Amur Cork Tree Purchase & Information

Alternative Names

Amur Cork Bark, Amur Cork Tree, Amur Corktree, Arbre à Liège de l'Amour, Arbre au Liège de l'Amour, Arbre de Liège de Chine, Corktree, Cortex Phellodendri, Huang Bai, Huang Bo, Phellodendri Cortex. CAUTION: See separate listing for Corkwood Tree

Scientific Name

Phellodendron Amurense

Why Do People Use Amur Cork Tree ?

Oral preparations of Phellodendron amurense (Amur cork), like amur cork tree powder, are used for weight loss and obesity, osteoarthritis, peptic ulcers, diarrhea, meningitis, diabetes, eye infections, pneumonia, hepatic cirrhosis and for tuberculosis. Topically - Amur cork is applied to the skin for psoriasis and as an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent.

Is It Safe To Use?

Possibly Safe - Oral and appropriate (short-term) consumption of amur cork tree seems to be safe to use. A specific multi ingredient product containing a blend of extracts of amur cork tree and 250 mg of magnolia (Relora, Next Pharmaceuticals) is also thought to be safe to use if ingested thrice every day in a clinical trial up to six weeks. Likely Unsafe Children - Oral utilization of amur cork tree powder is safe to use for infants. Berberine, which is essential constituent of amur cork tree powder, can cause side effect such as kernicterus in newborns- mostly preterm neonates with hyperbilirubinemia. Likely Unsafe During Pregnancy - Orally used amur cork tree powder is apparently safe to use for pregnant females. Berberine may affect the fetus too after crossing placenta. There are some reports where kernicterus developed in infants because of berberine. Likely Unsafe Lactation - Breastfeeding mothers should avoid oral consumption of amur cork tree powder. Berberine and other harmful constituents of amur cork tree can be transferred to the infant through breast milk.

How Effective Is Amur Cork Tree ?

There is less reliable and scarce information to rate the effectiveness of amur cork tree powder in following conditions: • Weight Loss • Psoriasis

How Amur Cork Tree Works?

The most efficient part of Phellodendron amurense is the bark. Amur cork tree powder consists of phellodendrine, palmatine, berberine and different alkaloids. Phellodendrine may have immunosuppressant impacts. Palmatine may have antifungal impacts. Topically applied amur cork tree appears to have anti-inflammatory effects. Studies also proposed that this plant has antiulcer effects. Extract of amur cork tree in combination of concentrate from Aralia elata appears to protect the kidneys in clinical models of diabetes. The essential constituent of amur cork tree is berberine. Berberine has antihypertensive, antiarrhythmic and positive inotropic properties. Berberine seems to have alpha-adrenergic blocking effects as well. According to initial experiments, berberine may also interfere low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and lower blood glucose. Berberine element may also restrain aldose reductase. It is proposed that berberine may have antitumor activity and protect the liver from hepatotoxins. Berberine has antimicrobial impacts including antifungal, antibacterial and some antiprotozoal and antimycobacterial action. Berberine has action against Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella boydii, Eschericha coli, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Vibrio cholerae, Candida tropicalis, Candida albicans, Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, neoformans, Cryptococcus neoformans, Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytic and Sporotrichum schenkii. Initial experiments suggest that berberine may repress bacterial sortase.

What Are The Side Effects /Adverse Reactions of Amur Cork Tree ?

Generally there is no significant side effect reported due to the oral consumption of amur cork tree. In a clinical experiment, multi ingredient product containing extracts of amur cork tree as well as magnolia, one patient reported shaking hands, heartburn, sexual dysfunction, perilabial numbness and thyroid dysfunction. Side effects like headache and fatigue have also been reported. Amur cork tree consists of an essential constituent such as berberine. Oral consumption of herbs containing berberine during breastfeeding and pregnancy or use in newborn babies has been related with kernicterus and a number of fatalities have also been reported. Berberine has been orally ingested in adults in doses up to 2 grams daily for 8 weeks with no severe side effects reported. The berberine constituent in amur cork tree powder has been used for up to 20 days with no severe side effect reported.

How Amur Cork Tree Interacts With Other Herbs and Supplements?

Not known.

How Amur Cork Tree Interacts With Drugs?

Cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune) - Interaction rating between amur cork tree powder and cyclosporine containing drugs is moderate, so be careful about this combination. Berberine is a vital constituent of amur cork tree that is responsible for decreasing the metabolism of cyclosporine and enhance its level in the serum. It may inhibit cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), which metabolizes cyclosporine. Cytochrome Substrates - Interaction rating between amur cork tree and cytochrome substrates is moderate so be careful before using this combination. There are some confirmation, which proposes that berberin may inhibit cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) enzymes. However, this interaction has not been reported in human beings. Some drugs metabolized by CYP3A4 include clarithromycin (Biaxin), lovastatin (Mevacor), triazolam (Halcion), sildenafil (Viagra), indinavir (Crixivan) and number of other drugs as well.

How Amur Cork Tree Interacts With Foods?

Not known.

How Amur Cork Tree Interacts With Lab Tests?

Bilirubin - Amur cork tree powder may enhance the level of bilirubin. This has been shown with the separated berberine constituent but not particularly referred to amur cork tree. Berberine can result in severe increase in total and unbound bilirubin concentrations because it shifts bilirubin from albumin.

How Amur Cork Tree Interacts With Diseases and Conditions?

Not known.

What Should Be the Dose/Administration of Amur Cork Tree ?

ORAL In order to maintain weight or weight loss, particular product containing a mixture of extracts of amur cork tree along magnolia (Relora, Next Pharmaceuticals) should be orally used in a dose of 250 mg thrice every day for six weeks.

Comments

Don’t mix amur cork tree with the irrelevant houseplant philodendron.

General Certificate of Analysis (COA)

Specification sheet links below are a standard copy of the COA less the batch or lot number and manufactures dates. Specification sheet can be dated and should only be considered as a general information. Please contact and request an up to date COA if needed for specific updated information before placing order by filling out the contact form with product name and SKU number. If ordering quantities of twenty five kilos or more contact for availability.