Abstract:
The present invention is concerned with a process for the manufacture of a herbal composition, said process comprising: a. subjecting a matrine containing plant material, in the absence of a plant material derived from the species Dictamnus, to an extraction with an aqueous solvent, optionally followed by a concentration step, to produce a herbal extract I; b. subjecting a plant material derived from the species Dictamnus, to an extraction with an aqueous solvent, optionally followed by a concentration step, to produce a herbal extract II; c. mixing the herbal extracts I and II; d. provided the resulting mixture contains a significant amount of water, drying the mixture to a water content of less than 6 wt. %. The herbal composition according to the present invention may advantageously be used in a method of treating or preventing cancer,  H. pylori  infections, chronic inflammatory conditions, cardiovascular diseases or cerebral vascular diseases in mammals.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention is concerned with a process for the manufacture of a herbal composition. More particularly the present invention relates to a process that comprises subjecting a plurality of herbs to extraction with an aqueous solvent so as to produce at least 2 herbal extracts which are mixed and subsequently dried and ground to produce a granulate.  
           [0002]    The herbal composition according to the present invention may advantageously be used in a method of treating or preventing cancer,  H. pylori  infections, chronic inflammatory conditions, cardiovascular diseases or cerebral vascular diseases in mammals.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Nowadays a huge number of different drugs is available for combating a large variety of cancers. Most of these drugs are composed of individual or combinations of chemicals that do not occur in nature. While some of these chemicals are effective, many have serious side effects which prevent their long-term and/or recurrent use.  
           [0004]    Traditionally, the focus of cancer research has been in developing therapies and treatment for patients already afflicted with cancer. However, over the last few decades, new insights in the development of cancer as a disease have been gained. It is now understood that cancer is not the result of a single initiation event, but of a gradual, multi-step process characterised by a period of several years between the initiation event and the onset of invasive or metastatic disease. In general, the process of carcinogenesis can be divided into three phases: initiation, promotion and progression. In initiation, a fixed genetic mutation results from the interaction of a carcinogen with DNA. The extent of the molecular change depends on a number of factors including the nature of the nature of the carcinogen, the rate and type of carcinogenic metabolism and the response of the DNA repair system. The next phase, promotion, may occur over extended periods of time and is characterised by the proliferation of the altered cells. This phase may be affected by agents that alter growth rates. During the final phase, progression, genetic and phenotypic changes occur which ultimately cause the development of premalignant lesions into invasive cancer.  
           [0005]    The multi-step nature of carcinogenesis suggests the possibility of intervention at a precancerous state. This is the basis of chemoprevention, which refers to the use of natural or synthetic agents to prevent the development of cancer, either by blocking the DNA damage that initiates the carcinogenesis process or by arresting/regressing existing pre-malignant lesions.  
           [0006]    Since the mid-1950&#39;s, research has been directed at finding components with potential chemopreventive properties. The search for these agents has demonstrated an unique challenge. Chemopreventive agents must have low toxicity and be relatively free of side effects because they are intended for administration to healthy people over long periods of time. This is in direct contrast with chemotherapy drugs. Chemotherapeutic drugs are chosen for their ability to kill tumor cells, but because they are also toxic to healthy cells, they usually cause harmful side effects.  
           [0007]    One of the major sources of potential chemopreventive agents is plants. For example, consumption of cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage is associated with a lower risk of various cancers. Fruits and vegetables contain a number of potentially active chemopreventive compounds, such carotenoids, dithiolthiones and isothiocyanates. A variety of Chinese herbs have been used for centuries to treat different diseases. Although some of these herbs have been used to treat patients with cancer, they are not considered to be disease specific. Herbs such as  Sophora tonkinensis, Polygonum bistorta, Prunella vulgaris, Sonchus brachyotus, Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz  and  Dioscorea bulbifera  comprise components that have been shown to display anti-proliferative effects in certain in vivo assays. A herbal composition containing one or more of the aforementioned herbs is known as ZSP or Zeng Sheng Ping; however, the exact formulation of the composition is not known. In traditional Chinese herbal medicine, it is common practice to substitute selected herbs with other herbs depending upon the symptoms of an individual patient and/or local availability of certain herbs.  
           [0008]    The aforementioned herbs are traditionally dried and ground into a powder so they can be dissolved into hot water and be administered as a potion. Research into the constituents of herbs with medicinal properties has enabled the identification of substances that are believed to be at least partly responsible for these medicinal properties. This has also stimulated the development of effective isolation techniques for obtaining these active principles from said herbs in concentrated form.  
