ligustrum robustum

Ligustrum robustum is a plant species in the Oleaceae family, traditionally used in Chinese folk medicine and as an herbal tea known as Ku-Ding-Cha. The leaves are consumed for their purported health benefits including "clearing heat," removing toxins, and treating conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and fever. Pharmacological studies have demonstrated that extracts from the leaves possess antipyretic (fever-reducing), antioxidant, anti-obesity, antidiabetic, cytoprotective (cell-protecting), and potential anti-cancer activities. Mechanistically, bioactive compounds isolated from L. robustum inhibit fatty acid synthase (FAS), α-glucosidase, and α-amylase—enzymes involved in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism—suggesting possible roles in metabolic disease prevention or management. The plant's polyphenols also exhibit strong free radical scavenging activity[3][4][5][6][7]. It is not a pharmaceutical drug but rather a dietary supplement or functional food ingredient.

Other names

ku-ding-chabroadleaf privetLigustrum robustum Blume