While the incidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and C virus (HCV) infection is decreasing in the United States, it is still a world-wide challenge with ominous implications for individuals and public health. Hundreds of millions are infected throughout the world with a chronic, silent condition that often leads to irreparable liver damage and cancer.
Conventional Treatment
Preventive measures like vaccination (in the case of HBV) and avoiding risky behaviours work but once infected, treatment options are limited and expensive. These infections often become asymptomatic, smoldering in the liver for years while remaining contagious. Conventional strategies do not expect to cure the infection as much as manage it by reducing viral load. These treatments involve combining the antiviral properties of several compounds and have their own side effects. Success with this strategy varies depending on the resistance of the viral strain.
Complementary Options
Several botanical-based materials are emerging that appear to have substantial liver-protective and antiviral properties. These substances have been clinically studied and appear to be effective as solo or adjunct treatments -comparable to or better than conventional methods. These substances are generally abundant in nature and inexpensive but must be harvested and processed using acceptable standards and measured for standardized potency.
Oxymatrine
One example of these substances is called oxymatrine. Oxymatrine is a complex alkaloid that appears to help protect the liver against the inflammatory processes associated with hepatitis and exert a healing effect. It is a unique quinolizidine alkaloid found in the stalk of the plant species Sophora flavescens-usually 2% of dried root stalk (Ku Shen). It has a molecular formula of C15H24N2O2 and a molecular weight of 264.36 grams per mole. When ingested, the majority of it loses an oxygen molecule and is converted to matrine: C15H24N2O with a molecular weight of 248.2 grams per mole.
Properties of Oxymatrine/Matrine
These two similar molecules exhibit protective influences on human and animal tissues against inflammation and microbial invaders like bacteria and viruses. They inhibit viral replication, reduce liver cell destruction, and protect against the scarring fibrosis associated with chronic damage. They also appear to promote bile flow which discourages gallstone formation. One of the ways they seem to work is by stimulating a type of immune cell called a T-helper1 lymphocyte to release cellular messengers called cytokines. These cytokines trigger a shift in the immune response to viral infection, enabling the body to fight it more efficiently.
Cancer Therapy
Oxymatrine has also been shown to inhibit tumor growth in several ways. It induces differentiation of cells, influences cellular suicide, and reduces metastasis.
Forms and Dosage
Discovered over 50 years ago, an extracted oral form of 20% oxymatrine and matrine has been available in Europe and the US for at least 25. This is substantially higher potency than the normal 2% found in root stalks of S. flavescens. When taken orally, the majority of the oxymatrine is converted to matrine which is thought to share the bioactive properties. The usual dosage of this extracted material depends on the type of practitioner prescribing but often ranges from 400-900 mg/day for several weeks of use followed by breaks. Very little has been reported regarding toxicity and adverse effects but it appears large dosages of crude root material may exhibit neurologic-effects -especially in children.
Efficacy and safety of this material is dependent on well designed studies and good manufacturing processes. While larger and more involved studies are progressing it is recommended that this material only be taken under the supervision of a competent and licensed health care professional.
Resources
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Chen YX, et al., The inhibitory effect of oxymatrine on hepatitis C virus in vitro, Chinese
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Kang Junjie and Kang Suqiong, 30 cases of chronic hepatitis B treated with oxymatrine
injection combined with syndrome differentiation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Journal of
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Li Jiqiang, et al., A preliminary study on therapeutic effect of oxymatrine in treating patients
with chronic hepatitis C, Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, 1998;18(4): 227-229.
Niu Kuizhi, Pharmacology and clinical application of sophora flavescentis, International
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Xiang X, et al., Effect of oxymatrine on murine fulminant hepatitis and hepatocye apoptosis,
Chinese Journal of Medicine, 2002; 115(4); 593-596.
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Xu, G., Yao, L. Attenuation of acute lung injury in mice by oxymatrine is associated with inhibition of phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2005; April (177-183)
Zhu Ningxi, et al., Study on inducing and differentiating function and mechanism of matrine
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