           [0009]    An example of a substance that has been found in herbs and which is believed to have medicinal properties, particularly as a chemopreventive agent, is matrine. Matrine is a substance that is found, for instance, in the herbs  Sophora tonkinensis  ( Sophora subprostrata ),  Belamcanda chinensis  (L) DC,  Scrophyuloaria ningpoensis  Hemsl.,  Isatis tinctoria  L.,  Isatis indignotica  Fort. and  Baphocacanthus cusia Sophora tonkinensis  ( Sophora subprostrata ),  Belamcanda chinensis  (L) DC,  Scrophyuloaria ningpoensis  Hemsl.,  Isatis tinctoria  L.,  Isatis indignotica  Fort. and  Baphocacanthus cusia  Bremek. Often matrine is found in these herbs together with oxymatrine. Oxymatrine is a matrine precursor which is converted in the gastrointestinal tract to form matrine.  
           [0010]    Another substance that is found in herbs and that is deemed to have chemopreventive and therapeutic properties is dictamnine. Dictamnine is a substance found in herbs belonging to the species Dictamnus, especially  Dictamnus dasycarpus  Turcz.  
           [0011]    It is well known in the art to produce a herbal composition by combining one or more plant materials and subjecting the resulting combination of plant materials to an extraction so as to produce an isolate. The objective of such methods is to isolate the active principles, e.g. to separate these from toxic or otherwise undesired components contained in the plant material, and to subsequently remove most of the extraction solvent so as to obtain the active principles in concentrated form. Premixing of the plant materials in this fashion, prior to extraction, is often deemed to be a more efficient practice than separately extracting each individual plant material followed by admixture of the resulting extracts.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0012]    The inventors have unexpectedly found that if matrine containing plant material is combined with certain herb varieties, in particular herbs belonging to the species Dictamnus, to produce an aqueous extract, the recovery of matrine in the resulting extract is very low. It was discovered that the beneficial properties of both the matrine containing plant material and the Dictamnus derived material can be retained in a single composition if these 2 materials are extracted separately and combined thereafter.  
           [0013]    In addition it was found that the following herbs may also interfere with the recovery of matrine from plant materials:  Polygonum bistorta, Prunella vulgaris, Sonchus brachyotus  and  Dioscorea bulbifera . Such interference is particularly pronounced in the presence of plant material from the species Dictamnus.  
           [0014]    Consequently, the present invention aims to present a process for the preparation of a herbal composition containing a significant amount of matrine, which herbal composition is obtained by subjecting a number of plant materials, including at least one matrine containing plant material and a plant material derived from a plant belonging to the species Dictamnus to an extraction with an aqueous solvent, wherein the extraction of the matrine containing plant material is performed separately from the extraction of the plant material derived from a plant belonging to the species Dictamnus.  
           [0015]    The herbal composition obtained from the present process may advantageously be employed to both prevent and treat various forms of cancer and does not give rise to harmful side effects. Surprisingly it was found that the present composition is not only effective in the treatment of cancer, but also that it can be used to treat or prevent,  H. pylori  infections, chronic inflammatory conditions, cardiovascular diseases or cerebral vascular diseases in mammals. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]    Accordingly, the present invention is concerned with a process for the manufacture of a herbal composition, said process comprising:  
         [0017]    a. subjecting a matrine containing plant material, in the absence of a plant material derived from the species Dictamnus to an extraction with an aqueous solvent, optionally followed by a concentration step, to produce a herbal extract I;  
         [0018]    b. subjecting a plant material derived from the species Dictamnus, preferably in the absence of a matrine containing plant material, to an extraction with an aqueous solvent, optionally followed by a concentration step, to produce a herbal extract II,  
         [0019]    c. mixing the herbal extracts I and II;  
         [0020]    d. provided the resulting mixture contains a significant amount of water, drying the mixture to a water content of less than 6 wt. %.  
         [0021]    The term matrine containing plant material refers to plant materials that contain at least 0.01% matrine by weight of dry matter. Preferably the matrine containing plant material comprises at least 0.1% matrine by weight of dry matter.  
         [0022]    The term “concentrating” refers to the operation that aims to increase the concentration of the desired component, especially by removing extraction solvent. It should be understood that this term also encompasses the operation of drying an extract so as to remove all or almost all of the aqueous solvent (and endogenous water) contained therein.  
