Pharmacological Activities of a Chinese Herb, Glycine tomentella (I-Tiao-Gung): A Systematic Review

I-Tiao-Gung, Glycine temetella Hayata, has been used as a traditional herbal medicine for pain relief. This review provides science-based evidences that support the traditional concept. The 95 % ethanol extract of I-Tiao-Gung root (GTE) is an isoflavone-rich flavonoid mixture. It has the bioactivities including anti-inflammation by inhibiting plasma COX-2 and TNF-α gene expression in a macrophage-like cell line from Atlantic salmon (TO cells) and in vivo tests on tilapia and guppy. GTE was anti-oxidative to plasma LDL in both in vitro and ex vivo studies. It also showed activities of blood thinning, preventive to erythrocytes aggregation, upregulating EPA synthesis in erythrocyte membrane, enhancing adaptation to cold and heat stresses in tilapia, grouper and ornamental fishes. These fishes served as alternative animal models to verify the efficacy of GTE used in herbal medicine. It also has more pharmacological effects to be considered.