Natural Herb Library

All-Grass of Common Dayflower

Chinese
鸭跖草
Pinyin
Ya Zhi Cao
Latin
Herba Commelinae
Botanical illustration of All-Grass of Common Dayflower, Commelina communis, showing habit, leaves, flowers, fruit, seed, root, and diagnostic plant details.
Botanical plate by Kodi . View print →

Known in TCM as Ya Zhi Cao (鸭跖草), this sweet and bland, cold herb enters the Lung, Stomach, and Small Intestine. Traditionally, it clears heat and purges fire, most often applied for upper respiratory infection, pharyngitis, and urinary tract infection. Modern research has identified Chrysoeriol-7-O-β-D-glucoside among its active constituents.

Part used: Whole herb

Also Known As

Commelina

Latin: Herba Commelinae | Pinyin: Ya Zhi Cao | Chinese: 鸭跖草

TCM Properties

Taste
sweet, bland
Temperature
cold
Channels
Lung, Stomach, Small Intestine

Traditional Use

Primary Actions

  • Clears heat and purges fire … used for high fever, heat stroke, intense thirst, and febrile diseases from excess heat in the Lung and Stomach
  • Relieves toxicity and reduces swelling … used for pharyngitis, tonsillitis, carbuncles, and snake bites from heat toxicity

Secondary Actions

  • Promotes diuresis and reduces edema … used for dysuria, oliguria, urinary tract infections, and edema from damp-heat in the Small Intestine
  • Cools blood and stops bleeding … used for hematuria and hemorrhage from heat entering the blood level

Modern Research

Active Compounds

  • Chrysoeriol-7-O-β-D-glucoside … primary flavone glycoside; antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
  • Isovitexin (apigenin-6-C-glucoside) … flavone C-glycoside with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective properties
  • Isorhamnetin-3-O-β-D-glucoside and isoquercitrin … flavonol glycosides with antioxidant activity
  • p-Coumaric acid and caffeic acid … phenolic acids with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity
  • Protocatechuic acid and methyl gallate … phenolic acid antioxidants
  • D-Mannitol … polyol with antitussive and mild osmotic diuretic effects
  • Commelinin (malonylawobanin) … anthocyanin pigment of the blue flowers; antioxidant

Studied Effects

  • Phytochemical characterization … 15 compounds isolated including chrysoeriol glycoside, methyl gallate, p-coumaric and caffeic acids, and multiple novel flavonoid glycosides; several reported from the genus for the first time (PMID 24422397)
  • Antibacterial … methanol-phase extract achieves 58.33% inhibition rate against 24 species of common pathogenic bacteria; disrupts cell membrane integrity and increases membrane permeability in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (PMID 36840240)
  • Active constituents … early phytochemical study identified p-hydroxycinnamic acid (antibacterial) and D-mannitol (antitussive) as primary bioactive components (PMID 7945872)

PubMed References

Safety & Interactions

Contraindications

  • Spleen-Stomach deficiency-cold … cold nature aggravates Yang deficiency and cold-type digestive weakness; avoid in loose stools from Spleen deficiency

Cautions

  • Cold draining nature: prolonged use or excessive dosage may injure Spleen Yang … limit course of treatment in constitutionally weak patients
  • 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 Common Dayflower used for?

All-Grass of Common Dayflower is traditionally used to Clears heat and purges fire … used for high fever, heat stroke, intense thirst, and febrile diseases from excess heat in the Lung and Stomach, Relieves toxicity and reduces swelling … used for pharyngitis, tonsillitis, carbuncles, and snake bites from heat toxicity. Research has investigated its effects on: Phytochemical characterization … 15 compounds isolated including chrysoeriol glycoside, methyl gallate, p-coumaric and caffeic acids, and multiple novel flavonoid glycosides; several reported from the genus for the first time (PMID 24422397); Antibacterial … methanol-phase extract achieves 58.33% inhibition rate against 24 species of common pathogenic bacteria; disrupts cell membrane integrity and increases membrane permeability in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (PMID 36840240).

What are other names for All-Grass of Common Dayflower?

All-Grass of Common Dayflower is also known as Commelina. In TCM: 鸭跖草 (Ya Zhi Cao); Herba Commelinae.

Is All-Grass of Common Dayflower safe during pregnancy?

The safety of All-Grass of Common Dayflower during pregnancy has not been established. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before use.

What are the contraindications for All-Grass of Common Dayflower?

All-Grass of Common Dayflower should not be used in: Spleen-Stomach deficiency-cold … cold nature aggravates Yang deficiency and cold-type digestive weakness; avoid in loose stools from Spleen deficiency. Consult a qualified practitioner before use.