Descripton
Rehmannia root has been used to enhance energy levels. Rehmannia Root is native to China, Japan, and Korea. Traditionally, rehmannia root has been used to replenish vitality, strengthen the liver, kidney, and heart, and for treatment of a variety of ailments like diabetes, anemia, and urinary tract problems.

Active Ingredients:

Rehmannian contains cerebroside, dammelittoside, melittoside, rehmaglitin, and other substances that have antiinflammatory and antifungal properties.

Rehmannia Health benefits

Rehmannia has been shown to help maintain healthy blood sugar levels.

Rehmannia Research Update

Evaluation of natural products on inhibition of inducible cyclooxygenase (COX-2) and nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in cultured mouse macrophage cells.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2002 Nov;83(1-2):153-9.
The inhibitors of prostaglandin biosynthesis and nitric oxide production have been considered as potential anti-inflammatory and cancer chemopreventive agents. In this study, we evaluated approximately 170 methanol extracts of natural products including Korean herbal medicines for the inhibition of prostaglandin E(2) production (for COX-2 inhibitors) and nitric oxide formation (for iNOS inhibitors) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mouse macrophages RAW264.7 cells. As a result, several extracts such as Aristolochia debilis, Cinnamomum cassia, Cinnamomum loureirii, Curcuma zedoaria, Eugenia caryophyllata, Pterocarpus santalius, Rehmannia glutinosa and Tribulus terrestris showed potent inhibition of COX-2 activity (>80% inhibition at the test concentration of 10 micro g/ml). In addition, the extracts of A. debilis, Caesalpinia sappan, Curcuma longa, C. zedoaria, Daphne genkwa and Morus alba were also considered as potential inhibitors of iNOS activity (>70% inhibition at the test concentration of 10 micro g/ml). These active extracts mediating COX-2 and iNOS inhibitory activities are warranted for further elucidation of active principles for development of new cancer chemopreventive and/or anti-inflammatory agents.

Stachyose extract from Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. to lower plasma glucose in normal and diabetic rats by oral administration.
Pharmazie. 2004 Jul;59(7):552-6.
The hypoglycemic effects of water extract and stachyose extract (Part III) from Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. were investigated in this paper by oral administration to normal, glucose- and adrenaline-induced hyperglycemic and alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The results showed that Part III rehmannia extract had the effect of lowering fasted plasma glucose level and partially preventing hyperglycemia induced by glucose and adrenaline. The results suggested that Part III, which is mainly composed of stachyose from Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch., had a significant hypoglycemic effect in glucose- and adrenaline-induced hyperglycemic and alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Hypoglycemic effect of Rehmannia glutinosa oligosaccharide in hyperglycemic and alloxan-induced diabetic rats and its mechanism.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Jan;90(1):39-43.
The hypoglycemic and anti-diabetic effect of Rehmannia glutinosa oligosaccharide (ROS) in glucose-induced hyperglycemic and alloxan-induced diabetic rats and its mechanism was investigated in this paper. It was found that pretreatment of ROS in normal rats with 100 mg/kg for 3 days, i.p., induced a partial prevention of hyperglycemia caused by glucose (2g/kg, i.p.), while when hyperglycemia was induced in adrenalectomized (ADX) rats, the preventive effect of ROS on hyperglycemia was lost. In alloxan-induced diabetic rats, ROS (100 mg/kg for 15 days, i.p.) showed a significant decrease in blood glucose level and hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase activity with an increase in hepatic glycogen content. Furthermore, ROS raised plasma insulin level and lowered plasma corticosterone level in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The results indicated that oligosaccharide of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. exerted a significant hypoglycemic effect in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The regulatory mechanism of ROS on glucose metabolism was adrenal dependent and had a close relation with the neuroendocrine system.

Phytochemical studies of Rehmannia glutinosa rhizomes.
Pharmazie. 2003 Aug;58(8):593-5.
2,4-Dimethoxy-2-methyl-6H-pyran-3-one (1), a hitherto unknown natural product, and the calcium salt of rehmapicroside (2) have been isolated from rhizomes of the Vietnamese variety of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch together with a series of known compounds: norcarotenoids, 2-formyl-5-hydroxy-methylfurane, the iridoid rehmaglutin D, iridoid glycosides, and phenylethyl alcohol glycosides.

Effect of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch extracts on bone metabolism.
Clin Chim Acta. 2003 Aug;334(1-2):185-95.
Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch extracts (RGX) were investigated to determine if they play roles in bone metabolism. CONCLUSIONS: Rehmannia stimulates the proliferation and activities of osteoblasts, while inhibiting the generation and resorptive activities of osteoclasts. It also shows preventive effects on osteoporotic bone loss induced by an ovariectomy. Although the active substances have not yet been identified, it is believed that the rehmannia seems to contain active components that have a potential to enhance the bone metabolism in osteoporosis.

[Effects of low-molecular-weight Rehmannia glutinosa polysaccharides on p53 gene expression
Zhongguo Yao Li Xue Bao. 1997 Sep;18(5):471-4.
AIM: To study the effect of low-molecular-weight Rehmannia glutinosa polysaccharides (LRPS) on p53 gene expression. METHODS: The level of p53 gene expression was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and autoradiography. RESULTS: The levels of p53 mRNA in Lewis lung cancer tissue were 0.46, 1.52, 1.48, and 1.60 respectively after saline, LRPS 20 and 40 mg.kg-1, and cyclophosphamide 10 mg.kg-1, which were the effective doses inhibiting the growth of tumor tissue cells in vivo. LRPS markedly increased p53 gene expression. CONCLUSION: LRPS effect on p53 gene expression is one of the mechanisms of antitumor activity.

Studies of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. f. hueichingensis as a blood tonic
Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 1992 Jun;17(6):366-8
We have studied the function of dried and prepared Rehmannia glutinosa f. hueichingensis in treating hemorrhagic anemic mice and in fostering bone marrow hematopoietic cells CFU-S, CFU-E. The results show that Rehmannia glutinosa f. hueichingensis can promote the recovery of blood deficient animals, RBC. Hb expedite the multiplication and differentiation of CFU-S, CFU-E, and thus proves markedly helpful to the generation of blood.
Constituents of the dry roots of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch]
Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 1992 May;17(5):297-8
From the extract of dry roots of Rehmannia glutimosa, fatty acids, palmitic acid, beta-sitosterol, daucosterol and sulfur (Ss) cyclic compound were isolated and identified. The latter four were isolated for the first time.