Herb Whole plant / Aerial parts (全草 quán cǎo)

Dan Zhu Ye

Lophatherum · 淡竹叶

Lophatherum gracile Brongn. · Herba Lophatheri

Also known as: Bland Bamboo Leaf, Bamboo Leaf, Zhu Ye Mai Dong (竹叶麦冬),

Dan Zhu Ye (Lophatherum) plant

Images shown are for educational purposes only

Dan Zhu Ye is a gentle, cooling herb commonly used to relieve irritability, mouth sores, and painful urination caused by internal Heat. It works by clearing Heat from the Heart and Stomach and promoting urination to flush Heat out of the body. It is mild enough to be brewed as a daily summer tea for preventing heat-related discomfort.

Category Herbs that clear Heat and drain Fire (清热泻火药)
Therapeutic focus Urinary Health Oral and Dental Health Summer Heat Relief Stress and Anxiety

TCM Properties

Temperature

Cold

Taste

Sweet (甘 gān), Bland (淡 dàn)

Channels entered

Heart, Stomach, Small Intestine

Parts used

Whole plant / Aerial parts (全草 quán cǎo)

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Educational content • Consult qualified TCM practitioners for diagnosis and treatment

What This Herb Does

Every herb has a specific set of actions — here's what Dan Zhu Ye does in the body, explained in both everyday and TCM terms

Therapeutic focus

In practical terms, Dan Zhu Ye is primarily used to support these areas of health:

Urinary Health Oral and Dental Health Summer Heat Relief Stress and Anxiety

TCM Actions

In TCM terminology, these are the specific therapeutic actions that Dan Zhu Ye performs to restore balance in the body:

Clears Heat and Drains Fire Eliminates Irritability and Relieves Thirst Promotes Urination and Relieves Stranguria

How these actions work

'Clears Heat and purges Fire' means Dan Zhu Ye cools down excessive internal Heat, particularly in the Heart and Stomach. Its cold nature and sweet, bland taste make it well suited for febrile illnesses where the person feels hot, feverish, and thirsty. It is especially known for clearing Heart Fire, which in TCM is associated with mouth and tongue sores, a flushed face, and mental restlessness.

'Eliminates irritability and relieves thirst' refers to its calming effect on the agitation and restlessness that accompany Heat conditions. When internal Heat disturbs the Heart (which in TCM houses the mind), a person may feel anxious, unable to sleep, and irritable. Dan Zhu Ye gently clears this Heat while also generating fluids to relieve thirst caused by Heat consuming the body's moisture.

'Promotes urination and treats painful urinary dysfunction' describes its bland, percolating nature, which helps guide Heat downward and out through the urine. This is why it is used for dark, scanty, or painful urination. In TCM theory, the Heart and Small Intestine are internally connected, so when Heart Fire transfers to the Small Intestine, it can cause urinary symptoms. Dan Zhu Ye addresses this by clearing the Heat from above while simultaneously draining it downward through urination.

Patterns Addressed

In TCM, symptoms cluster into recognizable patterns of disharmony. Dan Zhu Ye is used to help correct these specific patterns.

Why Dan Zhu Ye addresses this pattern

Dan Zhu Ye is sweet, bland, and cold, and it enters the Heart channel directly. When Heart Fire blazes upward, it produces mouth and tongue sores, mental restlessness, and a red-tipped tongue. Dan Zhu Ye clears this Heart Fire through two routes: upward, it cools the Heart and calms the mind; downward, its bland nature promotes urination, drawing the Heat out via the Small Intestine (the Heart's paired organ). This dual action makes it particularly effective for Heart Fire that manifests both as upper-body symptoms (mouth sores, irritability) and lower-body symptoms (dark, painful urination).