         [0023]    The present process offers the advantage that matrine is recovered in substantially higher yields than is the case if the matrine containing plant material is co-extracted with the plant material derived from a plant belonging to the species Dictamnus. In general the recovery of martine in the herbal extract I, prior to the optional concentration, exceeds 60%. Preferably said recovery exceeds 80%, more preferably it exceeds 85%.  
         [0024]    The amount of matrine in herbal extract I is usually at least 1 wt. % by weight of the dry matter contained in said extract. Preferably said amount of martine is at least 2 wt. % by weight of the dry matter.  
         [0025]    In a preferred embodiment of the present process the herbal extract I is concentrated to a water content of less than 50 wt. % before said extract is admixed with the herbal extract II. By first separately concentrating herbal extract I, interactions with components from the Dictamnus material that would otherwise lead to martine-losses, are prevented  
         [0026]    The present process employs an aqueous extraction solvent, i.e. a solvent comprising a significant amount of water, e.g. at least 30 wt. % water, preferably at least 60 wt. %. The aqueous extraction solvent may suitably comprise a co-solvent that is miscible with water. Examples of such co-solvents include ethanol and methanol. Preferably, however, the extractions in steps a. and b. of the present process use water as the extraction solvent.  
         [0027]    The extractions in step a. and b. are advantageously carried out at elevated temperatures so as to enhance the efficiency of extraction. Preferably said extractions are conducted at a temperature in excess of 70° C. More preferably the extractions are conducted at a temperature in excess of 85° C. The extractions in step a. and b. are advantageously carried out whilst maintaining the aqueous solvent at boiling point for at least 1 hour, more preferably for 1.5-3 hours.  
         [0028]    In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the process additionally comprises a separate step wherein an amount of Dictamnus plant material is converted into a granulate, e.g. by grinding or cutting, which granulate is mixed with the herbal extracts I and II, preferably in step c. It was found that by subjecting Dictamnus plant material to extraction with an aqueous solvent, not all the active principles contained therein can be extracted effectively. By additionally incorporating some Dictamnus plant material in non-extracted ground form, the loss of valuable active principles is avoided. In this embodiment of the present process, preferably 5-70 wt. % of the total amount of Dictamnus plant material used in the process is subjected to the extraction in step b. and 30-95 wt. % of said total amount is subjected to a separate processing step to convert it into a granulate.  
         [0029]    In order to ensure that a sufficiently high amount of the active principles are extracted during batch extraction from the, preferably finely cut, plant materials, it is preferred to carry out the extraction steps a. and b. with a total (mass) amount of water that exceeds at least 5 times the amount of herb(s). More preferably the total amount of water exceeds at least 10 times the amount of herb(s). The batch extractions may suitable be carried out as two or more successive extractions. It is also possible to employ continuous extraction methods known in the art, e.g. percolation.  
         [0030]    During extraction special techniques may be employed to improve the recovery of valuable plant constituents. Such techniques include ultrasonic vibration, enzymatic lysis of the cell walls, etc.  
         [0031]    In the present process, prior to step c., the herbal extracts I and II are preferably concentrated by evaporation. Said evaporation is advantageously conducted at reduced pressure and a temperature below 85° C. Thus the degradation of heat labile components is minimised as well as losses of volatile active principles.  
         [0032]    In a preferred embodiment of the present process plant material derived from one or more herbs selected from the group consisting of  Polygonum bistorta, Prunella vulgaris, Sonchus brachyotus  and  Dioscorea bulbifera  is co-extracted with the plant material derived from the species Dictamnus to produce the herbal extract II and wherein the matrine containing plant material is extracted in the absence of these one or more herbs. The aforementioned herbs contain components that are capable of reinforcing the chemopreventive and therapeutic properties of the components extracted from the matrine containing plant material and the Dictamnus plant material. Since co-extraction of these herbs with the matrine containing plant material will negatively influence the recovery of matrine, it is preferred to combine plant material derived from these herbs with the Dictamnus plant material to produce herbal extract II.  
         [0033]    The botanical. chemical and histological characteristics of the component herbs used in some embodiments of the process of the present invention are described further below.  
         [0034]    [0034] Sophora tonkinensis    
         [0035]    Scientific/Pharmaceutical name: Radix Sophorae Tonkinensis  
         [0036]    Botanical name:  Sophora tonkinensis  Gapnep. Also known as  Sophora subprostrata    
         [0037]    Synonyms and Common Names:  
         [0038]    Guang Dou Gen  
         [0039]    Shan-dou gen-(Mandarin)  
         [0040]    Sanzukon (Japanese)  
         [0041]    Santugtin (Korean)  
         [0042]    Vietnamese Sophora root (English)  
         [0043]    Pigeon pea root  
         [0044]    Mountain bean root  
         [0045]    subprostrate  
         [0046]    Botanical Family: Leguminosae  
         [0047]    Parts used: Dried Roots  
         [0048]    Definition of Drug: Vietnamese Sophora Root is the dried root and rhizome of  Sophora tonkinensis  Gapnep.  
