Herb Tuber (块茎 kuài jīng / 块根 kuài gēn)

Mao Zhao Cao

Catclaw Buttercup Root · 猫爪草

Ranunculus ternatus Thunb. · Radix Ranunculi Ternati

Also known as: Mao Zhua Cao, Mao Zhao Cao, Cat's Claw Herb,

Mao Zhao Cao (Catclaw Buttercup Root) plant

Images shown are for educational purposes only

Mao Zhao Cao (Catclaw Buttercup Root) is a Chinese herb best known for breaking down lumps and nodules. It has been widely used for swollen lymph nodes, thyroid nodules, and as a supportive treatment for tuberculosis. Its name comes from the small, claw-shaped tuberous roots that resemble a cat's paw.

Category Phlegm-transforming herbs (化痰药) Warm herbs that transform Phlegm-Cold (温化寒痰药)
Therapeutic focus Lymphatic Health Thyroid Health Respiratory Health Immune Support

TCM Properties

Temperature

Warm

Taste

Sweet (甘 gān), Acrid / Pungent (辛 xīn)

Channels entered

Liver, Lungs

Parts used

Tuber (块茎 kuài jīng / 块根 kuài gēn)

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What This Herb Does

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

Therapeutic focus

In practical terms, Mao Zhao Cao is primarily used to support these areas of health:

Lymphatic Health Thyroid Health Respiratory Health Immune Support

TCM Actions

In TCM terminology, these are the specific therapeutic actions that Mao Zhao Cao performs to restore balance in the body:

Transforms Phlegm and Dissipates Nodules Resolves Toxicity and Reduces Swelling Disperses Accumulations and Dissipates Nodules

How these actions work

'Resolves Phlegm and dissipates nodules' is the primary action of this herb. In TCM, when Phlegm (a thick, turbid pathological substance) congeals and lodges in a particular area, it can form lumps, masses, or swollen glands. Mao Zhao Cao's warm and pungent nature enables it to break through this congealed Phlegm and scatter the resulting nodules. This is why it has been used for centuries for scrofula (lymph node tuberculosis), thyroid swellings, and other Phlegm-type lumps. Its affinity for the Liver and Lung channels means it can address nodules along these pathways, particularly in the neck region where both channels traverse.

'Clears toxins and reduces swelling' refers to the herb's ability to counteract toxic accumulations and the swelling they produce. This action applies to boils, abscesses, venomous bites, and toxic sores where redness, pain, and pus are present. Despite being a warm herb, its sweet and pungent tastes combine to both detoxify and mobilize stagnation, helping the body push out accumulated toxins. This is also why it appears in modern clinical usage alongside other detoxifying herbs for treating certain tumors, where TCM views the underlying pathology as a form of toxic accumulation combined with Phlegm stagnation.

Patterns Addressed

In TCM, symptoms cluster into recognizable patterns of disharmony. Mao Zhao Cao is used to help correct these specific patterns.

Why Mao Zhao Cao addresses this pattern

When Phlegm and Heat combine and stagnate in the channels, they can form hard, painful nodules or masses, particularly along the neck and throat where the Liver and Lung channels pass. Mao Zhao Cao enters both of these channels and uses its pungent taste to disperse congealed Phlegm while its warm nature mobilizes stagnation. Its detoxifying action helps clear the Heat component of this pattern. This makes it a primary herb for scrofula (lymph node tuberculosis) and similar Phlegm-Fire accumulations that manifest as firm, swollen glands.

A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs

Swollen Lymph Nodes

Hard, swollen lymph nodes in the neck

Goiter

Thyroid enlargement or nodules

Low Grade Fever

Persistent low-grade fever with fatigue

Commonly Used For

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

Arises from: Phlegm Phlegm

TCM Interpretation

TCM understands thyroid nodules primarily through the concept of Phlegm stagnation in the throat region. The throat is where several channels converge, and when the Liver's Qi stagnates (often from emotional stress or frustration), it can impair the Spleen's ability to transform fluids properly. This leads to Phlegm formation. When this Phlegm lodges in the throat area along the Liver and Lung channels, it solidifies into palpable lumps. If left untreated, the stagnation may generate Heat, producing the Phlegm-Fire pattern with more actively growing or uncomfortable nodules.