A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs

Mouth Ulcers

Mouth and tongue sores from Heart Fire flaring upward

Irritability

Mental restlessness and agitation

Dysuria

Dark, scanty, painful urination

Insomnia

Difficulty sleeping due to Heat disturbing the mind

Commonly Used For

These are conditions where Dan Zhu Ye is frequently used — but only when they arise from the specific patterns it addresses, not in all cases

Arises from: Heart Fire blazing Bright Yang Stomach Heat

TCM Interpretation

In TCM, recurrent mouth ulcers are most commonly understood as a manifestation of Fire flaring upward. The two main organ systems involved are the Heart (which 'opens to the tongue') and the Stomach (whose channel passes through the gums and oral cavity). When Fire accumulates in either organ, it rises and scorches the delicate tissue of the mouth, creating painful sores. Contributing factors include emotional stress (which generates Heart Fire), overeating rich or spicy foods (which generates Stomach Heat), and overwork that depletes Yin and allows deficiency Fire to flare.

Why Dan Zhu Ye Helps

Dan Zhu Ye directly enters both the Heart and Stomach channels, allowing it to clear Fire from the two organ systems most responsible for mouth ulcers. Its cold nature counteracts the Heat, while its sweet and bland taste gently promotes urination, providing a downward outlet for the Fire rather than letting it continue to rise toward the mouth. This 'guiding Heat downward through urination' strategy is central to the famous formula Dao Chi San, where Dan Zhu Ye works alongside Sheng Di Huang and Mu Tong to clear Heart Fire and treat mouth sores.

Also commonly used for

Stomatitis

Oral inflammation including herpetic stomatitis in children

Fever

Low-grade fever or residual fever after febrile illness

Dysuria

Painful, difficult urination due to Heat

Gingivitis

Gum swelling and pain from Stomach Fire

Insomnia

Difficulty sleeping caused by Heart Fire irritability

Heat Stroke

Prevention and treatment of summer Heat conditions

Herb Properties

Every herb has an inherent temperature, taste, and affinity for specific channels — these properties determine how it interacts with the body

Temperature

Cold

Taste

Sweet (甘 gān), Bland (淡 dàn)

Channels Entered

Heart Stomach Small Intestine

Parts Used

Whole plant / Aerial parts (全草 quán cǎo)

Dosage & Preparation

These are general dosage guidelines for Dan Zhu Ye — always follow your practitioner's recommendation, as dosages vary based on the formula and your individual condition

Standard dosage

6-10g

Maximum dosage

Up to 15g in decoction for acute Heat conditions, under practitioner guidance. Dan Zhu Ye is mild in action, so exceeding the standard range carries relatively low risk, but prolonged high doses may damage Spleen Yang or deplete fluids.

Dosage notes

Use the lower end of the range (6g) for mild Heart Heat with irritability or as a supporting herb in a formula. Use the higher end (9-10g) when the primary goal is to promote urination for Heat-related painful urination (re lin) or for more pronounced mouth and tongue sores. When combined with Shi Gao (Gypsum) to clear residual Heat after a febrile illness (as in Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang), standard doses of 6-9g are sufficient. This herb is mild in potency compared to stronger Heat-clearing herbs, so it is often used as a supporting ingredient rather than the main therapeutic agent.

Preparation

No special decoction handling required. Dan Zhu Ye is simply added to the decoction pot with the other herbs and decocted in the standard manner. It should not be decocted for excessively long periods, as it is a light, leaf-based herb.

Common Herb Pairs

These ingredients are traditionally combined with Dan Zhu Ye for enhanced therapeutic effect

Shu Di Huang
Shu Di Huang Dan Zhu Ye 10g : Sheng Di Huang 15-30g

Dan Zhu Ye clears Heart Fire and promotes urination to guide Heat downward, while Sheng Di Huang (raw Rehmannia) cools the Blood, nourishes Yin, and replenishes fluids that Heat has consumed. Together they clear Heat from the Heart while protecting Yin from further damage, a pairing that addresses both the excess Fire and the Yin depletion it causes.

When to use: Heart Fire with mouth and tongue sores, dark painful urination, and signs of fluid depletion such as thirst and a dry red tongue.

