Poria

Generic name: Poria Cocos (Schw.) Wolf.
Brand names: Fu-ling, Hoelen, Indian Bread, Poria, Tuckahoe

Usage of Poria

Most clinical evidence is based on combination preparations containing poria. Clinical studies in which P. cocos is only one of several chemical or plant derivatives included in preparations, which is common in traditional Chinese medicine, cannot be evaluated for efficacy of poria alone.

Anti-inflammatory effects

Animal data

Triterpene carboxylic acids and derivatives in poria extract inhibited induced ear edema, paw edema, and other edemas, as well as long-term inflammation and dermatitis in mice.Cuellar 1997, Giner-Larza 2000, Kaminaga 1996, Nukaya 1996 Pachymic and dehydrotumulosic acids inhibited phospholipase A2 in snake venom, suggesting potential as anti-inflammatory agents.Cuélla 1996

Clinical data

In human volunteers with induced contact dermatitis, poria incorporated into an amphiphilic emollient cream was effective in the induction phase of inflammation, but not in well-established inflammation. Inhibition of key proinflammatory enzymes comparable with that of indomethacin was demonstrated. The cream was not irritating to healthy skin.Fuchs 2006

Cancer

Both triterpene and polysaccharide fractions of poria have demonstrated anticancer actions in laboratory experiments. Proposed mechanisms include downregulation of nuclear factor kappa B activity and its signaling pathway, antiangiogenesis, and induced apoptosis. Cytotoxicity has been demonstrated against many human cancer cell lines, including leukemia and melanoma, as well as lung, prostate, ovarian, stomach, pancreatic, breast, and skin cancers.Akihisa 2009, Chen 2004, Gapter 2005, Kang 2006, Kikuchi 2011, Ling 2009, Ling 2011, Ríos 2011, Sagar 2006, Wang 2004, Zhang 2006, Zhou 2008

Animal data

Limited animal studies exist.Ríos 2011 In mice, extracts of poria delayed the formation of chemically induced papillomasAkihisa 2007 and reduced the weight of tumors in mice with induced sarcomas.Wang 2004 In mice injected with breast cancer cells, an ethanol extract of poria demonstrated inhibition of tumor development and final tumor weight, and was associated with fewer organ and muscle adverse effects than the comparator, cisplatin.Jiang 2020

Clinical data

A systematic review of herbal medicines used as adjuvants to the 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX4) regimen for treatment of colorectal cancer was conducted to identify evidence of safety and efficacy as well as management of chemotherapy adverse effects. A total of 13 Chinese randomized clinical trials (N=940) comparing herbal medicines plus FOLFOX4 with the FOLFOX4 regimen alone in patients with advanced (stage IV) colorectal cancer were included. Although 58 different herbs and/or extracts were used, P. cocos was the sixth most common herb found in treatment preparations (4 studies). Tumor response rate, overall survival at 1 year, time to progression, quality of life, body weight, nausea/vomiting, and neutropenia improved significantly (P values ranged from P<0.00001 to P=0.01) with herbal adjuvants. Poria was present in the preparations used in each of the studies contributing to these results, except for overall survival and body weight.Chen 2014

Depression

Animal data

A study in mice demonstrated promising results for oral treatment with polysaccharides purified from P. cocos; antidepressant effects were shown through inflammatory mechanisms.Zhang 2018 In rats, a P. cocos water extract reduced depressive behavioral issues associated with chronic stress via anti-inflammatory effects.Huang 2020 Similar results were noted with a triterpenoid extract of poria, with potential mediation by gut flora metabolism.Gao 2020

Diabetes

Animal data

Animal studies are limited. In mice with induced diabetes, the methanol extract of poria improved insulin sensitivity, with a resultant decrease in blood glucose that has been attributed to some triterpenoids. Other effects include induction of adipose conversion, increased glucose uptake, and activation of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor.Huang 2010, Li 2011, Ríos 2011 At least one poria component seemed to reduce hyperglycemia via effects on the gut biome.Sun 2019

Diuresis

Animal data

In one study in rats, increased urine output and sodium and chloride excretion were observed after oral administration of ethanol extracts of P. cocos.Hu 2017

Dysmenorrhea

Animal data

In a study in which female mice with oxytocin-induced uterine contractions were administered oral extracts from Guizhi Fuling (a Chinese herbal capsule formulation containing P. cocos and 4 other herbal ingredients) for 5 days, treatment resulted in reduced writhing response and inhibition of spontaneous uterine contractions; further studies are needed to determine a role in dysmenorrhea.Sun 2016

Immunomodulatory effects

Enhanced immune activity of mice spleen and thymus has been reported with administration of poria extracts. An increase in the immune response by activated macrophages has been attributed to effects on cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor and interleukins, as well as on nuclear factor kappa B. A suppressant effect has been noted on transforming growth factor (an immune suppressor).Chang 2009, Chen 2010, Ríos 2011, Spelman 2006

Animal data

In rats with implanted cardiac allografts, poria induced immune tolerance and increased survival time of the graft. Increased CD3, CD4, and CD8 counts were also observed.Zhang 2004

Clinical data

While there are no clinical data regarding use of P. cocos as an immunomodulator, a study conducted in male wrestlers showed a diminished immune response to a polysaccharide fraction from P. cocos among dehydrated subjects.Jang 2011

Osteoporosis

Animal data

A hydroethanolic P. cocos extract inhibited osteoclast functioning and reduced bone loss in ovariectomized mice.Hwang 2020

Other uses

Other effects reported for poria include nematocidal, antibacterial, and antiviral activitiesLi 2005, Ríos 2011, Wang 2010; antioxidant activityPark 2009, Ríos 2011, Wu 2004; antiemetic effectsRíos 2011, Tai 1995; and improved cerebral blood flow.Jingyi 1997, Wang 1998

Poria side effects

Research reveals little or no information regarding adverse reactions with the use of poria. The Chinese Pharmacopoeia lists poria as contraindicated in polyuria, spermatorrhea, and urogenital prolapse.Ríos 2011

Before taking Poria

Avoid use. Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking. Poria is the main component of a traditional Chinese medicine used to prevent spontaneous abortion.Zhang 2004 However, until safety in pregnancy has been established, use of poria cannot be recommended.

How to use Poria

There is no clinical evidence to support dosing recommendations for poria. The Chinese Compendium of Materia Medica states that dry powder of P. cocos sclerotium is used in infusions at daily doses of 6 to 18 g. For reinforcing the spleen and stomach, the recommended dose is 9 to 18 g daily; for edema, the recommended dose is 30 to 45 g daily; and for sedative purposes or for treatment of palpitations and insomnia, the recommended dose is 3 to 9 g daily.Ríos 2011

Warnings

Specific studies are lacking; however, no reports of cytotoxicity exist in the literature. The Chinese Compendium of Materia Medica recommends daily dosages of up to 45 g daily.Ríos 2011 Glucans and modified derivatives from poria were suggested to be less toxic than 5-fluorouracil in cancer studies.Ding 1998

What other drugs will affect Poria

None well documented. P. cocos glucan has been suggested to inhibit platelet aggregation; however, the clinical importance of this effect is unknown.Sagar 2006

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords