Schizonepeta tenuifolia, Nepeta tenuifolia   荆 芥 Jīng jiè   Schizonepeta   Family: Labiatae  
荊芥 Jīng jiè is also the name for Nepeta Japonica Japanese catnip
PART USED: Above ground parts- harvested in Autumn and dried in the shade.
Nature- warm, slightly warm      FLAVOR: Pungent, Acrid   CHANNEL: Lung, Liver
FUNCTIONS
GROUP: Exterior Clearing- Warming
1. Clearing exterior syndromes by dispelling pathogenic Wind.[4] Wind disease, blood disease, post parturition bleeding.
2. Promoting skin eruptions by dispelling pathogens. Facilitate eruptions of measles.
3. Arrest bleeding.
ACTIONS
INDICATIONS- For Wind or Blood disease.[3]
1. Exopathogenic Wind Cold showing as aversion to cold, fever, headache and anhidrosis. Common cold, headache, measles prior to eruption, early stage of urticaria, carbuncle. Wind Cold or Wind Hot symptoms.[3,4]
2. German measles, pruritus, measles without adequate eruption. Carbuncles or boils when they first erupt, especially when accompanied by chills and fever.[4] Vents rashes and alleviated itching: for the initial stage of measles and pruritic skin eruptions.[4]
3. Carbonised for styptic action- Hematemesis,[4] epistaxis, hemafecia, metrorrhagia,[4] and metrostaxis. Decocted uses for discharge of blood from anus and vaginal bleeding. Bleeding.[3]
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Liver Wind, and for fully-erupted measles or open sores.[4]
PATENT COMBINATIONS
PREPARATIONS: Decoction   Above ground  3-10 g.[1,2,4] Stem and bud.[3] Can wash externally.[3] Do no decoct for a long period. Good quality is light purple and has a thin stem and dense spikes.[4]

ORIGIN: China- Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Henan, Hebei, Shandon. Mostly cultivated.
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.
Constituents
Research

Anti-inflammatory activity of Schizonepeta tenuifolia through the inhibition of MAPK phosphorylation in mouse peritoneal macrophages.
Kim SJ, Kim JS, Choi IY, Kim DH, Kim MC, An HJ, Na HJ, Kim NH, Moon PD, Myung NY, Lee JY, Jeong HJ, Um JY, Shin TY, Kim HM, Hong SH.
Abstract
Schizonepeta tenuifolia (ST) is a well-known herb to treat the cold and its associated headache. However, the anti-inflammatory mechanism of ST in mouse peritoneal macrophages is not clear. In this study, we demonstrated that ST inhibited lipopolysaccaride (LPS)-induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-6 production. The maximal inhibition rate of TNF-alpha and IL-6 production by ST (2 mg/ml) was 48.01 +/- 2.8% and 56.45 +/- 2.8%, respectively. During the inflammatory process, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were increased in mouse peritoneal macrophages. However, treated with ST decreased the protein level of COX-2 and iNOS, as well as the production of PGE(2) and NO in LPS-stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages. In addition, ST inhibited the phosphorylation of MAPK. Taken together, the results of this study suggest an important molecular mechanism by which ST reduces inflammation, which may explain its beneficial effect in the regulation of inflammatory reactions.
PMID: 19051342 DOI: 10.1142/S0192415X0800648X  Am J Chin Med. 2008;36(6):1145-58. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Schizonepeta tenuifolia ethanol extract exerts anti-inflammatory activity through the inhibition of TLR4 signaling in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophage cells.
 Byun MW.
Abstract
Inflammatory diseases remain the leading cause of mortality worldwide in both men and women. Schizonepeta tenuifolia (ST) exerts a wide range of physiological activities and has been found to possess beneficial efficacies against inflammation-related diseases; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying this anti-inflammatory activity remain to be elucidated. We investigated the molecular basis for the downregulation of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signal transduction by ST ethanol extract in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages. In this study, ST ethanol extract (100 μg/mL) did not induce cell cytotoxicity and was used in all the following experiments. Treatment of LPS-stimulated macrophages with ST ethanol extract resulted in a significant decrease in cyclooxygenase-2 and prostaglandin E2 levels, and inducible nitric oxide synthase-mediated NO production. LPS-induced expression of cell surface molecules (CD80 and CD86) and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin [IL]-1β, and IL-6) were inhibited by ST ethanol extract. Further, we also found that the anti-inflammatory activities of ST ethanol extract was caused by inhibition of LPS-induced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases, such as extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and p38, and the translocation of nuclear factor κB through TLR4 in macrophages. Thus, ST ethanol extract may possess novel and potent therapeutic efficacy for the treatment of inflammatory disease.
PMID: 24650252 DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2013.2928  J Med Food. 2014 Mar;17(3):350-6. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2013.2928. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Antiviral activities of Schizonepeta tenuifolia Briq. against enterovirus 71 in vitro and in vivo.
Chen SG, Cheng ML, Chen KH, Horng JT, Liu CC, Wang SM, Sakurai H, Leu YL, Wang SD, Ho HY.
