Shorttube Lagotis Herb
- Chinese
- 洪连
- Pinyin
- Hong Lian
- Latin
- Herba Lagotidis
Known in TCM as Hong Lian (洪连), this bitter, cold herb enters the Liver, Gallbladder, and Stomach. Traditionally, it clears Liver and Gallbladder Heat, most often applied for jaundice, cholecystitis, and hepatitis. Modern research has identified Iridoid glycosides (principal bitter class; anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective among its active constituents.
Part used: Whole herb
Also Known As
Latin: Herba Lagotidis | Pinyin: Hong Lian | Chinese: 洪连
TCM Properties
- Taste
- bitter
- Temperature
- cold
- Channels
- Liver, Gallbladder, Stomach
Traditional Use
Primary Actions
- Clears Liver and Gallbladder Heat … jaundice, cholecystitis, and Damp-Heat accumulation in the Liver-Gallbladder axis
- Clears Heat and resolves toxicity … febrile illness, high fever, and hot toxic swellings
- Clears Stomach Heat … gastric inflammation, acid reflux, and oral ulcers from Stomach Heat uprising
- Cools Blood … skin eruptions, rashes, and bleeding due to Blood Heat
Secondary Actions
- Tibetan folk use for altitude-related inflammatory conditions … used in Sowa-Rigpa medicine as an alpine bitter herb to clear Liver heat and reduce inflammation at high elevation
- Antimicrobial … bitter alkaloids and iridoid glycosides used for intestinal infections in Tibetan highland communities
Classical References
- Tibetan Materia Medica (Si Bu Yi Dian): records Hong Lian (Lagotis brevituba) as a bitter-cold herb of high-altitude alpine meadows, used to clear Liver heat and reduce fever; Tibetan name 'Hung-len' … considered functionally analogous to Huang Lian (Coptis rhizome) in clearing Liver-Stomach Fire, though botanically unrelated (Lagotis is Plantaginaceae; Coptis is Ranunculaceae)
- NAMING NOTE: Hong Lian (洪连) shares phonetic similarity with Huang Lian (黄连, Rhizoma Coptidis) and is used as a regional substitute in Tibetan and Qinghai highland medicine where true Huang Lian is unavailable; the two herbs share bitter-cold Liver-clearing properties but are pharmacologically distinct … clinical substitution should be confirmed by a practitioner
Modern Research
Active Compounds
- Iridoid glycosides (principal bitter class; anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective … characteristic of Plantaginaceae/Lagotis)
- Phenylethanoid glycosides (acteoside/verbascoside type; antioxidant, anti-inflammatory)
- Flavonoids (luteolin, apigenin, baicalein … anti-inflammatory, antioxidant)
- Phenylpropanoids (caffeic acid derivatives; antioxidant)
- Bitter secoiridoids (related compounds shared with Gentianaceae-type alpine bitter herbs)
Studied Effects
- Hepatoprotective: iridoid glycosides and phenylethanoid glycosides from Lagotis species reduce hepatocyte injury markers (ALT, AST) in CCl4-induced liver damage models and demonstrate anti-inflammatory effects in the hepatic compartment … provides biochemical validation for the traditional Liver-Gallbladder Heat-clearing and jaundice application in Tibetan highland medicine
- Anti-inflammatory: flavonoid and phenylethanoid fraction of Lagotis brevituba inhibits NF-κB activation and reduces pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) production in LPS-stimulated macrophages … supports the fever-clearing and toxin-resolving traditional indications
- Antioxidant: total phenolic content from L. brevituba aerial parts demonstrates significant DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity in in vitro assays; antioxidant capacity comparable to other alpine medicinal Plantaginaceae species
Safety & Interactions
Contraindications
- Spleen-Stomach Deficiency Cold … cold-bitter herb strongly contraindicated with loose stools, poor appetite, and cold abdomen
- Cold patterns without Heat signs … bitter-cold nature will further deplete Yang Qi
Cautions
- Standard dose: 3–9 g dried herb in decoction; higher doses in acute febrile illness under supervision
- Not a substitute for Huang Lian (Rhizoma Coptidis) in classical formulas without practitioner confirmation … similar energetics but different alkaloid profile
- Limited formal safety and toxicity studies; traditionally considered safe at standard doses based on centuries of Tibetan folk use
- Pregnancy: bitter-cold herbs traditionally used with caution in pregnancy; insufficient specific data for this species
Conditions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Shorttube Lagotis Herb used for?
Shorttube Lagotis Herb is traditionally used to Clears Liver and Gallbladder Heat … jaundice, cholecystitis, and Damp-Heat accumulation in the Liver-Gallbladder axis, Clears Heat and resolves toxicity … febrile illness, high fever, and hot toxic swellings, Clears Stomach Heat … gastric inflammation, acid reflux, and oral ulcers from Stomach Heat uprising, Cools Blood … skin eruptions, rashes, and bleeding due to Blood Heat. Research has investigated its effects on: Hepatoprotective: iridoid glycosides and phenylethanoid glycosides from Lagotis species reduce hepatocyte injury markers (ALT, AST) in CCl4-induced liver damage models and demonstrate anti-inflammatory effects in the hepatic compartment … provides biochemical validation for the traditional Liver-Gallbladder Heat-clearing and jaundice application in Tibetan highland medicine; Anti-inflammatory: flavonoid and phenylethanoid fraction of Lagotis brevituba inhibits NF-κB activation and reduces pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) production in LPS-stimulated macrophages … supports the fever-clearing and toxin-resolving traditional indications.
What are other names for Shorttube Lagotis Herb?
Shorttube Lagotis Herb is also known as Lagotidis. In TCM: 洪连 (Hong Lian); Herba Lagotidis.
Is Shorttube Lagotis Herb safe during pregnancy?
The safety of Shorttube Lagotis Herb during pregnancy has not been established. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before use.
What are the contraindications for Shorttube Lagotis Herb?
Shorttube Lagotis Herb should not be used in: Spleen-Stomach Deficiency Cold … cold-bitter herb strongly contraindicated with loose stools, poor appetite, and cold abdomen; Cold patterns without Heat signs … bitter-cold nature will further deplete Yang Qi. Consult a qualified practitioner before use.