Deng Xin Cao
Deng Xin Cao 1:1 (Dan Zhu Ye 6-10g : Deng Xin Cao 3-6g)

Both herbs are sweet, bland, and cold, and both clear Heart Fire while promoting urination. Used together, they strengthen each other's ability to guide Heart Fire downward and out through the urine without being harsh. This gentle pairing is especially suitable for children.

When to use: Mild Heart Fire symptoms such as childhood night crying, restlessness, mouth sores, or slightly dark urine where stronger cold herbs are not appropriate.

Shi Gao
Shi Gao Dan Zhu Ye 6-10g : Shi Gao 15-50g

Shi Gao (Gypsum) powerfully clears Qi-level Heat and Stomach Fire, while Dan Zhu Ye assists by clearing Heart Fire and draining residual Heat through urination. Together they cover both the Stomach and Heart, addressing high fever, severe thirst, and irritability while also generating fluids.

When to use: Febrile illness with high fever, profuse sweating, intense thirst, and irritability, or lingering Heat after a febrile disease with restlessness and poor appetite.

Bai Mao Gen
Bai Mao Gen 1:1 (each 9-10g)

Bai Mao Gen (Imperata root) cools Blood and stops bleeding while promoting urination. Combined with Dan Zhu Ye, the pair clears Heat from the Blood and urinary tract simultaneously, and is particularly useful when Heat in the urine causes blood in the urine (hematuria).

When to use: Urinary tract Heat with blood in the urine, or acute nephritis with hematuria and dark urine.

Key Formulas

These well-known formulas feature Dan Zhu Ye in a prominent role

Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang 竹葉石膏湯 Deputy

In Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang (Lophatherum and Gypsum Decoction) from the Shang Han Lun, Dan Zhu Ye helps the King herb Shi Gao clear residual Heat following a febrile illness. It clears lingering Heat from the upper burner while generating fluids, demonstrating its role in post-febrile recovery where Qi and fluids have been damaged.

Dao Chi San 導赤散 Assistant

Dao Chi San (Guide Out the Red Powder) from the Xiao Er Yao Zheng Zhi Jue is the definitive formula for Heart Fire transferring to the Small Intestine. Dan Zhu Ye serves as Assistant, clearing Heart Fire and guiding Heat downward through urination. This formula perfectly showcases Dan Zhu Ye's core dual action: clearing Heart Heat above while draining it below through the urine.

San Ren Tang 三仁湯 Assistant

In San Ren Tang (Three-Seed Decoction) from the Wen Bing Tiao Bian, Dan Zhu Ye assists the three seed herbs in clearing Damp-Heat from the Lower Burner via urination. This showcases its role as a supporting herb in Damp-Heat conditions, where its bland percolating nature complements the formula's strategy of opening all three burners.

Comparable Ingredients

These ingredients have overlapping uses — here's how to tell them apart

Dan Zhu Ye
Dan Zhu Ye vs Dan Zhu Ye

Both clear Heart Fire and promote urination, but they come from different plants. Zhu Ye (fresh bamboo leaf, from Phyllostachys nigra) is stronger at clearing Heart Heat and cooling the Stomach, and it can also address upper respiratory Wind-Heat. Dan Zhu Ye (from Lophatherum gracile) has a stronger diuretic action and is better at draining Dampness and Heat downward through the urine. In modern practice, when a prescription simply writes 'Zhu Ye,' pharmacies typically dispense Dan Zhu Ye.

Deng Xin Cao
Dan Zhu Ye vs Deng Xin Cao

Both are sweet, bland, cold herbs that clear Heart Fire and promote urination. Deng Xin Cao (rush pith) is lighter and more gentle, often used for children's night crying and mild Heart Fire insomnia. Dan Zhu Ye is somewhat stronger in clearing Heat and has additional Stomach-Heat-clearing action. For urinary symptoms, Dan Zhu Ye provides a more noticeable diuretic effect.

