DU-ZHONG

Botanical name: Eucommia ulmoides Oliv.

Family name: EUCOMMIACEAE

Chinese name: Du-zhong, Tow-tong

                    Du-Zhong (in Chinese) or Hardy rubber tree is a large deciduous tree that is native to the central region of China. Its cortex has been used as a crude drug named Eucommiae Cortex. The bark has been used in natural medicine, with the Chinese name Du-Zhong. Recently, tea made from the leaf has been consumed as a health tonic in China, Korea and Japan. The pharmaceutical effects of Du-Zhong are closely related to protein metabolism, especially that of collagen. It is well known that during the aging process, collagen and non-collagenous protein metabolism is depressed. Du-Zhong is supposed that it might prevent the aging process by activating protein metabolism. The promoting effect on collagen synthesis was clarified that the main effective components were geniposidic acid and aucubin. Several pharmaceutical effects are related to aging as follows: relieves back pain, makes organs healthy, increases one’s strength, makes one’s bones and muscles strong, makes one clever, quickens recovery from fatigue and shows an anti-aging effect when consumed over long time periods. The leaf is also containing similar compounds to those in the bark, so the same pharmacological effects are expected from both.

ACTIVE INGREDIENTS OF DU-ZHONG EXTRACT