Shen Jin Cao
StarLycopodium japonicum Thunb.
Traditionally used for
- Menstrual & women's health
- Nerves & recovery
- Pain & joints
Cautions & contraindications
- Pregnancy
☯ TCM Properties
Dispels Wind-Dampness; Relaxes the Sinews and Unblocks the Collaterals; Disperses Cold; Reduces Swelling and Alleviates Pain
Traditional Chinese Uses
Shen Jin Cao (lycopodium herb, club moss) is a warm, bitter herb used in Chinese medicine primarily to expel Wind-Cold-Damp from the channels and muscles, relieve joint and muscle pain, and relax the sinews. It is used for bi syndrome with stiffness, numbness, and pain in the joints and limbs, and for menstrual irregularities from stagnation. Its sinew-relaxing properties make it particularly applicable for spasms, cramps, and restricted range of motion from Wind-Cold-Damp obstruction.
Relationships
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Botanical Description
Lycopodium japonicum is a perennial evergreen clubmoss (lycophyte) of the family Lycopodiaceae, native to moist forested slopes, ravines, and open mountain meadows across East and Southeast Asia. It produces long, prostrate, branching main stems that creep along the substrate, rooting at intervals and giving rise to erect, repeatedly forked aerial shoots 15 to 40 cm tall, densely clothed in narrow, linear-lanceolate, spirally arranged microphylls less than 1 cm long. Reproduction is by spores borne in cylindrical, terminal strobili at the tips of slender, leafless peduncles; the spores are yellow, oily, and extremely fine. The entire aerial herb is collected throughout the growing season for medicinal use, dried, and cut into segments.
Active Constituents
Lycopodine
Lycopodium alkaloid (lycopodine-type quinolizidine)Concentration: Principal lycopodine-type alkaloid of the whole herb; the species yields 83 characterised alkaloids in total, of which 48 are lycopodine-type
Inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced release of pro-inflammatory mediators in BV2 microglial cells in vitro, one of ten L. japonicum alkaloids active in that assay across a range of IC50 4.23 to 64.97 micromolar (curcumin control IC50 3.12 micromolar). This is a cell-culture finding only; no human pharmacokinetic data exist for the compound taken as part of a decoction.
Lycojapodine A
Lycopodium alkaloid (fawcettimine-related, 6/6/6/7 tetracyclic with a six-membered lactone)Concentration: Trace alkaloid isolated from the whole herb
The most potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitor so far reported from this species, with an in vitro IC50 of 90.3 micromolar; it also showed anti-HIV-1 activity with an EC50 of 85 micrograms per millilitre by MTT assay. A micromolar IC50 is weak enzyme inhibition and is not comparable to huperzine A, which acts in the nanomolar range.
Lycojaponicumins A, B and C
Lycopodium alkaloids with an unprecedented 5/5/5/5/6 pentacyclic (A and B) or 6/5/5/6 tetracyclic (C) skeletonConcentration: Trace constituents; isolated in milligram quantities from bulk whole-herb extract
Suppress lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide and pro-inflammatory cytokine production in BV2 microglia in vitro. Lycojaponicumins A and B were the first natural products described with a 1-aza-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane moiety, so they are chemically novel rather than pharmacologically established.
alpha-Onocerin
Onocerane-type triterpenoidConcentration: Reported as a major triterpenoid of the whole herb
Inhibited acetylcholinesterase by 39.0 percent at 0.6 mg/mL in vitro, against galanthamine at 63.6 percent as the positive control. Lycoclavanol from the same plant gave 20.0 percent under the same conditions. These are weak, high-concentration effects.
Serratene-type triterpenoids (3-epilycoclavanol, lycernuic acid A, lycojaponicuminols A to F, lycopodiin A)
Serratane (serratene) triterpenoidsConcentration: Together with the alkaloids these are the dominant constituent class; 27 serratane triterpenoids have been reported from the species
Moderately cytotoxic in vitro against A549 lung, HepG2 hepatocellular and MCF-7 breast carcinoma lines, with IC50 values of 2.28 to 11.81 micrograms per millilitre for the most active members. There is no in vivo or clinical antitumour evidence for this herb.