Zhi Zi
Dan Zhu Ye vs Zhi Zi

Both clear Heat from the Heart and address irritability. Zhi Zi (Gardenia fruit) is bitter and cold, entering the Heart, Lung, and San Jiao, and is much stronger at clearing Fire from all three burners. It also cools Blood and reduces swelling. Dan Zhu Ye is milder and works primarily by gentle percolation and draining Heat through urine, making it better suited for less severe Heat or for use in combination with other herbs.

Common Substitutes & Adulterants

Related species and common adulterations to be aware of when sourcing Dan Zhu Ye

Dan Zhu Ye (Lophatherum gracile, a grass) is commonly confused with Zhu Ye (竹叶), the fresh leaf of true bamboo species such as Phyllostachys nigra var. henonis. These are entirely different plants with different therapeutic emphases: Zhu Ye is stronger at clearing Heart Heat, while Dan Zhu Ye is stronger at promoting urination. Most pharmacies now dispense Dan Zhu Ye by default even when 'Zhu Ye' is written on a prescription. In Jiangsu province, the herb Commelina communis (Ya Zhi Cao, 鸭跖草, dayflower) has been sold under the name Dan Zhu Ye, but the two have different therapeutic effects and should not be interchanged. The tuberous roots of Dan Zhu Ye resemble those of Mai Men Dong (Ophiopogon japonicus) and are sometimes called 'Zhu Ye Mai Dong' (竹叶麦冬) in eastern China, but these are not true Mai Men Dong and must not be confused with it.

Educational content — always consult a qualified healthcare provider or TCM practitioner before using any herb.

Toxicity Classification

Classical Chinese pharmacopoeia toxicity rating for Dan Zhu Ye

Non-toxic

Dan Zhu Ye is classified as non-toxic in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and the Ben Cao Gang Mu. It has been used clinically for many years with virtually no reported toxic side effects. A small number of people may experience mild gastrointestinal reactions such as nausea when taking it. Its root, however, has a separate traditional caution: classical literature records that the root can 'break Blood and cause miscarriage' (破血堕胎), which is why the root is not used as part of the standard medicinal preparation and should be removed during processing.

Contraindications

Situations where Dan Zhu Ye should not be used or requires extra caution

Avoid

Pregnancy. Classical texts (《品汇精要》) explicitly state that pregnant women should not take Dan Zhu Ye. The root of the plant has been traditionally recorded as having the ability to 'break Blood and cause miscarriage' (破血堕胎), and the whole herb is classified as cold in nature, which may be harmful during pregnancy.

Caution

Spleen and Stomach deficiency-cold (脾胃虚寒). Dan Zhu Ye is cold in nature and bland in flavor. In people with cold constitutions or weak digestion marked by loose stools, poor appetite, or abdominal cold pain, this herb can further damage the Spleen Yang and worsen symptoms.

Caution

Absence of true Heat or Fire. Dan Zhu Ye is specifically indicated for patterns of excess Heat. Using it when there is no genuine Heat condition present may unnecessarily drain the body's warmth and fluids.

Caution

Frequent or copious clear urination. Because Dan Zhu Ye promotes urination, it should be used cautiously in people who already urinate excessively or have clear, dilute urine, as this may indicate cold rather than Heat and the diuretic effect could lead to further fluid loss.

Special Populations

Important considerations for pregnancy, breastfeeding, and pediatric use

Pregnancy

Contraindicated during pregnancy. The classical text Pin Hui Jing Yao (《品汇精要》) explicitly states 'pregnant women should not take this' (孕妇勿服). Additionally, classical literature records that the root of the Dan Zhu Ye plant has the ability to 'break Blood and induce miscarriage' (破血堕胎). Although the standard medicinal preparation uses only the stems and leaves (not the root), the cold nature of the herb and its downward-draining diuretic action are considered potentially harmful to the stability of pregnancy. It should be avoided throughout all trimesters.

