Cynomorium songaricum is known in China as Suo Yang. Suo Yang grows at high altitude, mainly in Inner Mongolia and Tibet. In Saudi Arabia, Suo Yang is called tarthuth. It even grows in parts of the Sahara desert. For a list of herbs used in Chinese medicine. Suo Yang is sometimes found in sexual enhancement herbal products.

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Suo Yang side effects, safety
Blurred vision is a potential side effect from high dose Suo Yang.

Suo Yang studies
Effects of a flavonoid extract from Cynomorium songaricum on the swimming endurance of rats.
Am J Chin Med. 2010; Yu FR, Liu Y, Cui YZ, Chan EQ, Xie MR, McGuire PP, Yu FH. Gansu Institute of Political Science and Law, Lanzhou, China.T
he present study investigated the effects of a flavonoid extract from Cynomorium songaricum on the swimming endurance of rats by measuring changes of free radical scavenging enzymes, such as CuZn-SOD (copper, zinc-superoxide dismutase) and GSH-px (glutathione peroxidase), and body weights. Significant and dose-dependent antioxidant and anti-fatigue effects of flavonoids (rutin, catechin and isoquercitrin) on swimming rats were observed during 10 days of swimming exercise. After treatment with the flavonoid extract at doses  the CuZn-SOD and GSH-px activities in swimming rats were increased, while the levels of MDA (malondialdehyde) were decreased by 64.7%, 79.4%, and 86.4% respectively. Furthermore, the average body weight and the total swimming time were increased. Our experimental results suggest that flavonoid supplementation could not only reduce free radical formation and scavenge free radicals, but also enhance endurance exercise performance by reducing muscle fatigue.

Extracts of Cynomorium songaricum Suo Yang protect SK-N-SH human neuroblastoma cells against staurosporine-induced apoptosis potentially through their radical scavenging activity.
Phytother Res. 2009 Feb;23(2):257-61. Lu Y, Wang Q, Melzig MF, Jenett-Siems K. Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, 100029, Beijing, China.
In traditional Chinese medicine a number of herbs are used to alleviate the symptoms of aging, among them the stems of suo yang. This study evaluated the protective effect of different extracts of suo yang on staurosporine-induced apoptotic cell death in SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cells. Our results prove the neuroprotective activity of suo yang in vitro, thus supporting its traditional use.

In vitro estrogenic activities of Chinese medicinal plants traditionally used for the management of menopausal symptoms.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Apr 26;98(3):295-300.
The estrogenic activity of 70% EtOH extracts of 32 traditional Chinese medicinal plants, selected according to their reported efficacy for the treatment of menopausal symptoms, was assessed. Among them, 11 (34%) species proved to be active. Polygonum cuspidatum had the highest estrogenic relative potency, followed by Rheumpalmatum, Cassia obtusifolia, Polygonum multiflorum, Epimedium brevicornum, Psoralea corylifolia, Suo Yang, Belamcanda chinensis, Scutellaria baicalensis, Astragalus membranaceus and Pueraria lobata.

Induction of apoptosis in HL-60 cells treated with medicinal herbs.
Am J Chin Med. 2003;31(4):551-62.
In order to develop a new apoptosis inducer, we screened 22 crude drugs for their apoptosis-inducing activity. It was found that Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Suo Yang, Eucommia ulmoides, Phellodendron amurense, Cinnamomum cassia and Paeonia lactiflora induced the death of HL-60 cells.

Studies on chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of the stem of Cynomorium songaricum Rupr Suo Yang.
Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 1999 May;24(5):292-4, 318-9.
In order to exploit the medicinal resources and provide a scientific evidence for the clinical use and quality of Suo Yang control, the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of the stem of the plant were studied. Seven compounds were isolated from the stem of Suo Yang and identified as beta-sitosterol, palmitic acid, ursloic acid), daucosterol, catechin, naringenin-4'-O-pyranogluoside and succinicyacid.

Two stigmastenol compounds were isolated from the root of Suo Yang.

Triterpenes and steroidal compounds from cynomorium songaricum
Yao Xue Xue Bao. 1993;28(2):152-5.
From the whole parasitic plant of Suo Yang three ursane type triterpenes, three steroidal compounds, palmitic acid and sucrose were isolated. The triterpenes were identified as acetyl ursolic acid, ursolic acid and a new compound, ursa-12-ene-28-oic acid, 3 beta-propanedioic acid monoester. The steroidal compounds were identified as beta-sitosterol palmitate, beta-sitosterol and beta-sitosterol glucoside (daucosterol).

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