Traditionally used for
- Bowel health
- Menstrual & women's health
- Skin
☯ TCM Properties
Clears Heat, detoxifies, clears Wind-Dampness and resolve swelling; Cools the Blood and stops bleeding
Traditional Chinese Uses
Wei Ling Cai (Radix/Herba Potentillae Chinensis), from Potentilla chinensis (Chinese cinquefoil), is a bitter, cold Heat-clearing medicinal entering the Liver and Large Intestine channels. It clears Heat and resolves toxin, and importantly cools the Blood to stop bleeding. Its classic application is for Damp-Heat dysentery with blood and pus, including bacterial and amoebic dysentery and diarrhea, where its astringent, cooling nature checks the discharge.
By cooling the Blood it also addresses reckless bleeding such as uterine bleeding (Beng Lou), bloody urine and hemorrhoidal bleeding. It further clears Wind-Dampness and reduces swelling, used for hot, swollen sores and skin conditions like eczema and scabies, applied as a decoction or wash. Note that Potentilla chinensis is sometimes used as a substitute/adulterant for Bai Tou Weng, so authentication matters.
Western Herbalism Properties
Relationships
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Botanical Description
Potentilla chinensis, Chinese cinquefoil, is a tufted perennial herb of the Rosaceae family widespread across China, Korea, Japan, and the Russian Far East, growing on dry grassy slopes, roadsides, and waste ground. The plant develops a stout woody rootstock from which arise multiple ascending to erect, branched, silky-hairy stems thirty to seventy centimeters tall. Leaves are pinnately compound with numerous oblong to oblanceolate leaflets, deeply pinnately cleft, dark green and nearly glabrous above and densely white-tomentose beneath, giving the foliage a strikingly bicolored appearance. Small bright yellow five-petalled flowers about one centimeter across are borne in loose terminal cymes throughout summer, each followed by a dry aggregate of small achenes characteristic of the genus and family.
Active Constituents
Ursolic acid
Ursane-type pentacyclic triterpeneOne of eleven triterpenoids isolated from the methanol extract of the whole plant and one of twenty-four obtained in a separate study of the whole plants. Several members of this series inhibited nitric oxide production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages, which is the main in vitro correlate offered for the herb's traditional heat-clearing and anti-inflammatory use.
Tormentic acid
Ursane-type pentacyclic triterpene2-alpha,3-beta,19-alpha-trihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid, a recurrent constituent of the whole herb. It is the compound most often used to explain the reported hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory activity of the crude extract, though the strongest publications on that point have attracted corrections and are not cited here.
3-epi-Corosolic acid
Ursane-type pentacyclic triterpeneOf the eleven triterpenoids isolated in a 2024 study, this compound showed the clearest anti-osteoclastogenic activity, inhibiting RANKL-induced mature osteoclast formation in vitro and attenuating RANKL-driven signalling.
Pomolic acid
Ursane-type pentacyclic triterpeneReported from the whole herb together with its 3-O-acetyl derivative, betulinic acid, oleanolic acid, 2-alpha-hydroxyursolic acid and 2-alpha-hydroxyoleanolic acid. The triterpene fraction is the best-characterised part of this species chemically.
Potentilloside A
Flavonol bis-glucuronideA flavonol-bis-glucuronide described as new from the leaves. It inhibited TNF-alpha-induced reactive oxygen species generation and MMP-1 secretion in human dermal fibroblasts, alongside nine flavonols and two flavone glycosides reported from this species for the first time in the same work.
PCPW, PCPS1 and PCPS2 polysaccharides
PolysaccharideConcentration: molecular weights of about 4.45 x 10^3, 1.18 x 10^4 and 4.23 x 10^4 Da respectively
Three polysaccharides isolated from Potentilla chinensis. PCPW is built from mannose, rhamnose, glucose, galactose and arabinose; PCPS1 and PCPS2 are acidic and additionally contain galacturonic acid. PCPW and PCPS2 increased nitric oxide production by RAW264.7 cells and promoted splenocyte proliferation, and all three activated NF-kappaB in vitro.
