Fructus seu Herba Physalis Peruviana
Aliases：Bào Bǔ Cǎo, Dēng Lóng Pào, Guǐ Dēng Lóng, Dǎ Bǔ Cǎo, Shuǐ Dēng Lóng Cǎo, Kǔ Dēng Lóng Cǎo, Hé Bǔ Cǎo, Dǎ É Pào, Tiān Pào Guǒ, Xiǎng Líng Zǐ, Dì Dēng Lóng, Mǔ Pào Cǎo, Pào Zǎi Cǎo, Dǎ Tóu Pào, Pào Pào Cǎo, Xīn Bù Gān.
Dēng Lóng Cǎo is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. It is the whole plant of Physalis peruviana L., a plant belonging to the family Solanaceae. This plant is an annual or perennial herb, growing 30–90 cm tall, with creeping rhizomes and erect or spreading stems covered with short soft hairs. The leaves are alternate or paired, ovate to oblong, with dense short hairs on both surfaces. The flowers are solitary in leaf axils, with yellow corollas and purple markings in the throat. The fruit is a globose berry, yellow when mature, with the persistent calyx expanding into a lantern-like structure enclosing the berry, hence the name “Lantern Plant”. Dēng Lóng Cǎo was first recorded in Luchuan Bencao and is included in authoritative texts such as Chinese Materia Medica and National Compilation of Chinese Herbal Medicine.
Efficacy & Actions
Clears heat and detoxifies; promotes Qi flow and relieves pain; reduces swelling and promotes diuresis.
Indications
Indicated for common cold with fever, sore throat, cough, mumps (parotitis), pemphigus, abdominal distension, and hernia pain. It may also be used for bronchitis, orchitis, herpes, furuncles, and jaundice due to damp-heat. Luchuan Bencao records that it “promotes Qi flow, relieves distension, and promotes diuresis”; Nanning Materia Medica records that it “clears heat, kills parasites, relieves pain, and reduces swelling”.
Modern Pharmacology
Analgesic effect: Experimental studies have shown that Dēng Lóng Cǎo has significant analgesic activity. Anticancer effect: Dēng Lóng Cǎo exhibits anticancer activity. Its constituent physalin F and other components have shown strong inhibitory effects against liver cancer cells in vitro. Antimicrobial effect: Exhibits antibacterial and antifungal activities. Anti-allergic effect: The water extract of Dēng Lóng Cǎo has shown protective effects on liver injury in sensitized mice, suggesting potential value in preventing food allergies. Hypoglycemic effect: Fruit extracts of Dēng Lóng Cǎo have demonstrated antidiabetic and antihyperglycemic activities.
Ingredients
Alkaloids: Phygrine, hygrine, tropine, cuscohygrine, physoperuvine, and others. Withanolides: Withaperuvin D, perulactone B, and others. Physalolactones: Physalolactone and others. Other constituents: The roots contain organic acids, amino acids, flavonoid glycosides, phenols, and sugars; the leaves contain chlorogenic acid; the fruits are rich in carotene.
Usage & Dosage
For oral administration: decoct in water, 9–15 g. For fresh herb, up to 30–60 g may be used. May also be ground into powder and taken with warm boiled water, 5 g each time. For external use: apply an appropriate amount, crushed and applied topically to the affected area; or decoct in water for washing.
Contraindications
Contraindicated during pregnancy. Not suitable for high doses in cases of Spleen-Stomach deficiency cold. Contraindicated in patients without damp-heat stasis. Contraindicated in infants and patients with diarrhea. Should not be taken concurrently with large amounts of warm-tonic herbs (such as deer antler, cinnamon, ginger, etc.), as this may reduce its heat-clearing effects. Discontinue use immediately if skin rash, nausea, or other allergic reactions occur.
Selected Formulas
For heat cough and sore throat (Danxi Zuanyao, Qingxin Wan) Take Dilancao (Physalis alkekengi), grind into fine powder, and take with plain boiled water. Additionally, mix the powder with vinegar and apply externally to the throat area. For common cold with fever, mumps, and bronchitis (empirical formula) Take an appropriate amount of Dilancao, decoct in water and drink. For abdominal distension and hernia (empirical formula) Take Dilancao, decoct in water and drink. For kidney-deficiency low back pain (empirical formula) Take 30g of Dilancao, stew with meat and eat. For rheumatic pain (empirical formula) Take 30g of Dilancao, cook with wine and drink warm. For scabies (empirical formula) Take Dilancao, decoct in water and wash the affected area externally.
Daily Consumption
Fresh consumption: The ripe fruit (with the persistent calyx enlarged into a lantern-like shape, containing a yellow berry inside) can be eaten fresh after peeling off the calyx. Beverage: The fruit can be used to make natural beverages.
Medicinal Parts
Dried whole plant.
Selection & Storage
Store in a dry, well-ventilated place.
