Gleditsia sinensis

Gleditsia sinensis or Chinese honey locust is a species of flowering plant native to Asia.

Gleditsia sinensis
Gleditsia sinensis trunk with thorns
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Rosids
Order:
Fabales
Family:
Fabaceae
Genus:
Gleditsia
Species:
G. sinensis
Binomial name
Gleditsia sinensis

Etymology

In China, Gleditsia sinensis is commonly known as zào jiá[1] (Chinese: 皂荚). The English equivalents include Chinese honey locust (or Chinese honeylocust),[2] soap bean[3] and soap pod.[4]

Traditional medicine

It is one of the "50 fundamental herbs" used in traditional Chinese medicine. Gleditsia sinensis has been used in China for at least 2000 years as a detergent.[5] The thorns of Gleditsia sinensis are used as a medicinal herb in China and Korea and may have antitumor properties.[6] The thorns of Gleditsia sinensis LAM. (Leguminosae) have been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory diseases including swelling, suppuration, carbuncle and skin diseases.[7]

Scientific study

G. sinensis has in vitro effects that may be indicative of antiallergic activities, possibly due to the saponins in fruits.[8] Studies in mice suggest that Gleditsia sinensis ethanolic extract could be an effective therapeutic agent for the treatment of allergic asthma.[9]

Thorns showed antibacterial activity against a Gram-positive bacterium Xanthomonas vesicatoria and a Gram-negative bacterium Bacillus subtilis.[10] A lupane acid extracted from the thorns showed in vitro anti-HIV activity.[11]

The fruit extract of Gleditsia sinensis also has inhibitory effects on isolated cancer cell cultures.[12][13][14]

References
  1. "Gleditsia sinensis". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 2008-02-08.
  2. "皂荚,皂角,Chinese Honeylocust,Gleditsia sinensis >> 宠物世家--宠物物种中文档案库Species.IntoPet.com". Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  3. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry (William A. Taylor, Chief of Bureau) (1914). Inventory of Seeds and Plants Imported by the Office of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction During the period from April 1 to June 30, 1912. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. p. 110. Retrieved 2008-10-27. Gleditsia sinensis Lam. Caesalpiniaceae. Soap bean.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. "Rootdown.us - Herb - Zao Jia – soap pod – 皂角 – gleditsia fruit, Chinese honeylocust fruit". Retrieved 2008-10-28.
  5. "KryssTal: Inventions (1 AD to 1,000 AD)". Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  6. Lee S.-J., Park K., Ha S.-D., Kim W.-J., Moon S.-K. (2010). "Gleditsia sinensis thorn extract inhibits human colon cancer cells: The role of ERK1/2, G2/M-phase cell cycle arrest and p53 expression". Phytotherapy Research. 24(12):1870-1876.
  7. Ha H.H., Park S.Y., Ko W.S., Kim Y. (2008). "Gleditsia sinensis thorns inhibit the production of NO through NF-B suppression in LPS-stimulated macrophages." Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 118(3):429-434.
  8. Wang C., Xia Y.F., Gao Z.Z., Lu D., Dai Y. (2009). "Inhibition of mast cell degranulation by saponins from Gleditsia sinensis – Structure-activity relationships." Natural Product Communications. 4(6):777-782.
  9. Lee M.-Y., Shin I.-S., Seo C.-S., Ha H., Shin H.-K. (2011). "Antiasthmatic effects of Gleditsia sinensis in an ovalbumin-induced murine model of asthma". International Journal of Toxicology. 30(5):528-537.
  10. Zhou L., Li D., Wang J., Liu Y., Wu J. (2007). "Antibacterial phenolic compounds from the spines of Gleditsia sinensis Lam." Natural Product Research. 21(4):283-291.
  11. Li W.-H., Zhang X.-M., Tian R.-R., Zheng Y.-T., Zhao W.-M., Qiu M.-H. (2007). "A new anti-HIV lupane acid from Gleditsia sinensis Lam." Journal of Asian Natural Products Research. 9(6):551-555.
  12. Pak K.C., Lam K.Y., Law S., Tang J.C.O. (2011). "The inhibitory effect of Gleditsia sinensis on cyclooxygenase-2 expression in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma." International Journal of Molecular Medicine. 23(1):121-129.
  13. Tang W.K., Chui C.H., Fatima S., Kok S.H., Pak K.C., Ou T.M., Hui K.S., Wong M.M., Wong J., Law S., Tsao S.W., Lam K.Y., Beh P.S., Srivastava G., Ho K.P., Chan A.S., Tang J.C. (2007). "Inhibitory effects of Gleditsia sinensis fruit extract on telomerase activity and oncogenic expression in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma." International Journal of Molecular Medicine. 19(6):953-960.
  14. Chui C.H., Gambari R., Lau F.Y., Teo I.T.N., Ho K.P., Cheng G.Y.M., Ke B., Higa T., Kok H.L., Chan A.S.C., Tang J.C.O. (2005). "Anti-cancer potential of traditional Chinese herbal medicines and microbial fermentation products." Minerva Biotecnologica. 17(3):183-191.
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