Tannins
PolyphenolGenus-level attribution rather than a species-specific quantification: reviews of Potentilla ascribe most of the antimicrobial, astringent and antidiarrhoeal activity of the genus to a high tannin content in all plant parts, with triterpenes accounting for a lesser share. No reliable percentage figure for Potentilla chinensis specifically was found, so none is given.
⚠ Drug Interactions
Bai Tou Weng (Pulsatilla chinensis root)
This is a substitution hazard, not a pharmacodynamic one. In Guangdong the whole herb of Potentilla chinensis (Rosaceae) is customarily dispensed as Bai Tou Weng, and in Jiangsu, Guizhou, Guangxi, Sichuan, Hunan and Fujian the root or whole herb has been used the same way, while the Chinese Pharmacopoeia drug Bai Tou Weng is the root of Pulsatilla chinensis (Ranunculaceae). The two carry entirely different chemistry: Pulsatilla is a ranunculaceous root with protoanemonin-yielding and saponin constituents, whereas Potentilla chinensis is a tannin- and ursane-triterpene-bearing rose-family herb. Chinese materia medica sources note that Potentilla chinensis shares the antidysenteric use but requires substantially larger doses for a comparable antiamoebic effect, so a gram-for-gram swap under-doses the intended drug. A dedicated microscopic identification study of the Bai Tou Weng homonym drugs exists precisely because this confusion is routine in commerce.
Clinical note: Insist on the binomial, not the pinyin, when ordering either drug. If a formula calls for Bai Tou Weng, confirm the supplier is shipping Pulsatilla chinensis root and not Potentilla chinensis herb, and do not treat the two as interchangeable at the same dose.
Fan Bai Cao (Potentilla discolor)
Potentilla chinensis (Wei Ling Cai) and Potentilla discolor (Fan Bai Cao) are closely related, morphologically similar and share the folk name Fan Bai Cao in some regions. A comparative study of six flavonoid components across Agrimonia pilosa, Potentilla chinensis and Potentilla discolor was published for exactly this reason. Catalogue entries that give the Latin drug name as Radix Potentillae Chinensis together with Radix Potentillae Discoloris are recording two different drugs under one heading.
Clinical note: Treat Wei Ling Cai and Fan Bai Cao as distinct drugs and check which species a supplier has provided; do not accept a single label covering both.
Botulinum toxin type A and neuromuscular blocking agents
A methanol extract of Potentilla chinensis flower inhibited neuronal SNARE complex formation and SNARE-driven membrane fusion, reduced neurotransmitter release from PC12 cells by about 90 percent at 10 micrograms per mL, and reduced phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragm contraction by about 70 percent over 60 minutes, comparable to verapamil and to botulinum neurotoxin type A. The mechanism differs from botulinum toxin, which cleaves SNARE proteins, but the functional endpoint is the same. This was a screening study of flower methanol extracts intended for cosmetic use; the material is not the whole-herb water decoction used clinically, and no oral bioavailability or human data exist.
Clinical note: No action is required for ordinary oral use, but the finding is worth knowing if a patient is using a concentrated topical or cosmetic Potentilla chinensis preparation around botulinum toxin treatment. Do not extrapolate the ex vivo paralysis to a decoction.
Cyclophosphamide
In a 60-rat study, Potentilla chinensis aqueous extract 500 mg/kg given orally for 14 days reduced the severity of cyclophosphamide-induced haemorrhagic cystitis and reversed the associated changes in urothelial CGRP, TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-1 beta, T-H protein, HB-EGF and ZO-1, and in urinary BDNF and NGF. The extract had no effect on bladder function in normal rats. Whether an antioxidant herbal co-treatment blunts the cytotoxic effect the chemotherapy is given for was not tested.
Clinical note: Do not add to a cyclophosphamide regimen on the strength of a rat study. Any use during chemotherapy should be discussed with the treating oncologist.
