Melia azedarach. or M. toosendan   川 楝 Chuān liàn  White cedar, Bead tree, Chinaberry tree    Family: Meliaceae     
M. toosendan is much less toxic than M. azedarach.[4] Melia toosendan should not be confused with the Azadirachta trees, which are in the same family, but a different genus. All parts of the plant are bitter and have purgative and anthelmintic properties.[5,6]



苦 楝 皮 Kǔ liàn pí   Dried bark and bark of root- harvested in Spring or Autumn  
Nature- cold   FLAVOR: Bitter   TOXICITY: Slightly toxic
FUNCTIONS
GROUP: Antihelminthics
1. Expel Worms. Vermicide.
2. Laxative. Malaria- before the advent of quinine the bark was used for treatment in India.
INDICATIONS
1. Parasitical worm infestation causing abdominal pain.  Round worms. Anthelmintic- used in the United States the dried berries were soaked in whisky.[5,6]
2. Hernia.
3. Ringworm and weeping lesions.
4. External applications for itching in tinea.
PREPARATIONS: Decocted dried bark and bark of root  4-9 g.   External usage 15-30 g.
Decoction 15-30 g.[1] Or crushed and mixed with boiling water for internal consumption. Decoction can be used for bathing affected parts.[1] Dried bark and bark of root 4-9 g.[1]
    
川 楝 子 Chuān liàn zǐ, Jin lin zi Dry ripe fruit- harvested in Winter when the fruits have ripened   
Nature- cold      FLAVOR:  Bitter   CHANNELS: Liver,Heart, Small Intestine, Bladder TOXICITY: Slightly toxic[3]
FUNCTIONS- Commonly used herb for any kind of Hot type abdominal pain
GROUP: Regulating Qi
1. Disperse Liver Qi congestion, relieve pain.
2. Laxative and vermicide- especially for round worms.[3] Anthelmintic- used in the United States the dried berries were soaked in whisky.[5,6]
3. Alleviates abdominal pain.[3] Clears moisture.[3]
INDICATIONS
1. Stasis of Liver Qi and Liver/Gall bladder excess Fire: Pain in the chest, ribs and abdomen- better with rib pain than Chen pi, pain from flatulence, stress and pain with emotions- ie when feel emotionally better pain goes- intermittent pain. Anger. Difficulty sleeping, poor appetite. T- body red P- wiry and rapid- relates to chronic hepatitis. Hot sensations. Nausea.
Relieves abdominal pain.
2. Round worm disease- causing abdominal pain.[3] Anthelmintic.
3. Hernia or testicle pain with pain from genitals.[3]
4. Blood deficiency causing Wind or toxic Heat in Blood: Head psoriasis/tinea- Burn the herb until it goes yellow then grind into powder and mix with pig fat oil and apply to area.[3]
5. Leprosy and scofula (gland swellings)- Used in India.[5,6]
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Deficient Spleen and Stomach Cold. Loose stools and diarrhea.[3]
COMBINATIONS
- Stagnation of Liver Qi leading to Heat or Blood stasis: Spreads the Liver Qi, drains Heat, regulate the Qi and alleviates pain Melia fruit & Corydalis- Jin ling zi san.
PREPARATIONS: Decoction 6-12 g.[3] Or crushed and mixed with boiling water for internal consumption. Decoction can be used for bathing affected parts.[1]  Dried ripe fruit 4-9 g.[2]
       
HABITAT: Mostly found growing in wild places, roadsides or cultivated. Rainforest and moist but sunny places near rivers; central New South Wales to Northern Queensland and Norejthern Territory. Often planted as an ornamental tree.
DESCRIPTION
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.
Safety and herb-drug interactions.
Constituents
Research

The Potential Uses of Melia Azedarach L. as Pesticidal and Medicinal Plant, Review Adnan Y. AL-Rubae Melia azedarach.pdf

EFFECT OF NEEM (Melia azadirachta L.) LEAF AND BISHKATALI (Polygonum hydropiper L.) ROOT POWDER FOR DECONTAMINATION AND CALCIUM HYDROXIDE FOR DETOXIFICATION OF AFLATOXIN IN RICE, MAIZE AND WHEAT pdf

Use of toosendanin or melia azedarach extracts for preventing or treating dementia- Google Patents EP2444091B1 Jin Sung Choi Ildong Pharm Co., Ltd.pdf

