Pingying: Shegan
English: Blackberrylily, Leopardflower
Latin: Belamcanda chinensis (L.) DC

Sources:The rhizoma of Belamcanda chinensis (L.) DC. Family Iridaceae.

Constituents: Containing belamcandin, iridin, mangiferin, tectroidin, tectorigenin, etc.

Actions: In vitro test showed that the water extract of the herb has inhibitory effect against human cervical carcinoma-14, Hela-S2, hepatocarcinoma cells, the inhibitory rate was over 90% for the human cervical carcinoma cells. The alcohol or water extract of the herb has action of estrin and has effect against prostatic cancer cells and breast cancer cells after menopause. The result indicated that the herb could be used to treat prostatic and breast carcinoma.

Indications: It was used for treatment of cervical, breast, pancreatic, thyroid, lung carcinoma and leukemia, etc.

(1)Experimental formula for thyroid adenocarcinoma:
Rhizoma Discreae Bulbiferae 15g
Radix Sophorae TonRinensis 15g
Spica Prunellae 15g
Cocha Ostreae 15g
Semen Citri Reticulatae 12g
Semen Vaccariae 12g
Radix Semiaquilegiae 12g
Squama Manitis 12g
Rhizoma Bleamcandae 9g
Caulis Perillae 9g
Lasioiphaera seu Caluatia 9g
Radix Stephaniae Cepharanthae 5g
Thallus Echloniae 30g

The decoction of the herbs was taken daily to treat 11 cases of the cancer patients, the short-term cure, remarkable effect and inefficacy were in 1, 7 and 3 cases respectively. The total effective rate was 72.7%.

(2)Experimental formula for leukamia:
Herbs Hedyotis Diffusae 30g
Radix Isatidis 30g
Herbs Solani Lyrati 30g
Rhizoma Belamcandae 9g
Fructus Trichosanthis 15g
Rhizoma Paridis 15g
Radix Paridis 15g
Radix Arnebiae 15g

The decoction of the herbs was taken once daily combined with chemotherapy to treat 18 cases of leukemia, the total effective rate was 57.1%.