Why Mao Zhao Cao Helps

Mao Zhao Cao directly enters the Liver and Lung channels, which are the very pathways that traverse the throat where thyroid nodules form. Its core action of resolving Phlegm and dissipating nodules targets the fundamental pathomechanism of congealed Phlegm. The herb's pungent taste disperses and moves stagnation, while its warm nature helps mobilize the thick, sticky Phlegm that has solidified into nodules. Modern pharmacological research has shown that its active compounds, including saponins, have anti-inflammatory and tissue-modulating effects that may help reduce nodule size.

Also commonly used for

Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Used as adjunct therapy

Pharyngitis

Acute and chronic sore throat

Boils

Boils, carbuncles, and toxic sores

Breast Lumps

Phlegm-type breast masses

Lymphoma

As adjunct in malignant lymphoma

Herb Properties

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

Temperature

Warm

Taste

Sweet (甘 gān), Acrid / Pungent (辛 xīn)

Channels Entered

Liver Lungs

Parts Used

Tuber (块茎 kuài jīng / 块根 kuài gēn)

Dosage & Preparation

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

Standard dosage

9–15g (standard decoction), up to 30g in clinical formulas

Maximum dosage

Up to 120g when used as a single herb for treating scrofula (lymph node tuberculosis), as recorded in classical clinical protocols, under strict practitioner supervision. Standard maximum is 30g in formula.

Dosage notes

Standard decoction dose is 9–15g when combined with other herbs in a formula. For treating scrofula (lymph node tuberculosis) as a single herb, classical protocols use much higher doses, up to 120g (about 4 liang), decocted with rice wine as an adjuvant, taken in divided doses over two days. Some modern clinical sources recommend 10–30g for routine prescriptions. For making a tea to address sore throat, a simple preparation uses 5g of Mao Zhao Cao with 10g of Mai Dong steeped in hot water. External use requires fresh herb, pounded and applied as a poultice in appropriate amounts. The herb is mildly irritating, so patients with sensitive stomachs should start at lower doses.

Preparation

No special decoction handling required. Decoct normally with other herbs. When used as a single herb at high doses for scrofula, classical protocols call for simmering on low heat for 30 minutes, then straining and taking with rice wine (yellow wine) or sweet rice wine as an adjuvant. White liquor (baijiu) should be avoided as a vehicle.

Processing Methods

In TCM, the same herb can be prepared in different ways to change its effects — here's how processing alters what Mao Zhao Cao does

Processing method

Stir-fried with rice vinegar until the vinegar is absorbed and the herb is dry.

How it changes properties

Vinegar processing enhances the herb's ability to enter the Liver channel and strengthens its nodule-dispersing and pain-relieving actions. It also helps direct the herb's action toward blood-level stagnation, increasing its ability to break up stubborn, long-standing masses.

When to use this form

Preferred when treating chronic, hard, stubborn nodules with pain, or when there is more pronounced Qi and Blood stagnation contributing to the mass formation. Especially useful for breast lumps and thyroid nodules with fixed pain.

Common Herb Pairs

These ingredients are traditionally combined with Mao Zhao Cao for enhanced therapeutic effect

Xia Ku Cao
Xia Ku Cao 1:1 (both 10-15g)

Mao Zhao Cao resolves Phlegm and dissipates nodules with its warm, pungent nature, while Xia Ku Cao (Prunella) clears Liver Fire and softens hardness with its cold, bitter nature. Together they address both the Phlegm and Fire components of nodular conditions, making this one of the most commonly used herb pairs for scrofula and thyroid nodules.

When to use: When Phlegm and Heat combine to form hard lumps in the neck, such as swollen lymph nodes, thyroid nodules, or goiter. Especially useful when the lumps are firm and there are mild signs of Heat (redness, warmth, irritability).

Jiang Can
Jiang Can 2:1 (Mao Zhao Cao 15g : Jiang Can 6-10g)

Both herbs resolve Phlegm and dissipate nodules but through different mechanisms. Mao Zhao Cao focuses on Phlegm-nodule dissolution, while Jiang Can (Silkworm) excels at transforming Phlegm through its wind-dispersing action and can penetrate the network vessels more effectively. Together they provide a stronger Phlegm-dissolving, nodule-dispersing combination.