Anticancer effects of crude extract from Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc on hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro and in vivo.
Liu XL, Wang H, Zhang L, Wang YL, Wang J, Wang P, He X, He YJ.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the anti-cancer effects of crude extract from Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc and its possible molecular mechanisms in vitro and in vivo.
METHODS:
Transonic alcohol-chloroform extraction method was used to extract toosendanin from the bark of Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc, and the content of toosendanin in the crude extract was measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Anti-cancer effects of crude extract from Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc were investigated in in vivo and in vitro studies. In the in vitro experiment, human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines SMMC-7721 and Hep3B were co-incubated with toosendanin crude extract of different concentrations, respectively. In the in vivo experiment, BALB/c mice were subcutaneously inoculated with mouse hepatocellular carcinoma H22 cells and treated with crude extract.
RESULTS:
HPLC revealed the content of toosendanin was about 15%. Crude extract from Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc inhibited cancer cells growth in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50, 72 h) was 0.6 mg/L for SMMC-7721 cells and 0.8 mg/L for Hep3B cells. Both high-dose [0.69 mg/(kg d)] and low-dose [0.138 mg/(kg d)] crude extract could markedly suppress cancer growth, and the inhibition rate was greater than 50%. Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed necrotic area in cancers and transmission electron microscopy displayed necrotic and apoptotic cancer cells with apoptotic bodies. Immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of Bax and Fas increased and the expression of Bcl-2 reduced.
CONCLUSIONS:
Toosendanin extract has potent anti-cancer effects via suppressing proliferation and inducing apoptosis of cancer cells in vivo and in vitro. The mechanism of apoptosis involves in mitochondrial pathway and death receptor pathway.
PMID: 26383159 DOI: 10.1007/s11655-015-2084-7
Chin J Integr Med. 2016 May;22(5):362-9. doi: 10.1007/s11655-015-2084-7. Epub 2015 Sep 17. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Limonoids from fruit of Melia toosendan and their cytotoxic activity.
Tada K, Takido M, Kitanaka S.
Abstract
Two new limonoids, toosendanal and 12-O-methylvolkensin, were isolated from the fruits of Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc. along with three known limonoids, meliatoxin B1, trichillin H, and toosendanin. The structures of the new limonoids were established by spectroscopic methods, with toosendanal having C-1/C-29 and C-19/C-29 acetal bridges. Both meliatoxin B1 and toosendanin exhibit cytotoxic activity against KB cells.
PMID: 10389275 Phytochemistry. 1999 Jul;51(6):787-91. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Protolimonoids from Melia toosendan.
Sang YS, Zhou CY, Lu AJ, Yin XJ, Min ZD, Tan RX.
Abstract
Toosendanone A (1), a new euphane (tirucallane)-type triterpene bearing a five-membered ring in the side chain and the first cyclopentanyl protolimonoid, was isolated from the bark of Melia toosendan, along with two new tirucallanes, toosendanic acids A (2) and B (3). The structure and absolute configuration of compound 1 was elucidated by spectroscopic data interpretation and X-ray diffraction analysis. Compounds 1-3 were evaluated for cytotoxicity against a small panel of cancer cell lines.
PMID: 19341288 DOI: 10.1021/np800669c J Nat Prod. 2009 May 22;72(5):917-20. doi: 10.1021/np800669c. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Anticancer effects of crude extract from Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc on hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro and in vivo
Xiao-ling Liu (刘小玲)Hong Wang (王 虹)Ling Zhang (张 伶)You-liang Wang (王友良)Jin Wang (王 进)Peng Wang (王 鹏)Xiao He (贺 潇)Yu-juan He (何於娟)Email author
Abstract
Objective
To investigate the anti-cancer effects of crude extract from Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc and its possible molecular mechanisms in vitro and in vivo.
Methods
Transonic alcohol-chloroform extraction method was used to extract toosendanin from the bark of Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc, and the content of toosendanin in the crude extract was measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Anti-cancer effects of crude extract from Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc were investigated in in vivo and in vitro studies. In the in vitro experiment, human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines SMMC-7721 and Hep3B were co-incubated with toosendanin crude extract of different concentrations, respectively. In the in vivo experiment, BALB/c mice were subcutaneously inoculated with mouse hepatocellular carcinoma H22 cells and treated with crude extract.
Results
HPLC revealed the content of toosendanin was about 15%. Crude extract from Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc inhibited cancer cells growth in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50, 72 h) was 0.6 mg/L for SMMC-7721 cells and 0.8 mg/L for Hep3B cells. Both high-dose [0.69 mg/(kg d)] and low-dose [0.138 mg/(kg d)] crude extract could markedly suppress cancer growth, and the inhibition rate was greater than 50%. Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed necrotic area in cancers and transmission electron microscopy displayed necrotic and apoptotic cancer cells with apoptotic bodies. Immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of Bax and Fas increased and the expression of Bcl-2 reduced.
Conclusions
Toosendanin extract has potent anti-cancer effects via suppressing proliferation and inducing apoptosis of cancer cells in vivo and in vitro. The mechanism of apoptosis involves in mitochondrial pathway and death receptor pathway.
Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine May 2016, Volume 22, Issue 5, pp 362–369 link.springer.com