Clematis armandii.  川 木 通 Chuān mù tōng  Evergreen clematis
Used in preference to Aristolochia manshuriensis, info below.
PART USED: Dried stalk
Nature: Cool    FLAVOR: Tasteless, slightly bitter
FUNCTIONS
1. Clear Heat, promote urination, promote flow of channels.[1]
INDICATIONS
1. Edema, diminished urination, urinary infection.[1]
2. Arthritis, shortage of milk secretion.[1]           
PREPARATIONS: Dried stalk 3-9 g.[1]

References
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Research
Toxicity of the Chinese Herb Mu Tong (Aristolochia manshuriensis): What History Tells Us
You-Ping Zhu  
ABSTRACT
Plant sources of some traditional Chinese herbs may have changed over time. History records of herbal toxicity should be viewed critically when different plants might have been used under the same name in earlier eras. The current main source of the Chinese herb Mu Tong is Aristolochia manshuriensis. Examination of classical Chinese herbal literature revealed that until the mid 17th century the original source plants of Mu Tong had been several Akebia species. From the 17th century until the early 20th century Clematis species were the main source of Mu Tong. A manshuriensis has only been widely used since the 1950s. Renal failure due to ingestion of large doses of A. manshuriensis has been reported in China and other countries while no such toxicity has been recorded in traditional Chinese herbal texts. Documentation of traditional Chinese herbal literature should help to ensure the safe use of Chinese herbs.
Hwa To Centre for Chinese Medicine, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Adverse drug reactions and toxicological reviews 02/2002; 21(4):171-7. DOI: 10.1007/BF03256194 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov


Lignans from the stems of Clematis armandii ("Chuan-Mu-Tong") and their anti-neuroinflammatory activities.
Xiong J, Bui VB, Liu XH, Hong ZL, Yang GX, Hu JF.
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:
The dried stems of Clematis armandii (Caulis clematidis armandii), named "Chuan-Mu-Tong" in Chinese Pharmacopoeia, have been traditionally used as an herbal remedy mainly for inflammation-associated diseases. The Aim of the study is to identify the potential anti-neuroinflammatory components from Clematis armandii.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
The ethanol extract of "Chuan-Mu-Tong" was suspended in H2O and exhaustively extracted with CH2Cl2. The CH2Cl2 fraction was successively subjected to column chromatography (CC) over silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and semi-preparative HPLC. The structures of the isolated compounds were identified by spectroscopic methods and by comparison with those reported in the literature. Their anti-neuroinflammatory activities were evaluated by inhibitory effects on pro-inflammatory mediators [e.g. nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a)] in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated BV-2 cells.
RESULTS:
One new and sixteen known lignans were isolated and characterized. The absolute configuration of the new lignan, (7R,8S)-9-acetyl-dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (1), was elucidated by a combination of 1D/2D NMR techniques and the Electronic Circular Dichroism (ECD) spectroscopy based on the empirical helicity rules. The anti-neuroinflammatory bioassay showed that compounds 1, (7R,8S)-dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (2), erythro-guaiacylglycerol-ß-coniferyl ether (5), and threo-guaiacylglycerol-ß-coniferyl ether (6) displayed significant inhibitory effects on NO production. Among them, neolignans 1 and 2 exhibited more potent activities than the positive control (N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine, L-NMMA), with an IC50 value of 9.3 and 3.9 µM, respectively. Moreover, both 1 and 2 were also found to concentration-dependently suppress the TNF-a release in LPS-stimulated BV-2 cells.
CONCLUSION:
The results revealed that lignans are the major components of "Chuan-Mu-Tong", and their anti-neuroinflammatory activities strongly support the traditional application of this herb medicine on inflammation. Moreover, the dihydrobenzo[b]furan neolignans 1 and 2 as well as Caulis clematidis armandii could be further exploited as new therapeutic agents to treat inflammation-mediated neurodegenerative and aging-associated diseases.
Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. J Ethnopharmacol. 2014 May 14;153(3):737-43. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2014.03.036. Epub 2014 Mar 21. ncbi.nlm.nih