白花地胆草 / 假地胆头 / 白花地胆头 / 白地胆 — Elephantopus mollis Kunth (syn. Elephantopus tomentosus auct.)

Pinyin: Báihuā Dìdǎncǎo / Jiǎ Dìdǎntóu · Malay: Tutup Bumi Putih / Tutup Bumi Hutan / Chapa Putih · Family: Asteraceae (菊科)

Energetics

Cold (寒 / 微寒)

Flavor

Bitter, pungent, astringent (苦、辛、涩)

Meridians

Lung (肺), Liver (肝), Stomach (胃), Kidney (肾)

Traditional Edict

White-flowered Tutup Bumi. Soft woolly leaves with pure snow-white flower heads. Powerfully drains Liver fire, purges lung heat, clears epidemic fevers, terminates dysentery, and dissolves cancerous nodules.

Cautions & Contraindications

Extreme bitter and cold; excessive use injures Spleen-Stomach. Contraindicated in cold deficiency constitution without heat signs. Caution during pregnancy.

Clinical Applications

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), hepatocellular carcinoma, acute viral pharyngitis, acute infectious hepatitis, epidemic fevers, nephritis edema, and snakebites.

Quality Markers

Molephantin (地胆草内酯) >= 0.50%, Molephantinin & Isodeoxyelephantopin (HPLC MHM standard)

Mechanism & Phytochemistry

1. Molephantin and sesquiterpene lactones alkylate cellular nucleophiles, downregulating NF-kB and triggering Caspase-3/9 apoptosis in nasopharyngeal and liver carcinoma lines. 2. Anti-inflammatory COX-2 inhibition. 3. Hepatoprotection.

Preparation & Dosage

Whole dried herb in decoction: 10-20 g daily (up to 30 g in acute viral fevers/oncology). Fresh leaf poultice for furuncles and snakebites: 30-50 g. Standardized extract: 250-500 mg.

Appended Prescriptions

1. The Sovereign Nanyang Hepatic Heat-Clearing Decoction with Phyllanthus niruri and Curcuma xanthorrhiza. 2. Nasopharyngeal Oncology Formula with Hedyotis diffusa and Scutellaria barbata.

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Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only