Breastfeeding

No specific classical or modern prohibitions for breastfeeding have been established. However, Dan Zhu Ye is cold in nature and promotes fluid loss through urination. It should be used with caution in breastfeeding women, as excessively cold herbs may theoretically affect digestion and milk production, particularly in mothers with underlying Spleen deficiency. Short-term use at standard doses for a specific Heat condition is generally considered acceptable under practitioner guidance.

Children

Dan Zhu Ye has been traditionally used for pediatric conditions including childhood Heat-related irritability, mouth sores, and restlessness. In the classical text Ben Cao Zai Xin, it is noted for treating 'childhood pox toxin.' Pediatric dosages should be reduced proportionally based on age and body weight, typically to one-third to one-half the adult dose. Because the herb is cold and promotes urination, it should be used for limited courses in children and not given long-term, as children's Spleen and Stomach functions are inherently delicate.

Drug Interactions

If you are taking pharmaceutical medications, be aware of these potential interactions with Dan Zhu Ye

No well-documented pharmacological drug interactions have been established for Dan Zhu Ye in peer-reviewed literature. However, based on its known properties, the following theoretical considerations apply:

  • Diuretic medications: Dan Zhu Ye has mild diuretic activity and may have an additive effect when combined with pharmaceutical diuretics (e.g. furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide), potentially increasing fluid and electrolyte loss.
  • Hypoglycemic agents: Pharmacological studies have noted that Lophatherum gracile extracts may raise blood sugar levels. Patients taking insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents should be aware of this potential interaction, although the clinical significance at standard decoction doses is uncertain.
  • Antipyretic medications: Dan Zhu Ye has mild antipyretic properties and could theoretically enhance the fever-reducing effects of drugs like acetaminophen or NSAIDs.

Dietary Advice

Foods and dietary considerations when taking Dan Zhu Ye

While taking Dan Zhu Ye, avoid excessive consumption of cold, raw, or icy foods and drinks if there is any underlying Spleen weakness, as the herb's cold nature combined with cold food may further impair digestion. Greasy, heavy, or strongly spicy foods should also be moderated, as these can generate internal Heat or Dampness that works against the herb's gentle clearing action. Light, easily digestible foods are preferred. Dan Zhu Ye is itself classified as a 'medicine-food homologous' substance (药食同源) in China and is commonly consumed as a cooling summer tea, sometimes brewed with Lu Gen (reed rhizome) or combined with mung beans.

Botanical Description

Physical characteristics and morphology of the Dan Zhu Ye source plant

Lophatherum gracile Brongn. is a perennial herbaceous grass in the Poaceae (grass) family, growing 40 to 100 cm tall. It has a short, thick rhizome with sparse fibrous roots that often enlarge into distinctive spindle-shaped (fusiform) tuberous swellings near their tips, resembling the tubers of Mai Men Dong (Ophiopogon). The stems are slender, cylindrical, hollow, and slightly woody, with visible nodes. The leaves are lance-shaped (lanceolate), 5 to 20 cm long and 1 to 3.5 cm wide, with a bright green color, parallel veins, and characteristic small transverse veinlets that form a rectangular lattice pattern clearly visible on the lower leaf surface.

The plant flowers in late summer (August to September), producing a loose panicle of small spikelets at the stem tip. It grows wild in shaded, moist habitats such as forest understory, hillside slopes, stream banks, and ditch margins throughout southern China, preferring warm, humid conditions with temperatures around 12 to 22°C and annual rainfall of 1000 to 2000 mm. Despite its name ("bland bamboo leaf"), it is not a true bamboo but a grass that superficially resembles young bamboo seedlings.

Sourcing & Harvesting

Where Dan Zhu Ye is sourced, when it's harvested or collected, and how to assess quality

Harvesting season

Summer (typically May to July), before the flower spikes emerge. The aerial parts (stems and leaves) are cut, dried in the sun, and bundled.