Huperzine E, 12-deoxyhuperzine O, 8-beta-hydroxyhuperzine E and huperzinine
Lycodine-type Lycopodium alkaloidsConcentration: Trace alkaloids of the whole herb
These are huperzine-series congeners and are not huperzine A. Huperzine A itself is not among the 132 compounds reported from Lycopodium japonicum in the published phytochemical literature; it is a constituent of Huperzia serrata, a different clubmoss. The pharmacology of huperzine A should not be transferred to this drug.
Tricin
FlavoneConcentration: Minor phenolic constituent
Showed moderate cytotoxicity against human K562 leukaemia cells in vitro with an IC50 of 11.68 micrograms per millilitre. Tricin is a widely distributed cereal and grass flavone and is not specific to this herb.
⚠ Drug Interactions
Donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine and other cholinesterase inhibitors
Lycopodium japonicum contains constituents with measurable acetylcholinesterase inhibition, but all of them are weak: lycojapodine A at IC50 90.3 micromolar, alpha-onocerin at 39 percent inhibition at 0.6 mg/mL and lycoclavanol at 20 percent at the same concentration. No whole-extract inhibition constant, oral bioavailability figure or human pharmacokinetic study exists for the drug. Additive cholinergic effect is therefore plausible in principle but is unsupported by any in vivo or clinical observation, and the concentrations required are far above anything a decoction is likely to deliver.
Clinical note: No dose change is indicated on present evidence. If a patient on a cholinesterase inhibitor develops nausea, bradycardia, sweating or cramping after starting this herb, stop the herb and reconsider the product identity, since a huperzine-containing clubmoss may have been supplied instead.
Huperzine A supplements labelled Chinese club moss (Huperzia serrata, Qian Ceng Ta)
Huperzia serrata and Lycopodium japonicum are both clubmosses and both trade in English under the loose name club moss, but only Huperzia serrata yields huperzine A, a potent reversible and selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitor marketed in China as an anti-Alzheimer drug and in the United States as a dietary supplement. Huperzine A carries genuine cholinergic interaction potential with cholinesterase inhibitors, cholinergic and anticholinergic agents, and beta-blockers through additive bradycardia. Shen Jin Cao does not contain it, and importing that pharmacology into this monograph would be an error; conversely, a patient who says they are taking club moss may be taking the huperzine drug.
Clinical note: Establish which clubmoss the patient actually has. Ask for the binomial or the Chinese name on the label: Shen Jin Cao or Lycopodii Herba is Lycopodium japonicum, whereas Qian Ceng Ta or a product declaring a huperzine A content in micrograms is Huperzia serrata and must be treated as a cholinesterase inhibitor.
Palhinhaea cernua, Diphasiastrum complanatum and Lycopodiastrum casuarinoides sold as Shen Jin Cao
The Chinese Pharmacopoeia defines Lycopodii Herba as the dried whole plant of Lycopodium japonicum Thunb. alone, but several morphologically similar clubmosses circulate regionally under the same trade name and are distinguished in the Chinese literature mainly by strobilus habit, one having erect and the other pendulous sporangial spikes. Because Lycopodiaceae alkaloid profiles vary substantially between genera, the phytochemistry summarised above cannot be assumed to hold for a substituted article.
Clinical note: Buy from a supplier that states the binomial, and do not assume that material sold as club moss herb is the pharmacopoeial species.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 3–12 g | Daily | — | — | 中国药典 2020 【用法与用量】3～12g。 【性味与归经】微苦、辛，温。归肝、脾、肾经。 — Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020, quoted verbatim; route and cautions preserved. Replaces a cleared category-filler value. |
Evidence Tier
Moderate evidence · 5 studiesRecorded studies by study design, strongest design at the top. This is a study-design tier only, not a GRADE rating: it does not weigh risk of bias, consistency or precision.
