isatidis folium

Isatidis folium refers to the dried leaves of the plant Isatis indigotica (or occasionally Isatis tinctoria), commonly known as Da Qing Ye in Chinese medicine. It is classified as a heat-clearing and detoxifying herb in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The primary actions are clearing heat and resolving fire toxicity—used for warm febrile diseases, epidemic outbreaks of infectious disease ("fire toxin"), pneumonia, mouth ulcers, sore throat (including diphtheria and acute tonsillitis), skin eruptions due to blood heat (such as maculae or erysipelas), jaundice from liver/gallbladder heat, mumps/parotitis, and bleeding syndromes due to blood heat[1][3][5][7][9]. Pharmacologically, isatidis folium exhibits antiviral activity against influenza A virus, herpes simplex virus-1, Coxsackie virus-B3, respiratory syncytial virus and mumps; antibacterial activity against several bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus; anti-endotoxin effects; antipyretic and anti-inflammatory properties. Active constituents include indirubin (with reported inhibitory effects on cell proliferation) and tryptanthrin[5][8]. In China it has been used in combination formulas for chronic myelogenous leukemia. Modern research suggests immunostimulatory effects but robust clinical evidence for most uses is lacking[8][10].

Brand names

da qing ye

Other names

Da Qing YeIndigo Woad LeafIsatis LeafDyers Woad Leaf大青叶Folium Isatidis