Lymphocytic leukemia treated with TCM Ailanthus altissima bark

What is Ailanthus altissima bark(Chun Pi)? It refers to the trunk or root bark of Ailanthus altissima (p. mill.) swingle. Mainly produced in Shandong, Liaoning, Henan, Anhui and other places, this herb can be harvested all the year round. The steps are peeling the root or chunk bark, scraping off the outer bark, drying them in the sun, and then cutting or shredding them. And it is usually fried with bran or used in unprocessed form.

Ailanthus altissima, is a member of the quassia family, has a common name as Tree of heaven. This deciduous tree features the unpleasant smell from the glands in leaf stalk base. In its natural habitat, this tree grows rapidly and can reach 15 meters in height in 25 years. But this is a short-lived species and rarely survives more than 50 years. Its crown is oblate or in the shape of umbrella. Bark is gray or gray-black, smooth, with few shallow cracks. Twig is stout. Obovate leaves have large scars, with 9 inner vascular marks. It blossoms from May to June. The inflorescence is apical panicles, with white, slightly smelly flowers. Capsule is oval, with numerous seeds inside. And seeds have flattened membranous wings.

Chemical constituents of Ailanthus bark
Ailanthus root bark contains ailanthin, tannin, saponin, and phlobaphen. Root and trunk contain guassin. And trunk bark contains ailanthone, amarolide, 11-acetyl amarolide, quassin, neoquassine, and so on.

Ailanthus altissima health benefits
As mentioned previously, its root bark is one of awesome herbs in TCM. Want to know more detailed information about this herb and how it treats a variety of ailments? Here are the introduction and its main medicinal uses.

Pharmacology
1. Its root barks are antibacterial, antiprotozoal and anti-tumor;
2. Its bark decoction can in vitro inhibit Shigella flexneri, Shigella sonnei, and escherichia coli;
3. Ailanthone has a strong inhibitory effect on amoeba and shows some activity on P388 Lymphocytic Leukemia;
4. Guassin has cytotoxic activity on human nasopharyngeal carcinoma KB cells, and at the same time improves the life span of mouse suffering from Leukemia P388.