         [0049]    Chemical Constituents:  
         [0050]    Matrine  
         [0051]    Oxymatrine  
         [0052]    Anagyrine  
         [0053]    Methylcytisine  
         [0054]    Sophoranone  
         [0055]    Sophoradin  
         [0056]    Sophoranochromente  
         [0057]    Sophoradochromente  
         [0058]    Genistein  
         [0059]    Pterocarpine  
         [0060]    Maackian  
         [0061]    Trifolirhizin  
         [0062]    Sitosterol  
         [0063]    Hexadecanoic acid  
         [0064]    Approximately 0.93% of the root of  Sophora tonkinensis  consists of alkaloids, including matrine, oxymatrine, anagyrine and methylcytisine. The root contains other non-alkaloidal substances, including sophoranone, sophoranochromene, sophoradin and daidzein. Also present is 1-trifolirhizin, a glucoside whose hydrolysed product is 1-maackinin. Other substances isolated from  Sophora tonkinensis  include pterocarpine and 1-maackain. Also, some triterpenoidal saponins have been isolated from the root: these include sophorneoanodromone and sophorneoadochromone.  
         [0065]    Botanical Characteristics:  
         [0066]    General distribution: The herb&#39;s distribution in China is in Guangxi, Guizhou and Yunnan provinces. The elevation range in China is between 1000-2000 m. It is also distributed in Vietnam.  
         [0067]    Macroscopic Description:  
         [0068]    Rhizomes are irregularly nodiform showing remaining stem-bases at the top and several roots at the lower part. Roots are usually branched and long cylindrical. Its length is variable and its diameter is between 0.7-1.5 cm. The outer part is brown to dull brown with irregular longitudinal wrinkles and protruding transversal lenticels. The texture is hard and tough with brownish fractured surface in bark and pale yellow in wood. Its characteristic odour is similar to bean and its taste is very bitter.  
         [0069]    Histology:  
         [0070]    A transverse section demonstrates that the cork layer consists of up to ten or more layers of cells. In the cortex the first and second outer rows of cells contain prisms of calcium oxalate which create a discontinuous ring of crystal cells with lignified and thickened cell walls. Groups of fibres are distributed throughout both the cortex and phloem. The cambium is in a ring. Xylem is well developed, the rays are 1-8 cells wide; vessels are subrounded, mostly single and scattered or in groups of two or more, containing yellowish-brown contents; wood fibres are scattered in groups.  
         [0071]    Parenchymatous cells are filled with starch grains and a few cells contain prisms.  
         [0072]    [0072] Polygonum bistorta    
         [0073]    Scientific/Pharmaceutical name: Rhizoma Polygonum Bistorta L.  
         [0074]    Botanical name:  Polygonum bistorta  L.  
         [0075]    Common Names: Bistort  
         [0076]    Dragonwort  
         [0077]    Easter Giant  
         [0078]    Adderwort  
         [0079]    English Serpentary  
         [0080]    Osterick, Passions  
         [0081]    Patience Dock  
         [0082]    Red Legs  
         [0083]    Sweet Dock  
         [0084]    Snakeweed  
         [0085]    Quánshen (Chinese)  
         [0086]    Parts used: Dried rhizomes  
         [0087]    Definition of Drug: Bistort root and rhizome is the subterranean part of  Polygonum bistorta  L.  
         [0088]    Chemical Constituents:  
         [0089]    Polyphenols (including ellagic acid)  
         [0090]    Tannins (15-20%)  
         [0091]    Phlobaphene,  
         [0092]    Flavonoids  
         [0093]    The anthraquinone emodin.  
         [0094]    Hexadecanoic acid  
         [0095]    Diosgenin  
         [0096]    Iodoquinol  
         [0097]    1,4,2-dioxazole,3-(4 chlorphenyl)-5-ph  
         [0098]    General Distribution:  
         [0099]    [0099] Polygonum bistorta  is distributed in Europe, Northern and Western Asia; China, Japan, and North America. This perennial grows on slopes, in grassland and under trees; meadows and woodland, and prefers damp conditions.  