Primary growing regions

Dan Zhu Ye is distributed widely across southern China, primarily south of the Yangtze River. The main producing regions include Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Hunan, Hubei, Guangdong, Anhui, Jiangxi, Sichuan, and Fujian provinces. Zhejiang province is considered the premier source for both quantity and quality, and the herb from this region is sometimes called 'Hang Zhu Ye' (杭竹叶). Under current conditions, the plant is predominantly found in Hunan, Guangxi, and Fujian. Most commercial Dan Zhu Ye is wild-harvested rather than cultivated.

Quality indicators

Good quality Dan Zhu Ye consists primarily of leaves with minimal stems, no roots, and no flower spikes. The leaves should be large, intact, and a clear green to bluish-green color (色青绿). The stems should be pale yellow-green. The herb is light in weight and flexible (not brittle). On close inspection, the distinctive rectangular lattice pattern formed by small transverse veinlets should be visible on the lower leaf surface. The taste should be bland (淡) and the smell faint. Avoid material that is heavily yellowed, contains many roots or stem fragments, is mixed with flower heads, or appears damp or moldy. Fresh material (for food use) should have tender, bright green leaves.

Classical Texts

Key passages from the classical Chinese medical texts that describe Dan Zhu Ye and its therapeutic uses

《本草纲目》(Ben Cao Gang Mu, Li Shizhen, Ming Dynasty)

Chinese: 去烦热，利小便，清心。

English: "Eliminates vexing Heat, promotes urination, clears the Heart."

《本草纲目》 — Description of the plant

Chinese: 淡竹叶，处处原野有之。春生苗高数寸，细茎绿叶，俨如竹米落地所生细竹之茎叶，其根一窠数十须，须上结子，与麦门冬一样，但坚硬尔。

English: "Dan Zhu Ye is found in open fields everywhere. In spring it sprouts to a height of several inches with slender stems and green leaves, looking just like the fine bamboo that sprouts from bamboo seeds fallen on the ground. From one clump grow dozens of rootlets, and on the rootlets are nodules resembling those of Mai Men Dong, only harder."

《生草药性备要》(Sheng Cao Yao Xing Bei Yao)

Chinese: 消痰止渴，除上焦火，明眼目，利小便，治白浊，退热，散痔疮毒。

English: "Resolves phlegm and stops thirst, clears Fire from the Upper Burner, brightens the eyes, promotes urination, treats turbid white discharge, reduces fever, and disperses the toxin of hemorrhoidal sores."

《本草再新》(Ben Cao Zai Xin)

Chinese: 清心火，利小便，除烦止渴，小儿痘毒。

English: "Clears Heart Fire, promotes urination, eliminates irritability and stops thirst, [and treats] childhood pox toxin."

《品汇精要》(Pin Hui Jing Yao)

Chinese: 孕妇勿服。

English: "Pregnant women should not take this."

《本草便读》(Ben Cao Bian Du)

Chinese: 淡竹叶甘淡性寒，轻浮上达之品，解散上焦风热，清心肺炎蒸，导小肠膀胱湿热下降，清上导下，可升可降，阳中之阴也。

English: "Dan Zhu Ye is sweet, bland, and cold in nature. It is a light substance that floats upward, dispersing Wind-Heat from the Upper Burner, clearing steaming Heat from the Heart and Lungs, and guiding Damp-Heat downward through the Small Intestine and Bladder. It clears above and directs downward, able to both ascend and descend; it is the Yin within Yang."

Historical Context

The history and evolution of Dan Zhu Ye's use in Chinese medicine over the centuries

Dan Zhu Ye as a distinct medicinal substance was first formally described in Li Shizhen's Ben Cao Gang Mu (本草纲目, 1596). Before this, the name 'Zhu Ye' (竹叶, bamboo leaf) in classical formulas referred to the fresh leaves of true bamboo species (such as Phyllostachys nigra var. henonis). Li Shizhen was the first to clearly distinguish the grass Dan Zhu Ye (Lophatherum gracile) as a separate entry from true bamboo leaves. This historical distinction remains clinically important: fresh bamboo leaf (Zhu Ye) is better at clearing Heart Heat and cooling the Stomach, while Dan Zhu Ye is stronger in promoting urination and draining Damp-Heat downward. Today, most pharmacies stock Dan Zhu Ye as the default when a prescription simply calls for 'Zhu Ye.'