When to use: When Phlegm nodules are stubborn or have been present for a long time. Also useful when there is concurrent Wind-Phlegm obstruction, such as in cases with numbness or tremors alongside nodules.

Zh
Zhe Bei Mu 1:1 (both 10-15g)

Zhe Bei Mu (Zhejiang Fritillaria) clears Heat and resolves Phlegm while softening hardness, complementing Mao Zhao Cao's warm Phlegm-dissolving action. The combination balances warmth and coolness while powerfully targeting Phlegm accumulations that form nodules and masses.

When to use: When treating Phlegm-Heat type nodules including thyroid nodules, breast lumps, and lymph node swellings, especially when there is a need to balance the warming nature of Mao Zhao Cao.

Xuan Shen
Xuan Shen 1:1 (both 10-15g)

Xuan Shen (Scrophularia) nourishes Yin, clears Heat, softens hardness, and dissipates nodules. Paired with Mao Zhao Cao, it addresses both the Phlegm and the Yin Deficiency-Fire that often underlies chronic scrofula, preventing the warm herb from further drying up fluids while amplifying the nodule-dissipating effect.

When to use: When scrofula or chronic lymph node swelling occurs in the context of Yin Deficiency with low-grade fever, night sweats, and dry throat, as is common with tuberculosis-related conditions.

Comparable Ingredients

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

Xia Ku Cao
Mao Zhao Cao vs Xia Ku Cao

Both herbs are famous for treating nodules and scrofula, but they work through different mechanisms. Xia Ku Cao is cold and bitter, excelling at clearing Liver Fire and treating nodules with a pronounced Heat component (red, hot, painful lumps, headaches, eye pain from Liver Fire). Mao Zhao Cao is warm and pungent, better suited for Phlegm-predominant nodules where the lumps are firm but not necessarily hot or red. In practice, the two are often combined to cover both Phlegm and Fire simultaneously.

Shan Ci Gu
Mao Zhao Cao vs Shan Ci Gu

Both herbs resolve toxins and dissipate nodules, and both are used for masses and tumors. Shan Ci Gu (Cremastra) is cold and toxic, with a stronger toxin-clearing action suited for acute toxic sores, deep-seated abscesses, and certain cancerous growths. Mao Zhao Cao is milder and warmer, making it more appropriate for chronic Phlegm-type nodules like scrofula and thyroid swellings. Shan Ci Gu requires more caution due to its toxicity.

Hai Zao
Mao Zhao Cao vs Hai Zao

Both herbs treat goiter and thyroid nodules. Hai Zao (Sargassum) is cold, salty, and enters the Kidney channel, using its salty taste to soften hardness and its cold nature to clear Heat. It is the classic herb for iodine-deficiency goiter and is particularly strong at softening hard masses. Mao Zhao Cao works more through Phlegm dissolution and is more versatile, addressing a wider range of nodular conditions including lymph node tuberculosis and breast lumps, not just thyroid masses.

Common Substitutes & Adulterants

Related species and common adulterations to be aware of when sourcing Mao Zhao Cao

The most common substitute and adulterant is the closely related species Rou Gen Mao Gen (肉根毛茛, Ranunculus polii Franch. ex Hemsl.), whose dried roots have been mistakenly collected and sold as Mao Zhao Cao, particularly in Anhui Province. Key differences: R. polii roots are elongated cylindrical (not spindle-shaped), typically longer (15–50 mm), with a dark brown or blackish-brown surface and slightly tough texture, whereas authentic Mao Zhao Cao has short spindle-shaped roots (3–7 mm) that cluster in a distinctive cat's-paw shape with a yellowish-brown surface. The two species are closely related, but whether R. polii has the same therapeutic effects as genuine Mao Zhao Cao remains unconfirmed and requires further research.

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

Toxicity Classification

Classical Chinese pharmacopoeia toxicity rating for Mao Zhao Cao

Slightly toxic

Mao Zhao Cao belongs to the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family, which is one of the plant families most associated with toxic species (including aconite and monkshood). The stem and leaf of the living plant contain protoanemonin and anemonin, which are strongly irritating compounds that can cause skin blistering when applied externally (this property was historically exploited therapeutically as a counter-irritant). The dried tuber root used medicinally has much lower concentrations of these irritant substances. Some pharmacopoeia sources classify it as having "slight toxicity" (有小毒). At standard therapeutic doses under practitioner supervision, significant toxicity has not been observed in clinical use. Possible side effects from overuse or long-term use include gastrointestinal irritation (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), allergic skin reactions, dizziness, and dry mouth. Trace amounts of cadmium have been detected in some samples, though at levels too low to cause toxicity, especially as the herb's zinc content provides a natural antagonistic effect.

Contraindications

Situations where Mao Zhao Cao should not be used or requires extra caution

Avoid

Pregnancy. Mao Zhao Cao belongs to the Ranunculaceae family and contains mildly toxic components. It may adversely affect fetal development and should be avoided during pregnancy.

Avoid

Known allergy or hypersensitivity to Mao Zhao Cao or other Ranunculaceae plants. Allergic reactions including skin rash, redness, and itching have been reported.

Caution

Spleen and Stomach deficiency-cold patterns (people with weak digestion and cold constitution). The herb may cause gastrointestinal upset including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea in those with weak digestive function.

Caution

Broken or ulcerated skin (for external use). Classical sources warn that the fresh plant should not be applied directly into open wounds, as it causes tissue irritation and may cause flesh to rot.

Caution

Liver or kidney impairment. Long-term use may increase the metabolic burden on the liver and kidneys. Use with caution and under medical supervision in patients with compromised liver or kidney function.

Caution

Children. Use with caution and at reduced dosages, only under the guidance of a qualified practitioner.

Special Populations

Important considerations for pregnancy, breastfeeding, and pediatric use

Pregnancy

Contraindicated during pregnancy. Mao Zhao Cao belongs to the Ranunculaceae family and is classified as slightly toxic. Multiple Chinese medical sources specifically advise against use during pregnancy, as the herb may adversely affect fetal development. Although the exact teratogenic mechanism is not fully characterised, the presence of irritant and mildly toxic compounds (protoanemonin-related substances) in the plant poses a risk to the developing fetus. Pregnant women should avoid this herb entirely.

Breastfeeding

No specific safety data is available for Mao Zhao Cao during breastfeeding. Given that the herb is classified as slightly toxic and belongs to the Ranunculaceae family (which contains irritant compounds such as protoanemonin), it is advisable to avoid use during breastfeeding as a precaution. There is insufficient information on whether its active components transfer into breast milk or affect lactation. Nursing mothers should consult a qualified practitioner before use.

Children

Use in children requires caution and should only be under professional guidance. Dosage should be reduced proportionally based on the child's age and body weight, typically to half the adult dose or less. Some clinical references describe using half the adult dose (around 60g reduced from 120g) for children in treating scrofula. Given the herb's slight toxicity classification, long-term use in children is not recommended without medical supervision.

Drug Interactions

If you are taking pharmaceutical medications, be aware of these potential interactions with Mao Zhao Cao

Specific drug interactions for Mao Zhao Cao have not been well studied in formal pharmacological research. Based on its known properties and chemical constituents, the following theoretical interactions should be considered:

  • Anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications: Some sources suggest potential interaction risk. Use with caution alongside warfarin, aspirin, or other blood-thinning medications.
  • Immunosuppressant drugs: As Mao Zhao Cao has demonstrated immunomodulatory effects (stimulating immune responses and TNF production), it may theoretically counteract immunosuppressive therapy. Patients on cyclosporine, tacrolimus, or similar drugs should use this herb with caution.
  • Anti-tuberculosis medications (isoniazid, rifampicin): Mao Zhao Cao has been used clinically alongside standard anti-TB drugs, and some studies suggest complementary effects. However, combined use should still be supervised by a qualified practitioner to monitor for any unexpected interactions.

Dietary Advice

Foods and dietary considerations when taking Mao Zhao Cao

During the course of treatment with Mao Zhao Cao, avoid spicy, pungent, and greasy foods, as well as 'fa wu' (发物, foods considered to aggravate or trigger conditions, such as shellfish, certain fish, lamb, and rooster). Alcohol should generally be avoided, except when rice wine is specifically prescribed as part of the therapeutic protocol. Fresh vegetables and fruits are encouraged to support digestion and overall health during treatment.

