What is a false leaf tree (butcher's broom)?
False leaf tree is a very interesting plant. False leaf tree (scientific name: Ruscus aculeata L.) is a shrub belonging to the genus Liliaceae and false leaf tree. Its name has a very close relationship with his form. The picture below is the false leaf tree, but the leaves in the picture are not leaves, but the stem of false leaf tree.
So why are the stems of false leaf trees so like leaves? This is due to the typical Mediterranean climate in southern Europe where the pseudoleaf tree originates, which is hot and dry. In order to adapt to the surrounding environment, the large and thin leaves are no longer suitable for the survival of the false leaf tree. The leaves of the false leaf tree degenerate into small scales of 3 mm, and its branchlets grow into flat leaves shape, which makes people mistakenly think that they are leaves.
The false leaf tree can be planted as an ornamental. The dried false leaf tree can be used as decoration after dyeing, and it can also be used as a broom, so it is also called the butcher’s broom.
About butcher's broom extract -Ruscosapogenin
The active ingredients in butcher's broom are mainly spirostanes and flavonoids. Spirostane is the main active ingredient in the pseudoleaf tree, including ruscosapogenin, new ruscosapogenin and several glycosides of ruscosapogenin. Ruscosapogenin were first isolated from the butcher's broom (Ruscus aculeatus L.) and it is also one of the main active ingredients of Ophiopogon japonicus (L.f) Ker-Gawl, a traditional Chinese medicine.
What are the main effects of ruscosapogenin?
1. Anti-inflammatory effect
Ruscosapogenin has a significant anti-inflammatory effect. One of the mechanisms by which Ruscosapogenin exerts an anti-inflammatory effect may be to block the migration of lymphocytes into the extracellular matrix by interfering with the protein kinase C signaling pathway.
2. Antithrombotic effect
Ruscosapogenin has an antithrombotic effect. In animal experiments, Ruscosapogenin can significantly inhibit platelet aggregation in experimental subjects. Moreover, the formation of venous thrombosis can be inhibited to a certain extent by oral administration of Ruscosapogenin once a day.
3. Anti-tumor effect
Ruscosapogenin has an anti-tumor effect. Studies have found that Russcosapogenin extracted from Ophiopogon japonicus has a cytotoxic effect on SMMC-7721 cells, which in turn has an anti-tumor effect.
4. Protective effects of cerebral ischemia and hypoxia
Ruscosapogenin has a protective effect on cerebral ischemia and hypoxia. This effect may be achieved by increasing the activity of superoxide dismutase SOD, increasing its ability to scavenge free radicals, reducing oxidative damage and inhibiting cell apoptosis.
5. Skin care effect
The antioxidant capacity of ruscosapogenin contributes to the formation of the skin barrier, which can help slow down the aging of the skin.
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