         [0100]    Macroscopical Description:  
         [0101]    [0101] Polygonum bistorta  is a perennial herb, about 50-80 cm high. Rootstock is crooked, robust, woody and purplish-brown or black, as thick as the thumb or less. The stem is erect, very simple, slender and glabrous. The basal leaves are clustered and long petiolate, oblong-lanceolate, 10-18 cm long by 2.5-5 cm wide. The apex is acute and the base is obtuse-rounded or truncate, sometimes cordate (heart-shaped) and coriaceous. Sheath of stipules are tube-like, membranous. Cauline leaf is usually linear or lanceolate, sessile or amplexicaul.  
         [0102]    The flowers are reddish or white. Petals are present in numbers of 5 and are elliptic. There are 8 stamens and 3 stigmas. The nut is very small, trigonous, glossy and reddish-brown colored. The herb is odorless but tastes very bitter and harsh.  
         [0103]    Histology:  
         [0104]    The transverse section of the rhizoma is pink. The plant&#39;s surface when transversely fractured is brownish red and shows vascular bundles arranged in a circle of yellowish white dots.  
         [0105]    [0105] Prunella vulgaris    
         [0106]    The whole dried plant of Prunena vulgaris is used to produce the extracts of the present invention.  
         [0107]    Scientific/Pharmaceutical name: Spica Prunenae Vulgaris  
         [0108]    Botanical name:  Prunella vulgaris  L. ( Brunella vulgaris  L.)  
         [0109]    Synonyms and Common names:  
         [0110]    Self heal,  
         [0111]    Heal all,  
         [0112]    Selfheal spike,  
         [0113]    Prunella,  
         [0114]    “Summer withered herb” (English)  
         [0115]    agos-(Japanese)  
         [0116]    agoch&#39;o (Korean)  
         [0117]    lá kucao (Chinese)  
         [0118]    Botanical Family: Labiatae  
         [0119]    Parts used: Fruit spike  
         [0120]    Definition of Drug:  
         [0121]    The drug, commonly referred to as Selfheal Fruit-Spike, consists of the dried flowered fruit-spike of  Prunella vulgaris  L.  
         [0122]    Chemical constituents:  
         [0123]    Oleanolic acid  
         [0124]    Ursolic acid  
         [0125]    Rutin  
         [0126]    Hyperoside  
         [0127]    Caffeic acid  
         [0128]    Vitamin B1  
         [0129]    Vitamin C  
         [0130]    Vitamin K  
         [0131]    Tannin  
         [0132]    Polysaccharide prunel line  
         [0133]    Triterpenes (two), based on ursolic and oleanolic acid  
         [0134]    General distribution:  
         [0135]    [0135] Prunella vulgaris  is distributed in China (Jiangsu, Anhhui, Zhejiang, Hunan) and Japan.  
         [0136]    Macroscopic description:  
         [0137]    The herb is a common weed, a low sprawling perennial about 45 cm high, with a short rhizome, reproducing by seeds and short runners that root freely at the nodes. As with other members of the mint family, the stems are square and the leaves are opposite. The stems branch freely and are usually about one foot tall. The lower leaves are petioled with the blades lanceolate to ovate. The upper leaves are sessile. subtending the flower cluster. The flower cluster is a close thick spike with three flowers in the axils of each rounded membranaceous bract. The flowers are two-lipped, the upper lip hood-shaped, the lower lip shorter and three lobed. The blossoms are lavender to white. The herb tastes bitter.  
         [0138]    [0138] Sonchus brachyotus    
         [0139]    Scientific/Pharmaceutical name: Herba cum Radice Patriniae  
         [0140]    Botanical name:  
         [0141]    (in China)  Sonchus brachyotus  DC. and Sonhus spp.  
         [0142]    (in Japan) Patrinia villosa Juss.  
         [0143]    (in Taiwan and Hong Kong) Thlaspi arvensis L.  
         [0144]    Family name:  
         [0145]    Valerianaceae (Japan)  
         [0146]    Cruciferae (Taiwan and Hong Kong)  
         [0147]    Compositae (China)  
         [0148]    Synonyms/Common name:  
         [0149]    Pinyin qu mai cai  
         [0150]    Haishoso (Japanese)  
         [0151]    P&#39;aechangch&#39;o (Korean)  
         [0152]    Patrinia thlaspi (English)  
         [0153]    Snow-thistle. Penny-cress. Patrinia.  