Botanical Description

Physical characteristics and morphology of the Mao Zhao Cao source plant

Ranunculus ternatus Thunb. is a small herbaceous plant of the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family, growing only 5 to 20 cm tall. The stems are slender, spreading, and branched. The basal leaves grow in clusters on long stalks (3–6 cm) and are typically three-parted compound leaves or deeply three-lobed, with small oval leaflets. The stem leaves are alternate, usually stalkless, with narrow linear lobes. In early spring (March to May), solitary yellow flowers about 1–1.5 cm across appear at the stem tips, each with 5 or more shiny, broadly egg-shaped petals, numerous stamens, and many separate carpels clustered on an enlarged receptacle. The aggregate fruit is nearly spherical, containing small, flattened achenes with short beaks.

The most distinctive feature is the root system: fleshy, spindle-shaped tuberous roots (block roots) cluster together in groups of 5–6, forming a shape strikingly similar to a cat's paw, which gives the plant its Chinese name. The plant favours warm, moist habitats and commonly grows wild on moist grasslands, field edges, roadsides, and hillside meadows, at elevations up to 1000 metres. It can also tolerate shade and poor soils. The plant enters summer dormancy from May to September.

Sourcing & Harvesting

Where Mao Zhao Cao is sourced, when it's harvested or collected, and how to assess quality

Harvesting season

Spring or autumn (after 2–3 years of cultivation). Spring harvest is most common, collected before the plant enters its summer dormancy period (May).

Primary growing regions

The primary production region and traditional terroir (道地药材) source is Henan Province, particularly the Xinyang area (信阳), where it was first discovered and widely used in folk medicine. Other significant producing regions include Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Hubei, Jiangxi, and Guangxi provinces. The herb is broadly distributed across the Yangtze River middle and lower reaches. It also grows in Guizhou, Yunnan, Sichuan, Fujian, and Taiwan. Wild Ranunculus ternatus is also found in Japan.

Quality indicators

Good quality Mao Zhao Cao tuber roots (block roots) should be yellowish-brown on the surface, firm and solid in texture, plump and well-filled, with a whitish or pale yellowish cross-section. The individual spindle-shaped rootlets should be clearly formed and cluster together in the characteristic cat's-paw shape. They are typically 3–7 mm long and 2–3 mm in diameter. The herb should have no noticeable smell and a mildly sweet taste. Avoid material that is dark-coloured from prolonged storage, hollow or spongy inside, overly shrivelled, or has excessive residual rootlets. Wild-sourced material typically has smaller, more distinctly claw-shaped rootlets and is considered higher quality (and commands roughly three times the price), while cultivated material tends to have larger, less distinctly shaped blocks.

Classical Texts

Key passages from the classical Chinese medical texts that describe Mao Zhao Cao and its therapeutic uses

《中药材手册》 (Handbook of Chinese Medicinal Materials)

Original: 「味微甘。」「治颈上瘰疬结核。」

Translation: "Slightly sweet in taste." "Treats scrofula and tubercular nodules of the neck."

《广西中药志》 (Guangxi Journal of Chinese Materia Medica)

Original: 「味酸甘，性平，无毒。」「入肝、肺二经。」

Translation: "Sour and sweet in taste, neutral in nature, non-toxic." "Enters the Liver and Lung channels."

《河南中草药手册》 (Henan Handbook of Chinese Herbal Medicine)

Original: 「味辛，性温。」「消肿，截疟。治瘰疬，肺结核。」

Translation: "Acrid in taste, warm in nature." "Reduces swelling and halts malaria. Treats scrofula and pulmonary tuberculosis."

《本草拾遗》 (Supplement to the Materia Medica)

Original: 「主恶疮痈肿疼痛未溃，捣叶敷之，不得入疮，令人肉烂。主疟，令病者取一握微碎，缚臂上。子和姜捣腹，破冷气。」

Translation: "Indicated for painful abscesses and swellings that have not yet ulcerated. Pound the leaves and apply externally, but do not let it enter the wound, or it will cause the flesh to rot. For malaria, take a handful, slightly crush it, and bind it to the arm. The seeds, pounded with ginger and applied to the abdomen, break up cold Qi."

《本草推陈》 (Ben Cao Tui Chen)

Original: 「猫爪草外用为皮肤刺激药，治瘰疬，关节炎，关节结核，骨结核，支气管喘息，及一切阴疽肿毒未溃者。」

Translation: "Used externally, Mao Zhao Cao is a skin irritant agent. It treats scrofula, arthritis, joint tuberculosis, bone tuberculosis, bronchial asthma, and all yin-type abscesses and toxic swellings that have not yet ulcerated."