A famous story from Chinese folk tradition connects Dan Zhu Ye to the Three Kingdoms era. It is said that when the general Zhang Fei was locked in a standoff with the enemy commander Zhang He, his troops suffered from Heat-related irritability and mouth sores. Zhuge Liang sent fifty urns of what appeared to be fine wine but was actually a Dan Zhu Ye decoction. Zhang Fei's men drank it openly, luring the enemy into a nighttime raid that ended in a devastating ambush. The tale, while legendary, reflects Dan Zhu Ye's longstanding popular reputation as a summer cooling remedy.

The name 'Dan Zhu Ye' (淡竹叶) literally means 'bland bamboo leaf,' referring to both its mild, bland taste (淡) and its visual resemblance to bamboo foliage. Its root tubers resemble those of Mai Men Dong (Ophiopogon), which gave rise to regional names like 'Zhu Ye Mai Dong' (竹叶麦冬) in eastern China. Li Shizhen also noted that locals would extract juice from the roots and seedlings to make an aromatic wine starter (酒曲).

Modern Research

4 published studies investigating the pharmacological effects or clinical outcomes of Dan Zhu Ye

1

Anti-inflammatory and antiviral activities of flavone C-glycosides of Lophatherum gracile for COVID-19 (in vitro study, 2023)

Chen YL, Chen CY, Lai KH, Chang YC, Hwang TL. Journal of Functional Foods, 2023, 101: 105407.

This study identified flavone C-glycosides as the dominant bioactive compounds in Lophatherum gracile responsible for both anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects. The enriched extract (FlavoLG) and its major compound isoorientin were shown to reduce respiratory burst and neutrophil extracellular trap formation in human neutrophils. They also inhibited SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus infection by interfering with spike protein binding to ACE2.

2

Antiviral activity of ethanol extract of Lophatherum gracile against respiratory syncytial virus infection (in vitro and in vivo study, 2019)

Chen LF, Zhong YL, Luo D, Liu Z, Tang W, Cheng W, Xiong S, Li YL, Li MM. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2019, 242: 111575.

The ethanol extract of Lophatherum gracile was found to inhibit respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection and RSV-induced inflammation in both cell cultures and animal models. The study provided pharmacological support for the traditional use of the herb in treating cough and lung-related Heat conditions.

3

Lophatherum gracile Brongn. attenuates neutrophilic inflammation through inhibition of JNK and calcium (in vitro study, 2021)

Lai KH, Chen PJ, Chen CC, Yang CH, El-Shazly M, Chang YC, Wu YH, Wu YC, Lin TE, Yang YS, Hwang TL. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2021, 264: 113282.

This study demonstrated that a non-toxic extract of Lophatherum gracile dose-dependently inhibited superoxide generation, elastase release, adhesion molecule expression, and chemotactic migration in activated human neutrophils. The anti-inflammatory mechanism was found to work through two independent pathways: JNK signaling inhibition and suppression of calcium mobilization.

PubMed
4

Flavone C-glycosides from the leaves of Lophatherum gracile and their in vitro antiviral activity (phytochemistry study, 2012)

Wang Y, Chen M, Zhang J, Zhang XL, Huang XJ, Wu X, Zhang QW, Li YL, Ye WC. Planta Medica, 2012, 78(1): 46-51.

Researchers isolated four new and three known flavone C-glycosides from Lophatherum gracile leaves. When screened against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), several flavone 6-C-monoglycosides demonstrated potent antiviral activity in cell-based assays, identifying specific compounds responsible for the herb's antiviral properties.

Research on individual TCM herbs is growing but still limited by Western clinical trial standards. These studies provide emerging evidence and should be considered alongside practitioner expertise.