         [0154]    Pai-chiang-Tsao. or Bai-Jiang-Cao  
         [0155]    Parts used: Dried whole plant  
         [0156]    Chemical constituents:  
         [0157]    Thlaspi arvensis (seeds): sinigrin and myrosinde (enzyme)  
         [0158]    [0158] S. brachyotus  DC (plant): fattyoil, ceryl alcohol, invert sugar, choline, tartaric acid; (juice) oxydase, kautschuk, mannitol. L-inositol, alpha and beta-lactucerol Patrinia villosa (root and rhizome) loganin, viloside, morroniside; (fruit and stem) sinigrin  
         [0159]    Patrinia scabiosaefolia (root and rhizome) oleanolic acid, hederagenin, beta-sitosterol,  
         [0160]    D-glucoside, saponins (patrinoside A, C, C1, D, and scabiosides A, B, C, D, E, F, G).  
         [0161]    ursolic acid  
         [0162]    General distribution:  
         [0163]    The China provincial distribution of Sonchus brachyotus DC is in Henongjiang, Jilin, Nei Mongol, Hebei. Shanxi, Shaanxi and Shandong. It is also distributed in Japan, Mongoia and Russia.  
         [0164]    [0164] Dictamnus dasycarpus  Turcz  
         [0165]    Scientific/Pharmaceutical name: Cortex Dictamni Dasycarpi Radicis  
         [0166]    Botanical name:  Dictanmus dasycarpus  Turcz.  
         [0167]    Family: Rutaceae  
         [0168]    Synonyms/Common names:  
         [0169]    Densefruit Pittany Root-bar  
         [0170]    Bai Xian Pi (Mandarin)  
         [0171]    Hakusenpi (Japanese)  
         [0172]    Paeksonp&#39;i (Korean)  
         [0173]    Cortex of Chinese Dittany Root (Eng.)  
         [0174]    “White Fresh Bark” 
         [0175]    Parts used: Dried root bark  
         [0176]    Definition of drug:  
         [0177]    Dense Fruit Pittany Root-bark is the dried root bark of  Dictamnus dasycarpus  Turcz. The root bark is stripped off and dried.  
         [0178]    Chemical constituents:  
         [0179]    dictamnine  
         [0180]    skimmianine  
         [0181]    g-fragarine  
         [0182]    preskinnianine and isomaculosinidine  
         [0183]    limonin and obakinone  
         [0184]    fraxinellone  
         [0185]    psoralen  
         [0186]    aurapten and bergapten  
         [0187]    and saponins and essential oils.  
         [0188]    General distribution:  
         [0189]    The herb is native to China (Manchuria, Hebei, Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu, and Hubei), and Korea.  
         [0190]    Macroscopical description:  
         [0191]    The root bark is quilled, 5-15 cm long, 1-2 cm in diameter, 2-5 mm thick outer surface greyish-white or pale greyish-yellow, with fine longitudinal wrinkles and rootlet scars, frequently with protruding small granular dots. The inner surface is whitish with fine longitudinal wrinkles, smooth, slightly fibrous. The texture is fragile, dusting on breaking, fracture uneven and somewhat lamellar. When the outer layer is peeled off, numerous small glitter spots are observed during exposure to light. Its odor is muttony, and its taste is slightly bitter. The herb also has cold property.  
         [0192]    [0192] Dioscorea bulbifera    
         [0193]    Pharmaceutical name: Tuber Dioscoreae Bulbiferae  
         [0194]    Botanical name:  Dioscorea bulbifera  L  
         [0195]    Family: Dioscoreaceae (625 species)  
         [0196]    Synonyms/Common names:  
         [0197]    Bulbil-bearing yam,  
         [0198]    Potato yam,  
         [0199]    Aerial yam,  
         [0200]    Air potato,  
         [0201]    “Yellow medicine” 
         [0202]    Huáng yao zi (Chinese)  
         [0203]    Oyakushi (Japanese)  
         [0204]    Hwangyakcha (Korean)  
         [0205]    Parts used: Dried tubers  
         [0206]    Chemical constituents of the dried tubers of  Dioscorea bulbifera:    
         [0207]    Diosgenin  
         [0208]    Diosbul ins A, B, C  
         [0209]    Iodine  
         [0210]    Vitamins A, B, C  
         [0211]    The herb contains a small amount of saponins, including dioscorecin, dioscoretoxin and tannin. Bitter substances include diosbulbine A, B, and C, and iodine.  
