All-Grass of Blushred Rabdosia
- Chinese
- 冬凌草
- Pinyin
- Dong Ling Cao
- Latin
- Herba Rabdosiae Rubescentis
Known in TCM as Dong Ling Cao (冬凌草), this bitter and sweet, cold herb enters the Lung, Stomach, and Liver. Traditionally, it clears Heat and relieves toxicity, most often applied for pharyngitis, cough, and cancer. Modern research has identified Oridonin among its active constituents.
Part used: Whole herb
Also Known As
Latin: Herba Rabdosiae Rubescentis | Pinyin: Dong Ling Cao | Chinese: 冬凌草
TCM Properties
- Taste
- bitter, sweet
- Temperature
- cold
- Channels
- Lung, Stomach, Liver
Traditional Use
Primary Actions
- Clears Heat and relieves toxicity … used for sore throat, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, and toxic heat patterns in the upper body
- Resolves phlegm and stops cough … used for persistent cough, wheezing, chest tightness, and hemoptysis from heat in the Lung
Secondary Actions
- Disperses stagnation and reduces pain … used for chest and epigastric pain from qi stagnation with heat
- Traditionally drunk as a folk tea for more than 1000 years in northern China for general health maintenance
Modern Research
Active Compounds
- Oridonin … primary ent-kaurane diterpenoid; broad anticancer, anti-inflammatory, hepatorenal protective, and cardioprotective activity; key active constituent
- Ponicidin … secondary diterpenoid; synergistic anticancer and antitumor properties
- Rubescensins … series of diterpenoids contributing to overall bioactivity profile
- Flavonoids … antioxidant secondary metabolites present alongside diterpenoids
Studied Effects
- Anticancer … oridonin induces apoptosis in gastric, lung, breast, colorectal, and pancreatic cancer cell lines via NF-κB and caspase pathway activation (PMID 34295243)
- Anti-inflammatory … oridonin suppresses NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasome activation; reduces IL-6, TNF-α, and NO in macrophage models (PMID 34295243)
- Hepatorenal protective … ameliorates liver and kidney injury via oxidative stress reduction; cardioprotective against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (PMID 34295243)
- Derivatives development … structural modifications to improve oridonin's pharmaceutical properties while maintaining or enhancing anticancer efficacy (PMID 28425866)
PubMed References
Safety & Interactions
Contraindications
- Spleen-Stomach deficiency-cold … cold bitter nature may aggravate cold patterns in the Middle Jiao
Cautions
- Oridonin hepatotoxicity observed in animal models at high doses … monitor liver function with extended use (PMID 34295243)
- Potential CYP450 enzyme induction … theoretical drug-drug interactions with medications metabolized by CYP450 enzymes; formal interaction studies needed (PMID 34295243)
- Erythrocyte toxicity and developmental toxicity (zebrafish embryos) observed at high concentrations … dose-dependent toxicity requires clarification
- MSK page not found … drug interaction data not available from Memorial Sloan Kettering integrative medicine database
Conditions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is All-Grass of Blushred Rabdosia used for?
All-Grass of Blushred Rabdosia is traditionally used to Clears Heat and relieves toxicity … used for sore throat, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, and toxic heat patterns in the upper body, Resolves phlegm and stops cough … used for persistent cough, wheezing, chest tightness, and hemoptysis from heat in the Lung. Research has investigated its effects on: Anticancer … oridonin induces apoptosis in gastric, lung, breast, colorectal, and pancreatic cancer cell lines via NF-κB and caspase pathway activation (PMID 34295243); Anti-inflammatory … oridonin suppresses NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasome activation; reduces IL-6, TNF-α, and NO in macrophage models (PMID 34295243).
What are other names for All-Grass of Blushred Rabdosia?
All-Grass of Blushred Rabdosia is also known as Rabdosia. In TCM: 冬凌草 (Dong Ling Cao); Herba Rabdosiae Rubescentis.
Is All-Grass of Blushred Rabdosia safe during pregnancy?
The safety of All-Grass of Blushred Rabdosia during pregnancy has not been established. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before use.
What are the contraindications for All-Grass of Blushred Rabdosia?
All-Grass of Blushred Rabdosia should not be used in: Spleen-Stomach deficiency-cold … cold bitter nature may aggravate cold patterns in the Middle Jiao. Consult a qualified practitioner before use.