Oral iron salts and other tannin-sensitive oral drugs
Reviews of Potentilla attribute most of the genus's pharmacology to a high tannin content in all plant parts. Tannins chelate non-haem iron and can bind alkaloidal and basic drugs in the gut lumen. This is a class effect inferred for Potentilla chinensis from the genus, not a measured interaction with this species, and no quantitative tannin figure for this species was located.
Clinical note: Separate a tannin-rich decoction from oral iron by two hours. Flagged as theoretical, not as a documented event.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 9–15 g | Daily | — | — | 中国药典 2020 monograph 【委陵菜】【用法与用量】9～15g。外用适量。 【性味与归经】苦，寒。归肝、大肠经。 — Matched to ChP by romanised drug name (pinyin 'Wei Ling Cai' → 委陵菜); the romanisation is unique across all 649 ChP monographs, and the match was cross-checked against this record's own TCM temperature. Quoted verbatim. |
Evidence Tier
Moderate evidence · 9 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
9
7 verified · 2 unverified
Show 9 studies
- Triterpenoids from Potentilla chinensis Inhibit RANKL-Induced Osteoclastogenesis in Vitro and Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Osteolytic Bone Loss in Vivo
- Pentacyclic triterpenes with nitric oxide inhibitory activity from Potentilla chinensis
- Potentilloside A, a New Flavonol-bis-Glucuronide from the Leaves of Potentilla chinensis, Inhibits TNF-α-Induced ROS Generation and MMP-1 Secretion
- The Effects of Flavonol and Flavone Glucuronides from Potentilla chinensis Leaves on TNF-α-Exposed Normal Human Dermal Fibroblasts
- Potentilla chinensis aqueous extract attenuates cyclophosphamide-induced hemorrhagic cystitis in rat model
- The influence of Potentilla chinensis aqueous extract on urinary bladder function in retinyl acetate-induced detrusor overactivity in rats
- A botulinum neurotoxin-like function of Potentilla chinensis extract that inhibits neuronal SNARE complex formation, membrane fusion, neuroexocytosis, and muscle contraction
- Characterization and immunological activity of polysaccharides from Potentilla chinensis
- Ethanol Extracts from the Aerial Parts of Inula japonica and Potentilla chinensis Alleviate Airway Inflammation in Mice That Inhaled Particulate Matter 10 and Diesel Particulate Matter
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
Triterpenoids from Potentilla chinensis Inhibit RANKL-Induced Osteoclastogenesis in Vitro and Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Osteolytic Bone Loss in Vivo
Eleven triterpenoids, including ursolic acid, pomolic acid, tormentic acid and the 2-epi and 3-epi isomers of corosolic acid, were isolated from the methanol extract of Potentilla chinensis. 3-epi-corosolic acid inhibited RANKL-induced mature osteoclast formation in vitro and attenuated RANKL-induced signalling, with a corresponding effect on lipopolysaccharide-induced osteolytic bone loss in mice.
Pentacyclic triterpenes with nitric oxide inhibitory activity from Potentilla chinensis
Three new ursane-type triterpenes and twenty-one known triterpenoids were isolated from a methanol extract of the whole plants. Fifteen of the twenty-four inhibited nitric oxide production in LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages. This is a screening result in a macrophage line, not evidence of anti-inflammatory efficacy in a patient.
Potentilloside A, a New Flavonol-bis-Glucuronide from the Leaves of Potentilla chinensis, Inhibits TNF-α-Induced ROS Generation and MMP-1 Secretion
A 30 percent ethanol extract of Potentilla chinensis leaves inhibited TNF-alpha-induced reactive oxygen species generation in human dermal fibroblasts. Fifteen compounds were isolated from it, including the new flavonol-bis-glucuronide potentilloside A; nine flavonols and two flavone glycosides were reported from this species for the first time, and all isolates significantly inhibited ROS generation.