         [0212]    General distribution:  
         [0213]    The Dioscoreales are primarily a tropical group, with a few species in Europe and temperate America. Most are vines or climbing plants, but some are herbs as well. The Dioscoreales include 600 species of Dioscorea and about 35 species in other genera. The group is not especially large, but the genus Dioscorea is common in wet tropical regions around the world. In many countries, it is cultivated for its starchy tubers, sometimes called air potatoes or Chinese yams.  
         [0214]    Macroscopic description:  
         [0215]    A common characteristic of most Dioscoreales is a thick, starchy underground stem called a tuber. The tuber provides an energy store for these plants to begin growth again when conditions are favorable. The tubers of Dioscorea are full of starch and nutrients, and boiled and eaten in many cultures. These provide the primary source of carbohydrates for about 70 million people in Africa and southern Asia. The plants are propagated by cutting up the tubers, rather than from seed, as there are not usually many seeds produced. The Dioscoreales are monocots. The leaves have a reticulated venation reminiscent of the paleoherb dicots, and may be heart-shaped or highly lobed. For this reason, the Dioscoreales have, at times, been considered the most “primitive” of monocots, but though they may retain many characters found in early monocots, they now appear to be more closely related to the Lilliales. The Dioscoreales may be divided into the following families:  
         [0216]    1. Trichopodaceae— Trichopus zeylanicus    
         [0217]    2. Dioscoreaceae—Air potatoes (625 species), mostly Dioscorea  
         [0218]    3. Taccaceae—only Tacca, the “bat flower”, with 10 species.  
         [0219]    [0219] Dioscorea bulbifera  is covered with large handsome leaves. It has a winter dormant period when the stems die back to ground. After dormancy, the underground tubers give rise to stems which grow quickly, reaching up to 70 feet by the end of the growing season. The vine&#39;s stem is herbaceous, not woody. The stem is round, and not winged. The large leaves are up to 8 inches long and heart-shaped (cordate). The leaf blade&#39;s basallobes are rounded. Leaf veins radiate from a single point. The leaves have long stems (petioles), and are alternate on the stem.  
         [0220]    Unisexual flowers appear from July to October. They are small, greenish and fragrant, hanging in relatively long clusters (panicles and spikes) up to 4 inches long. The fruit is a capsule of seeds, winged at the base. Dioscorea bulbifera plants produce “aerial tubers” that are attached closely to the stems where leaves attach (axil). These are greyish and somewhat irregular Tubers also grow underground where they may be much larger, light-yellow to yellowish-brown, and have a bitter taste.  
         [0221]    It is important to ensure that the herbs which are used according to the present invention are selected such that they contain only acceptable levels of contaminants such as metals or pesticides. Various regions of China have been surveyed and it was found that the component herbs are preferably harvested from the Guangxi, Hunan, Liaoning, Anhui, Hebei and Jiangsu regions of China during the summer and autumn months and no pesticides are used. The plants are purchased dried and whole or parts of these herbs are used in manufacturing.  
         [0222]    In the process according to the invention, the matrine containing plant material is advantageously utilised in an amount of between 5 and 50%, more preferably of between 10 and 30% by weight of the total amount of plant material utilised in the process. The Dictamnus plant material is advantageously utilised in a total amount of between 3 and 30%, more preferably of between 5 and 20% by weight of the total amount of plant materials utilised in the process.  
         [0223]    The plant materials derived from the aforementioned herbs  Polygonum bistorta, Prunella vulgaris, Sonchus brachyotus  and  Dioscorea bulbifera  are generally utilised in a total amount of between 30 and 90%, preferably of between 60 and 80% by weight of the total amount of plant materials utilised in the present process.  
         [0224]    Step b. of the present process preferably comprises subjecting plant material derived from at least two different herbs to the extraction with an aqueous solvent. Studies into the chemopreventive and therapeutic properties of the herbal compositions obtained by the present process have shown that best results are obtained if plant material derived from two or more, preferably from three or more herbs selected from the group consisting of  Polygonum bistorta, Prunella vulgaris, Sonchus brachyotus  and  Dioscorea bulbifera  is subjected to the extraction with an aqueous solvent in step b. Most preferably step b. comprises extracting plant material derived from the herbs  Polygonum bistorta, Prunella vulgaris, Sonchus brachyotus  and  Dioscorea bulbifera.    
