Bistortae

This product contains saponins, with Paris saponins and dioscin as the principal constituents. It also contains flavonoids, sterols, creatinic acid, and amino acids.

This product has broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and inhibits dysentery bacilli, typhoid bacilli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and hemolytic streptococci. It shows a marked protective effect against viper venom poisoning in mice. It can also relieve histamine-induced bronchospasm in experimental animals. In addition, it has sedative, analgesic, antitussive, antiasthmatic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, hemostatic, uterotonic, and spermicidal effects.

Slightly toxic; the dosage should not be too large. Contraindicated in yin-type external sores and during pregnancy.