Abstract
No effective drug is currently available for treatment of enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection. Schizonepeta tenuifolia Briq. (ST) has been used as a herbal constituent of traditional Chinese medicine. We studied whether the aqueous extract of Schizonepeta tenuifolia Briq (STE) has antiviral activity. STE inhibited replication of EV71, as evident by its ability to diminish plaque formation and cytopathic effect induced by EV71, and to inhibit the synthesis of viral RNA and protein. Moreover, daily single-dose STE treatment significantly improved the survival of EV71-infected mice, and ameliorated the symptoms. Mechanistically, STE exerts multiple effects on enteroviral infection. Treatment with STE reduced viral attachment and entry; the cleavage of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4 G (eIF4G) by EV71 protease, 2Apro; virus-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation; and relocation of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 (hnRNP A1) from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. It was accompanied by a decline in EV71-associated hyperphosphorylation of p38 kinase and EPS15. It is plausible that STE may inhibit ROS-induced p38 kinase activation, and subsequent hnRNP A1 relocation and EPS15-mediated membrane trafficking in infected cells. These findings suggest that STE possesses anti-EV71 activities, and may serve as health food or candidate antiviral drug for protection against EV71.
PMID: 28428548 PMCID: PMC5430552 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-01110-x  Sci Rep. 2017 Apr 20;7(1):935. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-01110-x. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of aqueous extracts of Schizonepeta tenuifolia Briq.
Wang BS, Huang GJ, Tai HM, Huang MH.
Abstract
This study investigated the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of aqueous extracts of Schizonepeta tenuifolia Briq. (STE). The results showed that STE displayed radical scavenging and reducing activity, as well as liposome protection activity. In addition, the implementation of an HPLC with a photodiode array detector helped to identify polyphenolic components including hesperidin, luteolin, and diosmetin. STE administration in the range of 125-500 mg/kg showed concentration dependent inhibition on carrageenan induced inflammatory response in mice. The anti-inflammatory effects of STE could be related to tissue NO and tumor necrosis factor a (TNF-α) suppression, and associated with the reduction of lipid peroxidation and an increase in antioxidant enzyme activities including catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase in vivo. Overall, the results showed that STE might serve as a natural inhibitor of oxidation and inflammation.
PMID: 22198607 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2011.12.010  Food Chem Toxicol. 2012 Mar;50(3-4):526-31. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2011.12.010. Epub 2011 Dec 16. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Immunomodulatory effect of Schizonepeta tenuifolia water extract on mouse Th1/Th2 cytokine production in-vivo and in-vitro.
Kang H, Oh YJ, Choi HY, Ham IH, Bae HS, Kim SH, Ahn KS.
Abstract
Schizonepeta tenuifolia (ST) is a major herbal constituent included in treatments for the common cold with fever, ostitis media and other skin inflammations. The present study investigated the effect of ST water extract on the pattern of cytokine production from activated T cells in-vivo and in-vitro. When ST (200 mgkg(-1)) was given orally to mice for 7 days before i.v. injection of anti-CD3 antibody, it significantly decreased mRNA levels of interleukin (IL)-4, interferon (IFN)-gamma and T-bet. Our flow cytometric analysis showed that ST administration significantly increased CD69 expression but showed little effect on the subsets of T cells. When we cultured mouse CD4 T cells under Th1/Th2 differentiation in the presence of ST, the suppressive activity of ST on IFN-gamma involved T-bet, but the downregulation of IL-4 occurred independently of the Th2 transcription factors GATA binding protein 3 (GATA-3) and c-Maf. However, it increased IL-2 secretion during Th1/Th2 differentiation. Our study demonstrates that ST regulates inflammatory responses by reducing the release of Th1 and Th2 cytokines from T cells and prevents unprimed CD4 T cells from differentiating into Th1 and Th2 cells.
PMID: 18549677 DOI: 10.1211/jpp.60.7.0012    J Pharm Pharmacol. 2008 Jul;60(7):901-7. doi: 10.1211/jpp.60.7.0012. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Suppression of tumour necrosis factor-alpha by Schizonepeta tenuifolia water extract via inhibition of IkappaBalpha degradation and Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase activation.
Kang H, Han SW, Hong JW, Sohn NW.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
The anti-inflammatory effects of an aqueous extract of Schizonepeta tenuifolia on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in vivo and in vitro have been investigated.
METHODS:
C57BL/6 mice were orally administered phosphate-buffered saline (control) or S. tenuifolia water extract (50, 200, 500 or 1000 mg/kg) for 10 days before intraperitoneal administration of LPS (1.3 mg/kg). Blood samples were obtained 1 h after LPS challenge, followed by determination of TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels. Peritoneal macrophages from thioglycollate-injected mice were obtained and stimulated with LPS and S. tenuifolia water extract for viability assay, cytokine analysis, real-time RT PCR and Western blotting.
KEY FINDINGS:
Oral administration of S. tenuifolia water extract to mice significantly reduced LPS-induced serum levels of TNF-alpha, but not IL-6. When peritoneal macrophages were treated in vitro with S. tenuifolia water extract, the inhibition of LPS-induced TNF-alpha was more pronounced than that of IL-6 at the level of secreted protein and mRNA. S. tenuifolia water extract reduced the degradation of IkappaBalpha and the nuclear relocation of p65 NF-kappaB, but the phosphorylation of IkappaBalpha was not affected. Inhibition of c-Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK) by S. tenuifolia water extract led secondarily to the inhibition of phospho-c-Jun and phospho-ATF-2.
CONCLUSIONS:
These results indicated that the downregulation of TNF-alpha by S. tenuifolia water extract may have involved the inhibition of both IkappaBalpha degradation and activation of c-Jun and ATF-2 involving suppression of JNK/SAPK.
PMID: 20663042 DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-7158.2010.01126.x ncbi.nlm.nih.gov