arrested by its application.”—(Phar. Journ., III. Ser., Sept. 24th 1881.) Several species of Psoralia have been used medicinally in America, and have been found to act as gentle, stimulating, and tonic nervines. (Stille and Maisch., Nat. Disp.)

GENERAL / REVIEW: –Psoralea corylifolia L.: a comprehensive review of its botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, quality control and pharmacokinetics. –Genus Psoralea: A review of the traditional and modern uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology. –Psoralea corylifolia L: Ethnobotanical, biological, and chemical aspects: A review. –The Chemical Constituents and Bioactivities of Psoralea corylifolia Linn.: A Review. –Phytochemical and Pharmacological Studies on the Genus Psoralea: A Mini Review. –Pharmacognostical evaluation of Psoralea corylifolia Linn. seed. –Therapeutic and Health Promoting Potential of Bakuchiol from Psoralea corylifolia: A Comprehensive Review. –Pharmacological Activities of Psoralidin: A Comprehensive Review of the Molecular Mechanisms of Action. –A Review of the Pharmacological Properties of Psoralen. PROCESSING –The Effect of Salt-Processed Psoralea corylifolia on Generative Organ Targeting. –Evaluation of the influence of salt processing on pharmacokinetics of psoralen and isopsoralen in Psoralea corylifolia L. –[Variation of 4 kinds of compounds in Psoralea corylifolia processed by different methods]. –[The influence of further processing on Psoralea corylifolia alcohol extracts and the content of psoralen and isopsoralen]. –[Comparation of constitutions between raw Psoralea corylifolia L. and processed one]. ANTIBACTERIAL –Exploration of Antimicrobial Ingredients in Psoralea corylifolia L. Seed and Related Mechanism against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. –Constituents of Psoralea corylifolia Fruits and Their Effects on Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. –[Chemical constituents from Psoralea corylifolia and their antioxidant alpha-glucosidase inhibitory and antimicrobial activities]. –Antibacterial compounds from the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia. ANTI-FUNGAL –Assessment of Antifungal Activity of Bakuchiol on Oral-Associated Candida spp. SKIN DISEASES –Applications of bakuchiol in dermatology: Systematic review of the literature. –Bakuchicin attenuates atopic skin inflammation. PSORIASIS –Assessment of anti-psoriatic activity of bakuchiol-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles-based gel: design, characterization, and mechanistic insight via NF-kB signaling pathway. –Enhanced anti-psoriatic efficacy and regulation of oxidative stress of a novel topical babchi oil (Psoralea corylifolia) cyclodextrin-based nanogel in a mouse tail model. VITILIGO –Fabrication of anti-vitiligo ointment containing Psoralea corylifolia: in vitro and in vivo characterization. CHOLESTEROL: –Anti-hyperlipidemia on rats in vivo and new compounds from the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia. OBESITY –Bavachin protects against diet-induced hepatic steatosis and obesity in mice. –Anti-hyperlipidemia on rats in vivo and new compounds from the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia. –Antiobesity Potential of Bioactive Constituents from Dichloromethane Extract of Psoralea corylifolia L. Seeds. –Corylin reduces obesity and insulin resistance and promotes adipose tissue browning through SIRT-1 and β3-AR activation. DIABETES –Bavachinin selectively modulates PPAR γ and maintains bone homeostasis in Type 2 Diabetes. –Anti-diabetic compounds from the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia. –Bavachin from Psoralea corylifolia Improves Insulin-Dependent Glucose Uptake through Insulin Signaling and AMPK Activation in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes. –Psoralea corylifolia L. seed extract ameliorates streptozotocin-induced diabetes in mice by inhibition of oxidative stress. –Protective effect of aqueous extract of seed of Psoralea corylifolia (Somraji) and seed of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (Methi) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat: A comparative evaluation. DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY –Isobavachalcone ameliorates diabetic nephropathy in rats by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway. –Psoralea corylifolia L. Seed Extract