lobelia chinensis

**Lobelia chinensis** is a creeping perennial plant belonging to the Campanulaceae family, native to China and East Asia. It is regarded as one of the 50 fundamental herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and used for conditions such as fever, acute inflammation, lung cancer, edema, snakebites, acute heart failure, and other ailments. Its mechanism of action is primarily anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant, most notably through suppression of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) and inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) via NF-κB pathway modulation[1][5][9]. Unlike Lobelia inflata, it does **not** contain lobeline[5]. Chemical constituents include piperidine alkaloids (excluding lobeline), coumarins, flavonoids, polyacetylenes, and alkaloid-lignan hybrids[3][5]. It exhibits diuretic, antispasmodic, and circulatory balancing properties and has demonstrated biological activities related to cancer, inflammation, bacterial and viral infections, and liver diseases[1][5][9]. Mild toxicity has been reported, with adverse reactions including nausea, vomiting, heartburn, anxiety, and, in larger doses, potentially severe effects[3][4].

Other names

Chinese lobeliaBan Bian LianLcL