         [0225]    The mixture obtained from step d. of the present process is preferably subjected to further processing steps, including e.g. grinding or spray drying, to produce a pharmaceutical or nutritional product that can suitably be used to administer the active principles contained in the herbal composition. More particularly, the present process advantageously comprises the additional steps of blending the mixture obtained from step d. with excipient material; and converting the resulting blend into a solid unit dosage form for oral administration. In order to avoid that some of the efficacy of the present herbal composition is lost after oral administration as a result of contact with gastric fluids, it is preferred convert the aforementioned blend into a tablet, which tablet is subsequently coated with an enteric coating.  
       EXAMPLES  
     Example 1  
       [0226]    In one illustrative example of the present invention the manufacturing process is as follows: Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz (105 g) is ground into a powder form and set aside for later use. Sophora tonkinensis (420 g) is added to ten times its volume in water (approximately 5 L) and then set to boil and decoct for 1.5 hours. The fluid is then removed and saved and another ten times volume of water is added. The mixture is boiled and decocted for another 1.5 hours. The fluid is again removed and then combined with the first portion. The solution is filtered to remove large particles and then concentrated by heating at reduced pressure to S.G. of 1.30-1.35 (at 50° C.). The resulting cream paste is dehydrated at a temperature under 60° C., pulverised and the Sophora tonkinensis powder is then set aside for later use.  
         [0227]    Another portion of  Dictamnus dasycarpus  Turcz (105 g) is mixed with  Polygonum bistorta  (420 g),  Prunella vulgaris  (420 g),  Sonchus brachyotus  (420 g) and  Dioscorea bulbifera  (100 g). The mixture is added to ten times its volume in water (approximately 15 L), boiled and then decocted for 2 hours. The fluid is then removed and saved. Another ten times volume of water is added and the boiling and decocting process is repeated. The fluid is again removed and added to the first portion. The solution is filtered to remove large particles and then concentrated at reduced pressure to an S.G. of 1.30-1.35 (50° C.) (clear cream paste). The cream paste is then mixed with the Dictamnus dasycarpus powder and the Sophora tonkinensis powder. The mixture is then dehydrated at a temperature below 80° C. The dried herbal extract is then ground to a powder.  
         [0228]    An appropriate amount of starch and a small amount of ethanol is added as binding material and 0.3 g tablets are formed. Sugar is then used to coat the tablets. The recipe produces about 1,000 tablets.  
         [0229]    Thus one example of the present invention is a combination of  Sophora tonkinensis, Polygonum bistorta, Prunella vulgaris, Sonchus brachyotus, Dictamnus dasycarpus  Turcz, and  Dioscorea bulbifera  in an amount of about 21%, 21%, 21%, 21%, 10.5%, and 5.5%, respectively.  
       Comparative Example  
       [0230]    Example 1 is repeated with the following exception: The  Sophora tonkinensis  (420 g) is mixed with  Dictamus dasycarpus  Turcz (105 g),  Polygonum bistorta  (420 g),  Prunella vulgaris  (420 g),  Sonchus brachyotus  (420 g) and  Dioscorea bulbifera  (100 g). The mixture is added to ten times its volume in water (approximately 20 L), boiled and then decocted for 2 hours. The fluid is then removed and saved. Another ten times volume of water is added and the boiling and decocting process is repeated.  
         [0231]    The matrine recovery in the extract so obtained is found to be much lower than what is observed for the extract obtained by separate extraction of Sophora tonkinensis.  
       Example 2  
       [0232]    In a further embodiment of the present invention Herb F is reduced by about 75%, because certain patients taking the herbal composition of Example 1, showed elevated liver enzymes. Thus, according to this embodiment of the present invention, the formulation comprises a lower concentration of the Herb F. In one example of this embodiment there is provided a composition comprising a combination of  Sophora tonkinensis, Polygonum bistorta, Prunella vulgaris, Sonchus brachyotus, Dictamnus dasycarpus  Turcz, and  Dioscorea bulbifera  in an amount of about 21.9%, 21.9%, 21.9%, 21.9%, 11.0%, 1.4%.  
       Example 3  
       [0233]    In yet a further embodiment of the present invention the Herb F is eliminated entirely from the composition. Thus, according to this embodiment the composition comprises a combination of Herb A, Herb B, Herb C, Herb D and Herb E in an amount of from 6%-38%, 6%-38%, 6%-38%, 6%-38%, and 3%-19%, respectively. In one specific example of this embodiment there is provided a composition comprising a combination of  Sophora tonkinensis, Polygonum bistorta, Prunella vulgaris, Sonchus brachyotus  and  Dictamnus dasycarpus  Turcz in an amount of about 22%, 22%, 22%, 22%, and 11%, respectively.