☯ TCM Properties
Cools the Blood and stops bleeding; Invigorates the Blood and d ispels Blood Stasis; Disperses Wind-Dampness; Unblocks the channels and vessels; Cools the Liver and transforms Phlegm
Traditional Chinese Uses
Qian Cao Gen is the root of Rubia cordifolia (Radix Rubiae), Asian or Indian madder, classed among Blood-regulating herbs. Bitter and cold, entering the Heart, Liver and Lung channels, it cools the Blood to stop bleeding and simultaneously invigorates the Blood to dispel stasis, a dual action that makes it valuable for Blood-Heat bleeding complicated by stasis: nosebleed, coughing or vomiting blood, blood in the urine, and especially abnormal uterine bleeding.
By moving Blood and unblocking the channels it also treats amenorrhea, menstrual pain, traumatic injury with bruising and swelling, and Wind-Damp painful obstruction. Preparation guides its emphasis: charred (fried to charcoal) it stops bleeding, while the raw root more strongly moves Blood and opens the menses. Because it invigorates Blood, it should be used with caution or avoided in pregnancy. Usual dose is around 6-10 g in decoction.
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Qian Cao Gen is the dried root of Rubia cordifolia L. (Rubiaceae), commonly called Indian or Asian madder, a perennial climbing or scrambling herb whose slender four-angled stems bear minute downward-pointing prickles enabling them to clamber 1.5-3 m across surrounding vegetation. The leaves are arranged in whorls of typically four, ovate-cordate, 2-9 cm long, with three to five prominent palmate veins and rough margins. Small, pale yellow, five-lobed flowers in lax terminal and axillary cymes give rise to paired, globose, fleshy black drupes 4-6 mm across. The slender, cylindrical, reddish-brown roots, often branched and 10-30 cm long, contain anthraquinone pigments (alizarin, purpurin) that yield the classical red dye. In TCM the root cools blood, stops bleeding, invigorates blood, and dispels stasis. The closely related European Rubia tinctorum was an important Western dyeplant and folk medicine.
Active Constituents
Anthraquinones (alizarin, purpurin, munjistin, pseudopurpurin, xanthopurpurin, rubiadin)
AnthraquinonesConcentration: Major pigmented fraction
The characteristic red root pigments and principal actives, associated with hemostatic, antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory and antitumor activity. Some (e.g. lucidin, rubiadin) have raised genotoxicity concerns and are subject to regulatory limits.
Cyclic hexapeptides (RA-series, e.g. RA-V/deoxybouvardin, RA-VII)
Bicyclic hexapeptidesConcentration: Minor but highly potent
Rubia-type cyclic peptides with potent antitumor activity, active against Wnt, Myc and Notch cancer signaling pathways at nanogram concentrations.
Mollugin and naphthohydroquinones (furomollugin, rubilactone)
Naphthoquinone/naphthohydroquinone derivativesConcentration: Notable
Mollugin shows anti-inflammatory activity (suppressing NF-kB/MAPK and enhancing Nrf2/HO-1), plus anticancer and antioxidant effects.
Polysaccharides
PolysaccharidesConcentration: Notable
Contribute to antioxidant and immunomodulatory activity of the root.
Terpenoids and trace elements
Terpenes / mineralsConcentration: Minor
Additional minor constituents that supplement the anti-inflammatory and hemostatic profile of the crude drug.
⚠ Drug Interactions
Anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs (warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel)
Rubia constituents show anti-platelet-aggregation activity and the herb is used to invigorate blood and dispel stasis, so combined use could theoretically increase bleeding risk. Conversely its traditional hemostatic use adds uncertainty about net effect.
Clinical note: Use cautiously with antithrombotic drugs and monitor for bleeding or altered coagulation.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-15g | Daily | — | — | — |
Preparation Methods
Decoction (Tang)
Parts: Root and rhizome
Usually 6-10 g of the dried, sliced root decocted in water to cool and invigorate the blood and stop bleeding.
Char-fried (Qian Cao Tan)
Parts: Root and rhizome
Stir-frying the root until charred (carbonized) enhances its hemostatic action; the charred form is preferred when the emphasis is on stopping bleeding rather than moving blood.
Powder or wine-fried
Parts: Root and rhizome
Ground to powder or fried with wine to strengthen the blood-invigorating, stasis-dispelling action; taken in small doses or added to formulas.
Clinical Studies
Crosstalk of Cancer Signaling Pathways by Cyclic Hexapeptides and Anthraquinones from Rubia cordifolia
Bioactivity-guided fractionation of Rubia cordifolia root yielded anthraquinones (alizarin, purpurin, emodin), lignans and cyclic hexapeptides. A cyclic hexapeptide was highly active against Wnt, Myc and Notch cancer signaling pathways at nanogram-per-milliliter concentrations, characterizing the antitumor constituents.
Historical Texts
Shennong Ben Cao Jing (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica)
Han dynasty, c. 200 CEBen Cao Gang Mu (Compendium of Materia Medica), Li Shizhen
Ming dynasty, 1578 CEReferences
- Wen X, Xia J, Cheng K, Zhang L, Zhang P, Liu J, et al.. A comprehensive review of Rubia cordifolia L.: Traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, and clinical applications . Frontiers in Pharmacology (2022) [DOI]
- Balachandran P, Ibrahim MA, Zhang J, Wang M, Pasco DS, Muhammad I. Crosstalk of Cancer Signaling Pathways by Cyclic Hexapeptides and Anthraquinones from Rubia cordifolia . Molecules (2021) [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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