Lu Lu Tong
StarLiquidambar formosana Hance
☯ TCM Properties
Dispels Wind-Dampness and Unblocks the Collaterals; Promotes Urination; Regulates menstruation and promotes lactation; Drains Dampness; Invigorates Blood and Moves Qi; Relieves Itching
Traditional Chinese Uses
Lu Lu Tong (sweetgum fruit, liquidambar fruit) is a neutral, bitter herb used in Chinese medicine to promote the free flow of Qi and Blood through the twelve channels and collaterals, expel Wind and Damp, and promote urination. It is used for Wind-Damp bi syndrome with joint pain and stiffness, menstrual irregularities and dysmenorrhea from Blood stagnation, and edema from fluid retention. Its range of action across channels and multiple organ systems makes it a broad-purpose Qi and Blood-opening herb.
Botanical Description
Liquidambar formosana, the Chinese sweetgum or Formosan gum, is a large deciduous tree in the Altingiaceae growing 25-40 m tall with a straight grey-brown trunk and a tall conical to rounded crown. The alternate leaves are long-petiolate and palmately three-lobed (rarely five-lobed) with finely serrate margins, 8-15 cm across; they emit a sweet balsamic odour when crushed and turn yellow to rich red in autumn. The tree is monoecious; tiny apetalous male flowers are borne in erect terminal racemes and female flowers in pendulous solitary spherical heads. Each female head matures into a spiky woody aggregate of capsules about 2-3 cm in diameter, with persistent hardened styles forming a bristly surface, hanging from a long peduncle. The dried mature aggregate "burrs" collected in winter are the medicinal Lu Lu Tong.
Active Constituents
Betulonic acid
Lupane-type triterpenoid acidConcentration: Minor constituent of the 70% ethanol fruit extract; not routinely quantified
A pentacyclic triterpene reported to contribute to the antitumour and anti-inflammatory activity of the fruit; related lupane and oleanane triterpenoids from the fruit inhibit platelet aggregation and NFAT signalling.
Oleanolic acid
Oleanane-type triterpenoid acidConcentration: Common triterpenoid marker; content varies with source
Widely documented hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant triterpene; one of the principal bioactive triterpenoids underlying the fruit's blood-invigorating and liver-protective uses.
Ursolic acid
Ursane-type triterpenoid acidConcentration: Minor triterpenoid
Anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic triterpene; contributes to the antitumour and antioxidant profile of Liquidambaris Fructus.
Liquidambaric lactone (3-oxo-12α-hydroxy-oleanan-28,13β-olide)
Oleanane triterpenoid lactoneConcentration: Characteristic fruit lactone; low abundance
A characteristic oleanane lactone isolated from the fruit; among the triterpenoids implicated in inhibition of platelet aggregation and tumour-cell signalling in mechanistic studies.
28-nor-β-amyrenone / 11α-methoxy-28-nor-β-amyrenone
Nor-triterpenoid ketoneConcentration: Trace fruit constituents
Nor-triterpenoids isolated from the 70% ethanol extract; part of the oleanane/amyrin triterpenoid pool associated with antithrombotic and antitumour actions.
Betulinic acid
Lupane-type triterpenoid acidConcentration: Minor triterpenoid
Triterpene with documented antitumour, antiviral and anti-inflammatory activity; supports the fruit's reported cytotoxic and antioxidant effects.
Styracin (cinnamyl cinnamate)
Cinnamic acid ester (resin component)Concentration: Present in the aromatic resin/oil fraction
An aromatic ester carried in the resinous fraction of the sweetgum fruit and bark; contributes to the volatile, aromatic character of the drug.
Volatile (essential) oil
Terpene-rich essential oilConcentration: Aromatic oil fraction of the infructescence
Terpene-rich oil giving the fruit its aroma; associated in the genus with antimicrobial and mild anti-inflammatory activity.
Daucosterol (β-sitosterol β-D-glucoside)
Phytosterol glycosideConcentration: Minor sterol glycoside
Ubiquitous plant sterol glycoside co-isolated from the fruit; a general anti-inflammatory/antioxidant background constituent.
⚠ Drug Interactions
Anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs (e.g., warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel)
Oleanane and lupane triterpenoids from the fruit inhibit adenosine-induced platelet aggregation in vitro, consistent with the herb's traditional blood-invigorating (huo xue) action. Concurrent use with antithrombotic drugs could theoretically potentiate anticoagulation.
Clinical note: Monitor for bruising or bleeding when combined with anticoagulants/antiplatelets; based on preclinical antiplatelet activity rather than clinical reports.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-15g | Daily | — | — | — |
Preparation Methods
Water decoction (tang)
Parts: Dried mature infructescence (fruit cluster)
Typical dose 5–10 g of the dried infructescence decocted in water for internal use to invigorate blood, unblock the collaterals, promote urination and regulate menstruation. Contraindicated in pregnancy and in patients with profuse menstruation.
External wash / steam-fumigation
Parts: Dried mature infructescence
The fruit is decocted and the warm liquid used as a wash, or the fruit burned and the smoke applied, for damp skin conditions, itching and painful obstruction of the limbs, following the classical indication for external fumigation.
Clinical Studies
Identification of the anti-breast cancer targets of triterpenoids in Liquidambaris Fructus and the hints for its traditional applications
Thirteen triterpenoids were characterised from Liquidambaris Fructus (six isolated from the drug for the first time). Network-pharmacology and target analysis identified 18 protein targets linked to breast-cancer progression, with inhibition of receptor tyrosine-kinase autophosphorylation (notably ErbB4 and EGFR) proposed as a primary anti-breast-cancer mechanism, providing a molecular rationale for the fruit's traditional use in breast disorders.
Analysis of the absorbed constituents and mechanism of liquidambaris fructus extract on hepatocellular carcinoma
Using serum pharmacochemistry and integrated pharmacology, the authors identified absorbed constituents of Liquidambaris Fructus extract and characterised signalling pathways involved in its inhibition of hepatocellular carcinoma, supporting the fruit's investigational antitumour activity.
Historical Texts
Ben Cao Gang Mu Shi Yi (本草纲目拾遗, Supplement to the Compendium of Materia Medica), Zhao Xuemin
Qing dynasty, 1765References
- Qian P, Mu XT, Su B, Gao L, Zhang DF. Identification of the anti-breast cancer targets of triterpenoids in Liquidambaris Fructus and the hints for its traditional applications . BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (2020) [DOI]
- Wang S, Yang XX, Li TJ, Zhao L, Bao YR, Meng XS. Analysis of the absorbed constituents and mechanism of liquidambaris fructus extract on hepatocellular carcinoma . Frontiers in Pharmacology (2022) [DOI]
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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