longdan xiegan tang

Longdan Xiegan Tang (LXT) is a classical Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) herbal formulation historically used to clear liver fire and drain damp-heat from the liver and gallbladder. It is a polyherbal mixture typically composed of ten botanical ingredients including *Gentiana scabra*, *Scutellaria baicalensis*, and *Gardenia jasminoides*. Modern pharmacological research indicates that LXT possesses anti-fibrotic, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic regulatory properties. Its mechanisms of action include the upregulation of Parkin-mediated mitophagy to inhibit hepatic stellate cell activation, modulation of the ACE2/Ang (1-7)/Mas axis to mitigate hepatic insulin resistance and inflammation, and activation of the AMPK-alpha pathway to regulate lipid metabolism. LXT is clinically utilized for conditions such as liver injury, fatty liver, and various inflammatory or autoimmune disorders. However, historical concerns regarding nephrotoxicity exist due to the potential inclusion of aristolochic acid-containing herbs in some formulations.

Brand names

Liver FireClearGentiana Cleansing DecoctionGentian Draining Formula

Other names

Gentiana decoctionGentiana Longdancao Decoction to Drain the LiverLongdan Xiegan DecoctionModified Longdan Xiegan Tang