Systematic review / meta-analysis
0
Randomized controlled trial
0
Other clinical trial
0
Observational / case report
0
In vitro / animal
5
0 verified · 5 unverified
Show 5 studies
- Lycojapodine A, a Novel Alkaloid from Lycopodium japonicum
- Lycojaponicumins A–C, Three Alkaloids with an Unprecedented Skeleton from Lycopodium japonicum
- Lycojaponicuminol A–F: Cytotoxic serratene triterpenoids from Lycopodium japonicum
- Lycojapomines A–E: Lycopodium Alkaloids with Anti-Renal Fibrosis Potential from Lycopodium japonicum
- Natural Tyrosinase Inhibitors from Lycopodium japonicum
Other / unclassified
0
Verified: design read from PubMed for a DOI that resolves to the cited paper Unverified: taken from the study's recorded description
Clinical Studies
Lycojapodine A, a Novel Alkaloid from Lycopodium japonicum
Isolation and structure elucidation of lycojapodine A from the whole plant of Lycopodium japonicum, an alkaloid with a 6/6/6/7 tetracyclic ring system carrying a six-membered lactone. In enzyme assay it inhibited acetylcholinesterase with an IC50 of 90.3 micromolar and showed anti-HIV-1 activity with an EC50 of 85 micrograms per millilitre by MTT. Both values are weak and the work is purely preclinical chemistry.
Lycojaponicumins A–C, Three Alkaloids with an Unprecedented Skeleton from Lycopodium japonicum
Three new alkaloids were isolated from the whole herb, two of them the first natural products reported with a 5/5/5/5/6 pentacyclic skeleton containing a 1-aza-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane unit. The compounds inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced production of pro-inflammatory mediators in BV2 microglial cells. The evidence is cell-culture only.
Lycojaponicuminol A–F: Cytotoxic serratene triterpenoids from Lycopodium japonicum
Six new serratene triterpenoids were isolated from the whole plant. Several of them, together with 3-epilycoclavanol and lycernuic acid A, were moderately cytotoxic against A549, HepG2 and MCF-7 human tumour cell lines with IC50 values of 2.28 to 11.81 micrograms per millilitre. No animal or human data follow from this work.
Lycojapomines A–E: Lycopodium Alkaloids with Anti-Renal Fibrosis Potential from Lycopodium japonicum
Five new Lycopodium alkaloids were isolated from Lycopodium japonicum and assessed in a cell model of renal fibrosis, where members of the series attenuated fibrotic marker expression. The finding is an isolated preclinical signal and does not support any clinical use of the herb in kidney disease.
Natural Tyrosinase Inhibitors from Lycopodium japonicum
Fifteen secondary metabolites were isolated from Lycopodium japonicum and screened for tyrosinase inhibition; five were active, but with IC50 values of 1.46 to 6.82 millimolar, which is very weak inhibition and of interest mainly as a chemical observation.
⚠ Safety & Contraindications
- Pregnancy
Contraindications
Its use is prohibited in patients with excessive bleeding or pregnant women.
Source: Xi S, Gong Y. Essentials of Chinese Materia Medica and Medical Formulas. Academic Press/Elsevier, 2017, pp. 105–112.
Historical Texts
Ben Cao Shi Yi (Supplement to Materia Medica), Chen Cangqi
Tang dynasty, circa 739 CEBen Cao Gang Mu (Compendium of Materia Medica), Li Shizhen
Ming dynasty, 1596Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China, Lycopodii Herba (Shen Jin Cao)
Modern, 2020 editionReferences
- Chen Y, Yang Q, Zhang Y. Lycopodium japonicum: A comprehensive review on its phytochemicals and biological activities . Arabian Journal of Chemistry (2020) [DOI]
- Wang B, Guan C, Fu Q. The traditional uses, secondary metabolites, and pharmacology of Lycopodium species . Phytochemistry Reviews (2022) [DOI]
- Ferreira A, Rodrigues M, Fortuna A, Falcão A, Alves G. Huperzine A from Huperzia serrata: a review of its sources, chemistry, pharmacology and toxicology . Phytochemistry Reviews (2016) [DOI]
- He J, Wu XD, Liu F, Liu YC, Peng LY, Zhao Y, Cheng X, Luo HR, Zhao QS. Lycopodine-Type Alkaloids from Lycopodium japonicum . Natural Products and Bioprospecting (2014) [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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