The Anticancer Effects of the Folk Herb Guizhencao (Bidens)
The Chinese herb Guizhencao is the whole plant of Bidens bipinnata (family Asteraceae), an uncommon medicine not sold in most pharmacies, though patients can gather it themselves or buy it online. Guizhencao is a common wild grass widely distributed across most of China, often growing in patches along roadsides, in wastelands, or near houses. When people pass by, its burs easily stick to them, hence its folk names "sticky-people grass" or "sticky-body grass."
The above-ground whole plant can be harvested at peak flowering in August–September, used fresh or dried. TCM holds that Guizhencao clears heat and detoxifies, dispels wind and dampness, and activates blood and reduces swelling. It is indicated for sore throat, diarrhea, dysentery, jaundice, intestinal abscess, boils and sores, snake and insect bites, rheumatic impediment pain, and traumatic injuries. Folk medicine commonly uses it for upper respiratory infection, sore throat, acute appendicitis, acute icteric hepatitis, gastroenteritis, rheumatic joint pain, and malaria.
Applied externally, Guizhencao treats boils, venomous snake bites, and traumatic swelling and pain. External use usually involves pounding the fresh herb and applying it to the affected area, or decocting the dried herb for washing.
Guizhencao has very low toxicity: mouse intraperitoneal injection gives an LD50 of 173 g/kg, while folk internal use is only 30–60 g fresh or 15–30 g dried. Thus its usual dose is nontoxic.
Guizhencao has antileukemic and antitumor effects. Five extracted components inhibit two cultured leukemia cell lines, HL-60 and V937, to varying degrees; the mixed crystals of polyacetylenic glycosides and butenetetrol glycosides are the most active. Guizhencao extracts strongly inhibit both cell lines, especially the human histiocytic lymphoma line V937.
Guizhencao treats acute nephritis and chronic prostatitis fairly well, and some books record its use for prostate cancer. For example, Evidence-Based Anticancer Effects of Antitumor Chinese Herbs includes an empirical formula for prostate cancer: Shiwei (Pyrrosiae Folium) 30 g, Yangtigen (Rumicis Radix) 30 g, Banzhilian 30 g, Shemei (Duchesnae Herba) 30 g, Guizhencao 30 g, Zhuye (Bambusae Folium) 30 g, Baihua Shebicao 60 g, decocted in water.
There are also many records of Guizhencao for other cancers. Anticancer Materia Medica gives an empirical formula for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: Liangmianzhen (Zanthoxyli Radix) 60 g, Didantou (Eleutherococci/Robiniae) 30 g, Guizhencao 30 g, Chuanxinlian (Andrographis Herba) 15 g, Jinyinhua 15 g, one dose daily.
Anticancer Proven Formulas records a Guizhencao formula for malignant lymphoma: Shandougen 30 g, Tufuling (Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma) 30 g, Lianqiao 30 g, Lufengfang (Nidus Vespae) 30 g, Banlangen 30 g, Xuanshen 30 g, Guizhencao 30 g, Jinjincao (Euphorbiae Humifusae Herba) 30 g, Niubanggen (Arctii Fructus/Radix) 15 g, Tianhuafen (Trichosanthis Radix) 15 g, Tubeimu (Bolbostemmatis Rhizoma) 12 g, Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) 9 g, decocted in water, one dose daily.
The Dictionary of Anticancer Chinese Herbs includes a formula for reticulum-cell sarcoma: Banlangen 30 g, Shandougen 30 g, Tufuling 30 g, Lianqiao 30 g, Lufengfang 30 g, Guizhencao 30 g, Jiaquewocao 30 g, Xuanshen 30 g, Niubanggen 15 g, Chaihu 10 g, Xiakucao (Prunellae Spica) 10 g, Tubeimu 12 g, decocted in water, one dose daily.
Pattern Differentiation and Treatment of Tumors records a Guizhencao formula for esophageal cancer: Shidachuan (Salviae Chinensis Herba) 15 g, Shijianchuan (Salviae Chinesis/Rubiae) 15 g, Banzhilian 15 g, Weilingxian (Clematidis Radix) 15 g, Guizhencao 15 g, Gouqiye (Lycii Folium) 15 g, decocted in water, one dose daily.
The 1980 issue 1 of Shaanxi Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine also published a formula for malignant lymphoma: Niubangzi (Arctii Fructus) 15 g, Tianhuafen 15 g, Chaihu 9 g, Tubeimu 12 g, Shandougen 30 g, Tufuling 30 g, Banlangen 30 g, Xuanshen 30 g, Guizhencao 30 g, Jinjincao 30 g, Lianqiao 30 g, decocted in water, one dose daily.
Anticancer Materia Medica: Clinical Experiences records a Guizhencao formula for esophageal cancer: Dongfengcai (Asterri/Doellingeriae) 30 g, Baiying (Solanum lyratum) 30 g, Shidou 30 g, Weilingxian 9 g, Guizhencao 9 g, decocted in water, one dose daily.
From these records we see that folk anticancer formulas often include Guizhencao. Modern pharmacology confirms Guizhencao has anti-inflammatory, lipid-lowering, hypoglycemic, antithrombotic, and antitumor effects, as well as some analgesic effect, though weaker than morphine.
Guizhencao's antidiarrheal action is fairly pronounced, so folk medicine uses it for abdominal distension and diarrhea from gastroenteritis and indigestion. For diarrhea it can be combined with Cheqiancao (Plantaginis Herba): Guizhencao 15–30 g, Cheqiancao 9 g; add five slices of Shengjiang for vomiting, two liquor-ferment cakes for abdominal pain. These are simple, local remedies used mostly by folk herbalists. Guizhencao also treats jaundice hepatitis, though at higher doses; the National Collection of Chinese Herbal Medicines records a formula: Guizhencao 100 g, Lianqiancao (Glechomae Herba) 60 g, decocted in water. Fujian people often stew Guizhencao with meat for stomachache; Jiangxi folk have a proven remedy of decocting Guizhencao with red dates for headache.