Dioscornin

- Even though both Chinese yam and Rhizoma Dioscoreae Nipponicae belong to the genus Dioscorea, animal experiments show that Diosgenin possesses greater anti-hyperlipemia effects than ordinary yam saponins.

Protects Against Atherosclerosis

a) Reduces Cholesterol and Triglyceride Levels

- Dioscornin significantly reduces the levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein in heart patients. It also raises the levels of high density lipoprotein, boasting similar functions to statins and beta-blockers.

b) Anticoagulation (Blood Thinning)

- Dioscornin reduces platelet agglutination rate and increases the ratio of PGI₂ and TXA₂.

c) Preserves Endothelial Function & Prevents Lipid Peroxidation

- Heart patients usually experience severe lipid peroxidative damage, damage in endothelial cell functions and a rise in the release of endothelin.

- Dioscornin reduces plasma endothelin levels, fights against lipid peroxidative damage and preserves the functions of the endothelial cells that line all blood vessels.

Treatment for Ischemic Cardiac Muscles

a) Improves Cardiovascular Blood Supply, Lowers Myocardial Oxygen Consumption Rate

- Dioscornin raises the volume of coronary blood flow and strengthens the endurance ability of the cardiac muscles in low oxygen conditions.

- After taking 160mg of Dioscornin 3 times a day for 4 weeks, heart patients experienced a 20.2% reduction in myocardial oxygen consumption rate.

b) Reduces Calcium Overload, Protects Oxygen-Deprived Cardiac Muscle

- Dioscornin strengthens calcium pump expression at the cell membrane and sarcoplasmic reticulum, lowers the concentration of dissociated calcium ions in the cardiac cells, reduces calcium overload and protects oxygen-deprived cardiac muscle.

c) Protects Sub-Cellular Organelles Against Oxidative Damage

- As an antioxidant, Dioscornin protects the cardiac muscles against reperfusion injury.

- Protects the mitochondria against oxidative damage in animal models of atherosclerosis.

Treatment for Cardiovascular & Cerebrovascular Diseases

a) Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), Angina & Ischemic Changes

- Improves the various symptoms of CHD

- Reduces the number of angina attacks and frequency of nitroglycerin consumption

- A combined analysis on 1010 subjects with CHD from 20 Chinese hospitals indicated that after administration of 160mg of Dioscornin 3 times a day, improvement in angina reached 85.3%. After 4 weeks of treatment, Dioscornin had a 63.3% efficacy rate in improving ischemic changes in electrocardiogram.

b) Acute Cerebral Infarction (Stroke) & Cerebral Infarction in the Recovery Phase

	Dioscornin Group		Control Group		P
	N	Total efficacy rate	N	Total efficacy rate	P
Cerebral Infarction (Acute)*	40	97.5%	40	77.5%	<0.05
Cerebral Infarction (Recovery Phase)**	60	86.7%	60	73.3%	<0.05

* Treatment programme: The control group was given a routine treatment consisting of an oral dosage of Nimodipine Tablets, an intravenous infusion of Mannitol, a muscle injection of Venoruton and a Dextran and Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae drip infusion. The Dioscornin group had an oral dosage of 160mg of Dioscornin twice a day, on top of the routine treatment.

** Treatment programme: The control group received an oral dosage of enteric-coated aspirin and a low molecular-Dextran drip infusion. The Dioscornin group received an oral dosage of 160mg Dioscornin 3 times a day.

c) Diabetes-Linked Blood Flow Abnormalities

- Blood flow abnormalities in diabetic patients are closely associated with diabetic complications and cerebrovascular diseases.

- Dioscornin helps lower total blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, and fibrinogen levels; reduces blood coagulation rate and the stagnation of microcirculation as well as prevents vascular diseases associated with diabetes.

Theoretical Evidence in the Treatment of CHD & Angina

a) TCM Validation

- CHD is usually induced by qi-deficiency, resulting in blood stagnation and blockage of the coronary arteries. It subsequently leads to symptoms such as angina.

- Effects of Dioscornin: Nourishes and regulates qi, improves blood circulation and dissipates stasis. Treats both the root cause and symptoms of coronary heart disease. With improved circulation, there is a greater supply of blood to the cardiac muscles, resulting in a relief of symptoms by dispelling negative elements residing in the body. On the other hand, the invigoration of qi increases the endurance levels of cardiac muscles in low oxygen conditions as well as strengthens the recovery of endothelial cells. These actions help consolidate and strengthen the body’s vital energies.

b) Scientific Validation

- As early as in the 1950s, Chinese researchers had already reported on Rhizoma Dioscoreae Nipponicae’s significant treatment efficacy towards CHD.

- At the same time, scientists from the then Soviet Union demonstrated the cholesterol and blood pressure lowering effects of Rhizoma Dioscoreae Nipponicae.

- Today, many scientific studies attest to the effects of Rhizoma Dioscoreae Nipponicae in the treatment of CHD and angina.

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