Dipsacus asper. D. japonicus. 续断 Xù duàn   Teasel root   Family: Dispsaceae  
PART USED: Roots
Nature: Slightly warm    FLAVOR: Bitter, pungent, sweet, acrid
FUNCTIONS
GROUP: Tonic- Tonifying Yang
1. Strengthen Yang.
2. Strengthens the Liver and Kidney.[1,2] Connect tendons and bone.
3. Arrest bleeding. Stimulates blood circulation.[1] Relieve pain.
INDICATIONS
1. Kidney Deficiency: Sore loins, weak knees.[1,2] Seminal emissions and polyuria.[1]
2. Arthritis pain.[1,2] Traumatic injuries.[1,2]
3. Dysfunctional vaginal bleeding, threatened miscarriage.[1,2]
PATENT COMBINATIONS
- Kidney Yin and Yang deficiency: Warms and Tonifies the Kidney Yang, supplements and secures the Kidney Jing, nourishes the Blood Morinda Combination- Ba ji yin yang tang.
PREPARATIONS: Decoction.  Roots  6-12 g.[1]
HABITAT: Found growing in wild places and roadsides.
DESCRIPTION: Perennial herb. Tap root: noticable, cone-shaped, frequently several growing together. Stem: erect, upper section multi-branching, with furrowed angles. Leaves: opposite; basal leaves with long petioles, pinnately parted; stem leaves mostly 3-5 pinnately parted, central part somewhat larger, oval to ovate-broadly oval, gradually pointed at both ends, lateral lobes somewhat smaller, bases extending below to form leaf axils; leaves at terminal stem somewhat smaller, 3-parted, margins coarsely serrated, covered densely on both sides by fine and long soft hairs. Flowers in autumn, reddish purple flowers appearing to form racemose inflorescences. Fruit: an achene, wedge-shaped and oval.
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

The herbal medicine Dipsacus asper wall extract reduces the cognitive deficits and overexpression of beta-amyloid protein induced by aluminum exposure.
Zhang ZJ, Qian YH, Hu HT, Yang J, Yang GD.
Abstract
Excess aluminum (Al) exposure impairs neurocognitive function in humans and animals. Epidemiologic studies have shown a potential link between chronic Al exposure and Alzheimer's disease. In the present study, we sought to evaluate the protective effects of the herbal medicine Dipsacus asper extract against the cognitive impairment and overexpression of hippocampal beta-amyloid protein (Abeta) induced by chronic Al exposure in rats. Vitamin E (VE) was used as a positive control. Following exposure to 0.3% aluminum chloride (AlCl(3)) solution for 90 days in their drinking water, animals displayed a striking decrease (>80%) in step-through latency in the passive avoidance task and a significant increase (123%) in the number of Abeta immunoreactive cells in the hippocampus compared to controls. Al-exposed animals were then randomly assigned to receive vehicle, Dipsacus asper extract (4 g/kg), or VE (40 mg/kg) treatment up to 5 months. Both Dipsacus asper extract and VE significantly ameliorated animal's performance impairment in the passive avoidance task and suppressed the overexpression of hippocampal Abeta immunoreactivity. The effects of Dipsacus asper extract, but not VE, increased with time of treatment. The present results suggest that Dipsacus asper extract may possess therapeutic effects against Alzheimer's disease.
PMID: 12954453 Life Sci. 2003 Sep 26;73(19):2443-54. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov3

Cytotoxic saponins from the root of Dipsacus asper Wall.
Hung TM, Jin W, Thuong PT, Song KS, Seong YH, Bae K.
Abstract
Cytotoxic activitiy of seven hederagenin saponins isolated from the root of Dipsacus asper were investigated in vitro against L1210, HL-60 and SK-OV-3 tumor cell lines by the MTT method. 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl hederagenin (2), 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->3)-alpha-L-Rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl hederagenin (6) and 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl hederagenin (7) exhibited the potent cytotoxicity against the three tumor cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 4.7 to 8.7 microg/mL, with the exception of compound 7, which exhibited weak cytotoxic activity against SK-OV-3 (IC50 22.5 microg/mL). Other compounds did not exhibit any cytotoxic activity (IC50 > 30 microg/mL).
PMID: 16212237 Arch Pharm Res. 2005 Sep;28(9):1053-6. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Triterpene saponins from the roots of Dipsacus asper and their protective effects against the Aβ(25-35) induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells.
Ji D1, Wu Y, Zhang B, Zhang CF, Yang ZL.
Abstract
Three new triterpene saponins, named asperosaponin A-C (1-3), together with seven known triterpene saponins (4-10) were isolated from the roots of Dipsacus asper. The structures of compounds 1-3 were elucidated on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis and chemical methods. Compounds 1-3, 6-10 had significantly protective effects in PC12 cells against the Aβ(25-35) induced cytotoxicity. All the compounds isolated showed no cytotoxic activity against three human cancer cell lines, A-549, Bel-7402 and BGC-823.
PMID: 22430115 DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2012.03.004 Fitoterapia. 2012 Jul;83(5):843-8. doi: 10.1016/j.fitote.2012.03.004. Epub 2012 Mar 13. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov