Mu Tou Hui

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Patrinia heterophylla Bunge / Patrinia scabra Bunge

Genus: Patrinia Species: heterophylla Pinyin: Mu Tou Hui

Golden Rain Tree root木头回

☯ TCM Properties

Category: clearing heat

Temperature: cool

Taste: bitter, sour

Meridians: heart, liver

Functions:

Secures the Kidneys and Stops Vaginal Discharge; Astringes and Stops Bleeding; Clears Heat and Resolves Toxicity; Checks Malaria; Invigorates Blood and Dispels Stasis

Traditional Chinese Uses

Mu Tou Hui (convolvulus root, morinda) is a bitter, warm herb used in Chinese medicine primarily for women's reproductive health — specifically addressing abnormal vaginal discharge from Kidney deficiency and heavy menstruation or uterine bleeding from various deficiency patterns. It also has applications for rheumatic conditions and is used as a tonic herb for certain lower-body weakness and pain patterns. Its focus on gynecological complaints related to Kidney deficiency and astringent functions gives it a specialized clinical role in women's health formulas.

Botanical Description

Patrinia heterophylla (with the closely allied P. scabra often treated as the same drug) is a perennial herb of the Caprifoliaceae family (formerly Valerianaceae), growing 30 to 80 cm tall from a stout woody rootstock that emits a strongly fetid, sour odor when fresh. Stems are erect, slender, and finely pubescent. Basal leaves are pinnately divided into three to seven narrow lobes, while cauline leaves are smaller, opposite, deeply pinnatifid, with linear to lanceolate segments. The inflorescence is a flat-topped to somewhat rounded terminal corymb of numerous small flowers; each flower has a five-lobed pale yellow tubular corolla 3 to 4 mm long. The fruit is a small dry achene subtended by a membranous winged bract. It grows on dry stony slopes and grasslands across northern and central China.

Active Constituents

Iridoids and iridoid glycosides (e.g., patrinoside, patrinioside)

Monoterpenoid iridoids

Concentration: Characteristic active fraction

Esterified monocyclic iridoid glucosides are characteristic of Patrinia scabra/heterophylla and are linked to the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of the root.

Triterpenoids and triterpenoid saponins

Triterpene glycosides

Concentration: Multiple compounds isolated

Oleanane-type triterpenoids and their saponins are among the cytotoxic constituents; several showed activity against HL-60 leukaemia cells in vitro.

Flavonoids

Polyphenolic flavonoids

Concentration: Minor to moderate

Contribute antioxidant and antibacterial actions supporting the traditional heat-clearing, toxicity-resolving use.

Phenylpropanoids and acetophenones

Phenolic phenylpropanoids

Concentration: Several compounds isolated

Together with coumarins these phenolic constituents were identified as selectively cytotoxic against several human tumour cell lines in phytochemical studies.

Coumarins

Benzopyranones

Concentration: Minor

Reported constituents that add to the antimicrobial and reported sedative/hepatoprotective profile of the genus Patrinia.

Volatile oil / essential oil

Terpenoid volatile oil

Concentration: Small percentage

The characteristic odour of Patrinia roots; contributes antibacterial activity.

Polysaccharides

Plant polysaccharide

Concentration: Water-soluble fraction

Patrinia heterophylla polysaccharides inhibited HeLa cell proliferation through apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest in laboratory studies, supporting antitumour interest.

Dosage

Form	Amount	Frequency	Duration	Population	Notes
decoction	6-15g	Daily	—	—	—

Preparation Methods

Decoction

Parts: Root (Radix Patriniae heterophyllae)

The dried root is decocted in water, typically 6-15 g, for heat-clearing, toxicity-resolving, bleeding-stopping and discharge-securing indications. As a regional/folk herb, dosing should follow local pharmacopoeial guidance.

Powder

Parts: Root

Ground root taken in smaller doses, or applied topically for sores and swellings, drawing on the blood-invigorating and stasis-dispelling action.

Clinical Studies

Chemical constituents of Patrinia heterophylla Bunge and selective cytotoxicity against six human tumor cells

Sheng L, Yang Y, Zhang Y, Li N (2019) Journal of Ethnopharmacology Preclinical (phytochemical isolation and in vitro cytotoxicity)

Fifteen compounds (phenylpropanoids, acetophenones, phenols, iridoids, an alkane and a coumarin) were isolated from P. heterophylla; nine showed selective in vitro cytotoxicity (IC50 27.2-163.0 microM) against tumour cell lines including HeLa, HL-60, K562, PC3, SGC-7901 and Jurkat. This is a laboratory (non-clinical) study.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2019.03.005 Link

Historical Texts

Regional / folk materia medica of northern China

Documented in modern Chinese herbal literature (20th century)

Mu Tou Hui (Patrinia heterophylla / P. scabra root) is used mainly as a regional folk medicine and is related to, but distinct from, the classical herb Bai Jiang Cao (Patrinia). It is not a herb of the earliest classics; its uses are recorded chiefly in modern floras and provincial materia medica for clearing heat, resolving toxicity, checking malaria and securing discharge.

References

Sheng L, Yang Y, Zhang Y, Li N. Chemical constituents of Patrinia heterophylla Bunge and selective cytotoxicity against six human tumor cells . Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 236:129-135 (2019) [DOI]
Gong L, et al.. Chemical Constituents and Pharmacological Effects of Genus Patrinia: a Review . Current Pharmacology Reports, 6:jump (2020) [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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