Attenuates Diabetic Nephropathy by Inhibiting Renal Fibrosis and Apoptosis in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mice. NEUROPROTECTIVE –Quantitative Analysis of Psoralea corylifolia Linne and its Neuroprotective and Anti-Neuroinflammatory Effects in HT22 Hippocampal Cells and BV-2 Microglia. –Neuroprotective effects of Psoralea corylifolia Linn seed extracts on mitochondrial dysfunction induced by 3-nitropropionic acid. –In vitro dopaminergic neuroprotective and in vivo antiparkinsonian-like effects of Delta 3,2-hydroxybakuchiol isolated from Psoralea corylifolia (L.). ANTI-DEPRESSANT –Upregulation of A20 and TAX1BP1 contributes to the anti-neuroinflammatory and antidepressant effects of bavachalcone. –Plant-derived natural medicines for the management of depression: an overview of mechanisms of action. –Antidepressant-like effects of psoralen isolated from the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia in the mouse forced swimming test. –Antidepressant-like effects of psoralidin isolated from the seeds of Psoralea Corylifolia in the forced swimming test in mice. ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE –Isobavachalcone ameliorates cognitive deficits, and Aβ and tau pathologies in triple-transgenic mice with Alzheimer’s disease. –Dietary Total Prenylflavonoids from the Fruits of Psoralea corylifolia L. Prevents Age-Related Cognitive Deficits and Down-Regulates Alzheimer’s Markers in SAMP8 Mice. CHRONIC DIARRHEA –Er Shen Wan extract reduces diarrhea and regulates AQP 4 and NHE 3 in a rat model of spleen-kidney Yang deficiency-induced diarrhea. INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE –Network pharmacology-based identification of bioavailable anti-inflammatory agents from Psoralea corylifolia L. in an experimental colitis model. MUSCULAR ATROPHY –Corylifol A from Psoralea corylifolia L. Enhances Myogenesis and Alleviates Muscle Atrophy. –Corylifol A ameliorates muscle atrophy by inhibiting TAOK1/p38-MAPK/FoxO3 pathway in cancer cachexia. RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS –A Metabolic Driven Bio-Responsive Hydrogel Loading Psoralen for Therapy of Rheumatoid Arthritis. –Investigation of the mechanism of Isobavachalcone in treating rheumatoid arthritis through a combination strategy of network pharmacology and experimental verification. –Isopsoralen ameliorates rheumatoid arthritis by targeting MIF.

OSTEOARTHRITIS: –Isobavachalcone ameliorates the progression of osteoarthritis by suppressing NF-κB signaling pathway. OSTEOPOROSIS: –Psoralen prevents the inactivation of estradiol and treats osteoporosis via covalently targeting HSD17B2. –Anti-Postmenopausal osteoporosis effects of Isopsoralen: A bioinformatics-integrated experimental study. –Constituents promoting osteogenesis from the fruits of Psoralea corylifolia and their structure-activity relationship study. –Therapeutic Anabolic and Anticatabolic Benefits of Natural Chinese Medicines for the Treatment of Osteoporosis. –A Network Pharmacology Approach for Uncovering the Osteogenic Mechanisms of Psoralea corylifolia Linn. –Mechanisms explaining the efficacy of psoralidin in cancer and osteoporosis, a review. PROMOTES FRACTURE HEALING –Psoralen accelerates bone fracture healing by activating both osteoclasts and osteoblasts. –Effect of Buguzhi (Psoralea corylifolia fruit) extract on bone formation. ESTROGENIC –Activation of Estrogen Receptor by Bavachin from Psoralea corylifolia. –Estrogenic activities of Psoralea corylifolia L. seed extracts and main constituents. –Phytoestrogens from Psoralea corylifolia reveal estrogen receptor-subtype selectivity. BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA –Psoralea corylifolia L. extract ameliorates benign prostatic hyperplasia by regulating prostate cell proliferation and apoptosis. ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION –Trigonella foenum-graecum L. and Psoralea corylifolia L. Improve Erectile Dysfunction in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats through Suppression of Oxidative Stress. SPERMATOGENESIS –Effects of Psoralea corylifolia on the cAMP-responsive element modulator (CREM) expression and spermatogenesis in rats. LEPROSY –Disease Burden and Current Therapeutical Status of Leprosy with Special Emphasis on Phytochemicals. CANCER –Bakuchiol: A Potential Anticancer Compound from Psoralea corylifolia Linn. –Psoralidin exerts anti-tumor, anti-angiogenic, and immunostimulatory activities in 4T1 tumor-bearing balb/c mice. –Mechanisms explaining the efficacy of psoralidin in cancer and osteoporosis, a review. –In vitro enhancement of psoralen as an important anticancer compound in Psoralea corylifolia through precursor feeding. –Cytotoxic constituents from Psoralea corylifolia –Screening Antitumor Compounds Psoralen and Isopsoralen from Psoralea corylifolia L. Seeds. BRAIN –Neobavaisoflavone sensitizes apoptosis via the inhibition of metastasis in TRAIL-resistant human glioma U373MG cells. BREAST –Flavonoids dimers from the fruits of Psoralea corylifolia and their cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cells. –Corylin suppresses metastasis of breast cancer cells by modulating miR-34c/LINC00963 target. –Phytoestrogen Bakuchiol Exhibits In Vitro and In Vivo Anti-breast Cancer Effects by Inducing S Phase Arrest and Apoptosis. –Effects of Psoralen as an Anti-tumor Agent in Human Breast Cancer MCF-7/ADR Cells. –Mechanism of cytotoxicity by Psoralea corylifolia extract in human breast carcinoma cells. –Psoralen inhibits bone metastasis of breast cancer in mice. COLORECTAL –Bavachin induces apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells through Gadd45a via the MAPK signaling pathway. –Psoralidin, a natural compound from Psoralea corylifolia, induces oxidative damage mediated apoptosis in colon cancer cells. –Isobavachalcone isolated from Psoralea corylifolia inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis via inhibiting the AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway in colorectal cancer cells. –Anti-cancer activity of Psoralea fructus through the downregulation of cyclin D1 and CDK4 in human colorectal cancer cells. GASTRIC –Anti‑tumor effects of bakuchiol on human gastric carcinoma cell lines are mediated through PI3K/AKT and MAPK signaling pathways. LUNG –Psorachromene induces apoptosis and suppresses tumor growth in NSCLC cells harboring EGFR L858R/T790M/C797S. –Bavachinin Induces G2/M Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis via the ATM/ATR Signaling Pathway in Human Small Cell Lung Cancer and Shows an Antitumor Effect in the Xenograft Model. –Two Novel Polysaccharides in Psoralea corylifolia L and anti-A549 Lung Cancer Cells Activity In Vitro. –Psoralidin induces autophagy through ROS generation which inhibits the proliferation of human lung cancer A549 cells. LIVER –Corylin Suppresses Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression via the Inhibition of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition, Mediated by Long Noncoding RNA GAS5. –Induction of apoptosis in human hepatocarcinoma SMMC-7721 cells in vitro by psoralen from Psoralea corylifolia. MULTIPLE MYELOMA –Bavachin induces the apoptosis of multiple myeloma cell lines by inhibiting the activation of nuclear factor kappa B and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3. OSTEOSARCOMA –Psoralidin inhibits osteosarcoma growth and metastasis by downregulating ITGB1 expression via the FAK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. –Psoralen inhibits the proliferation and promotes apoptosis through endoplasmic reticulum stress in human osteosarcoma cells. –Isolation and purification of psoralen and isopsoralen and their efficacy and safety in the treatment of osteosarcoma in nude rats. PANCREAS –Isobavachalcone Activates Antitumor Immunity on Orthotopic Pancreatic Cancer Model: A Screening and Validation. PROSTATE –Bakuchiol exhibits anti-metastasis activity through NF-κB cross-talk signaling with AR and ERβ in androgen-independent prostate cancer cells PC-3. –Enhanced TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in prostate cancer cells by the bioactive compounds neobavaisoflavone and psoralidin isolated from Psoralea corylifolia. SKIN –Bakuchiol suppresses proliferation of skin cancer cells by directly targeting Hck, Blk, and p38 MAP kinase. CANCER METASTASIS –Corylin suppresses metastasis of breast cancer cells by modulating miR-34c/LINC00963 target. –Psoralen inhibits bone metastasis of breast cancer in mice. CANCER CACHEXIA –Corylifol A ameliorates muscle atrophy by inhibiting TAOK1/p38-MAPK/FoxO3 pathway in cancer cachexia. RADIOPROTECTIVE –Chemical constituents from the fruits of Psoralea corylifolia and their protective effects on ionising radiation injury.