Historical Context

The history and evolution of Mao Zhao Cao's use in Chinese medicine over the centuries

Mao Zhao Cao has a relatively short recorded medicinal history compared to most Chinese herbs. It does not appear in the major ancient herbals like the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing or Ben Cao Gang Mu as a named entry. Its name literally means "cat claw grass," derived from the distinctive shape of its clustered spindle-shaped tuber roots, which resemble a cat's paw. The Latin species name ternatus (meaning "in threes") refers to the plant's characteristic trifoliate (three-parted) leaves, while the genus Ranunculus derives from the Greek word for "little frog," reflecting the plant's preference for moist habitats.

The herb's medicinal use reportedly originated in folk practice in the Xinyang region of Henan Province, where it had been used to treat "lao shu chuang" (老鼠疮, literally "rat sore," the folk name for cervical lymph node tuberculosis or scrofula) for over 200 years. In 1958, a traditional medicine doctor named Zhou Shumian (周树绵) at the Xinyang District Chinese Medicine Clinic collected this folk remedy, systematically applied it clinically, confirmed its effectiveness, and made it publicly known. Following further clinical validation at institutions including Xinyang District Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Henan College of Chinese Medicine, and Nanjing Zhongshan Hospital, Mao Zhao Cao was officially included in the 1977 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Its modern clinical prominence centres on treating tuberculosis-related conditions, and it has more recently attracted research interest for its anti-tumour potential.

Modern Research

4 published studies investigating the pharmacological effects or clinical outcomes of Mao Zhao Cao

1

Chemical constituents from the roots of Ranunculus ternatus and their inhibitory effects on Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Preclinical, 2013)

Deng B, Mu S, Zhang J, Zhou D. Molecules, 2013, 18(10): 11859-11865.

Researchers isolated two new benzophenone compounds and two known organic acids from the roots of R. ternatus. One novel benzophenone showed significant inhibitory activity against the M. tuberculosis H37Rv strain, and a combination with gallic acid enhanced the anti-tuberculosis effect. This was the first report identifying benzophenones as potential anti-tuberculosis agents.

PubMed
2

Ranunculus ternatus Thunb extract attenuates renal fibrosis of diabetic nephropathy via inhibiting SMYD2 (Preclinical animal study, 2022)

Xu W, Peng R, Chen S, Wu C, Wang X, Yu T, Jian J, Zhang N, Zuo S, Chen M, Guo B, Liu L. Pharmaceutical Biology, 2022, 60(1): 300-307.

This animal study investigated R. ternatus extract in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic mouse model. The extract reduced kidney fibrosis markers (fibronectin, vimentin, alpha-SMA) and suppressed inflammatory signalling through the SMYD2 histone methyltransferase pathway, suggesting potential benefits against diabetic kidney damage.

3

Cell death induction by Ranunculus ternatus extract is independent of mitochondria and dependent on caspase-7 (Preclinical in vitro, 2020)

Fang M, Shinomiya T, Nagahara Y. 3 Biotech, 2020, 10(3): 123.

The ethyl acetate extract of R. ternatus was shown to induce apoptosis-like cell death in Jurkat (T-cell lymphoma) and MCF-7 (breast cancer) cell lines. The mechanism was found to be dependent on caspase activation (specifically caspase-7) but independent of the mitochondrial pathway, revealing a unique anti-cancer mechanism.

PubMed
4

Network pharmacology and transcriptomic profiling elucidate the therapeutic effects of Ranunculus ternatus Thunb on liver fibrosis via MK3-NF-κB inhibition (Preclinical, 2024)

Han L, Lin G, Li J, Zhang Q, Ran T, Huang T, Hu R, Feng S, Zou G, Chen S, Zhao X. Aging (Albany NY), 2024, 16(5): 4759-4777.

This study combined network pharmacology analysis with animal experiments to demonstrate that beta-sitosterol, a major constituent of R. ternatus, reversed CCL4-induced hepatic fibrosis in mice. The anti-fibrotic effect was mediated through inhibition of the MK3 and NF-kappaB signalling pathways.

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.