The Effects of Flavonol and Flavone Glucuronides from Potentilla chinensis Leaves on TNF-α-Exposed Normal Human Dermal Fibroblasts
Follow-up structure-activity work on eleven flavonol and flavone glucuronides from Potentilla chinensis leaves in TNF-alpha-stimulated normal human dermal fibroblasts. Ten of the isolates significantly inhibited ROS generation and all but one suppressed MMP-1 secretion, with divergent effects on COL1A1 secretion between isolates.
Potentilla chinensis aqueous extract attenuates cyclophosphamide-induced hemorrhagic cystitis in rat model
Sixty rats in four groups received Potentilla chinensis aqueous extract 500 mg/kg orally or vehicle for 14 days with or without cyclophosphamide. The extract had no effect on bladder function in normal rats but reduced the severity of cyclophosphamide-induced haemorrhagic cystitis and reversed the associated biochemical changes in urothelium, detrusor and urine, attenuating detrusor overactivity.
The influence of Potentilla chinensis aqueous extract on urinary bladder function in retinyl acetate-induced detrusor overactivity in rats
In the same 60-rat four-group design, oral Potentilla chinensis extract 500 mg/kg for 14 days reduced retinyl acetate-induced detrusor overactivity on cystometry without affecting normal bladders, and reversed the retinyl-acetate-driven changes in urothelial ATP, CGRP, substance P, VEGF-A, NOS2, CDH1, ZO-1 and the SNARE proteins SNAP23, SNAP25 and SV2A. The SNARE finding is consistent with the separate in vitro report of SNARE interference by this species.
A botulinum neurotoxin-like function of Potentilla chinensis extract that inhibits neuronal SNARE complex formation, membrane fusion, neuroexocytosis, and muscle contraction
Screening of 71 flower methanol extracts identified Potentilla chinensis flower extract as inhibiting SNARE complex formation. It reduced neurotransmitter release from PC12 cells by about 90 percent at 10 micrograms per mL and reduced phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragm contraction by about 70 percent in 60 minutes, comparable to verapamil and botulinum neurotoxin type A. The extract acts by blocking SNARE complex assembly rather than by cleaving SNARE proteins.
Characterization and immunological activity of polysaccharides from Potentilla chinensis
Three polysaccharides (PCPW, PCPS1, PCPS2) of about 4.45 x 10^3, 1.18 x 10^4 and 4.23 x 10^4 Da were isolated and structurally characterised. PCPW and PCPS2 increased nitric oxide production by RAW264.7 cells and promoted splenocyte proliferation, and all three activated NF-kappaB.
Ethanol Extracts from the Aerial Parts of Inula japonica and Potentilla chinensis Alleviate Airway Inflammation in Mice That Inhaled Particulate Matter 10 and Diesel Particulate Matter
A two-herb ethanol extract of Inula japonica and Potentilla chinensis aerial parts reduced airway inflammation in mice exposed to inhaled PM10 and diesel particulate matter. Because the intervention is a fixed mixture, none of the effect can be attributed to Potentilla chinensis alone.
⚠ Safety & Contraindications
Contraindications
No special contraindications.
Source: Xi S, Gong Y. Essentials of Chinese Materia Medica and Medical Formulas. Academic Press/Elsevier, 2017, pp. 53–72.
Historical Texts
Jiu Huang Ben Cao
Ming dynastyReferences
- Tomczyk M, Latté KP. Potentilla—A review of its phytochemical and pharmacological profile . Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2009) [DOI]
- Augustynowicz D, Latté KP, Tomczyk M. Recent phytochemical and pharmacological advances in the genus Potentilla L. sensu lato – An update covering the period from 2009 to 2020 . Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2021) [DOI]
- Lee SY, Chung KS, Son SR, Lee SY, Jang DS, Lee JK, Kim HJ, Na CS, Lee SH, Lee KT. A Botanical Mixture Consisting of Inula japonica and Potentilla chinensis Relieves Obesity via the AMPK Signaling Pathway in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes and HFD-Fed Obese Mice . Nutrients (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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