AjugalupulinaMaxim.
Aliases：Tián Gé Suō Suō Cǎo (Sweet Grass), Tián Gé Sù Sù Cǎo (Sweet Grass), Hū Bù Jīn Gǔ Cǎo (Hop-like Ajuga), Bái Máo Xià Kū Cǎo (White-haired Self-heal), Lún Huā Jīn Gǔ Cǎo (Whorled-flower Ajuga), Huáng Mài Jīn Gǔ Cǎo (Yellow-veined Ajuga), Chǐ Bāo Jīn Gǔ Cǎo (Toothed-bract Ajuga), Dà Bāo Jīn Gǔ Cǎo (Large-bract Ajuga), Gāng Gā Qióng (Tibetan transliteration), Sēn Dòu Hé (Tibetan transliteration), Shēng Dòu Gā Er Lǎn (Tibetan transliteration), Tǎ Tǎ Huā (Pagoda Flower).
Bái Bāo Jīn Gǔ Cǎo is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. It is the whole plant of Ajuga lupulina Maxim., a plant belonging to the family Lamiaceae, used medicinally. This plant is a perennial herb, 4–35 cm tall, with a stout, erect, quadrangular stem bearing white jointed long hairs along the edges and nodes. The leaves are opposite, lanceolate or rhombic-ovate, 5–11 cm long, with narrowly winged petioles clasping the stem at the base. The spike is 3–19 cm long, with yellowish-white, ovate or broadly ovate bracts, 2–6.5 cm long; the corolla is white, white-green, or white-yellow with purple markings. The nutlets are black, obovate-ellipsoid. Bái Bāo Jīn Gǔ Cǎo was first recorded in the National Compilation of Chinese Herbal Medicine.
Efficacy & Actions
Clears heat and detoxifies; cools the blood and reduces swelling; promotes blood circulation and removes stasis.
Indications
Indicated for externally-contracted wind-heat, high fever with delirium; sore throat, red and swollen eyes; lung-heat cough and wheezing, consumptive cough, hemoptysis; hematemesis, epistaxis (nosebleed); hypertension; facial nerve paralysis (Bell‘s palsy); traumatic injuries, stasis swelling and pain; carbuncles, sores, intestinal abscesses, breast abscesses; traumatic bleeding, snakebites; syphilis, anthrax.
Modern Pharmacology
Anti-ferroptosis activity: Abietane-type diterpenoids (compounds 7–11) isolated from Ajuga lupulina significantly inhibited RSL3-induced ferroptosis in mouse hippocampal neuronal HT22 cells, with EC₅₀ values of 0.83 μM, 2.05 μM, 0.96 μM, 1.47 μM, and 1.19 μM, respectively. Anti-inflammatory effects: Plants of the genus Ajuga are widely used in the treatment of respiratory, digestive, endocrine, and kidney diseases, with well-established anti-inflammatory pharmacological activities. Antibacterial effects: Exhibits antibacterial activity. Antitumor effects: Plants of the genus Ajuga possess antitumor pharmacological activities. Anti-osteoporosis and bone injury repair effects.
Ingredients
New compounds: Five new compounds (compounds 1, 2, 7, 12, and 16), among which compound 16 is an 8-carbon compound discovered in nature for the first time. Known compounds: Fifteen known compounds. Flavonoids: Chrysoeriol, diosmetin, kaempferide, quercetin, luteolin, luteolin-7-O-glucoside. Organic acids: Vanillic acid. Sterols: β-Sitosterol. Others: 6-Deacetylajugrin IV, 8-acetylharpagide. Trace elements: Contains nearly 20 trace elements, including magnesium, aluminum, silicon, phosphorus, calcium, chromium, manganese, iron, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, molybdenum, tin, selenium, strontium, and others.
Usage & Dosage
For oral administration: decoct in water, 6–12 g. For external use: apply an appropriate amount of fresh herb, crushed and applied topically to the affected area, or decocted in water for washing.
Contraindications
Use with caution in patients with Spleen-Stomach deficiency cold—as this herb is cold in nature and may impair the Yang Qi of the Spleen and Stomach. Use with caution during pregnancy. Should be used under the guidance of a physician. Avoid excessive or prolonged use.
Selected Formulas
For hemoptysis due to lung heat (empirical formula) Take Bai Bao Jin Gu Cao (Ajuga lupulina) together with Baimaogen (Imperata rhizome). Decoct in water and drink. For tonsillitis, pharyngitis, and laryngitis (empirical formula) Take 15–30g of Jingu Cao (Ajuga lupulina), decoct in water and drink; or take 4–5 plants of Jingu Cao, boil with tofu, eat the tofu and drink the soup. For traumatic injuries and sprains (empirical formula) Take fresh Jingu Cao with a small amount of fresh ginger and scallion, crush and apply externally.
Medicinal Parts
Dried whole plant.
Selection & Storage
Store in a ventilated, dry place.
