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    Yemama Apothecary

    Bencao Gangmu Reference Library

    Extreme-Bitter Heat-Clearing, Toxic-Dissipating & Anti-Neoplastic Sovereign (清热解毒 / 凉血利湿消肿散结抗癌截疟退热药)

    毛地胆草 / 绒毛地胆头 / 假地胆头 / 白花毛地胆 — Elephantopus tomentosus L. (syn. Elephantopus mollis auct.)

    Pinyin: Máodìdǎncǎo / Róngmáo Dìdǎntóu · Malay: Tutup Bumi Bulu / Tutup Bumi Hutan / Rumput Senduduk Bulu · Family: Asteraceae (菊科)

    Botanical Illustration

    Energetics

    Cold (寒 / 微寒)

    Flavor

    Bitter, pungent, astringent (苦、辛、涩)

    Meridians

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

    Traditional Edict

    Tomentose Elephant's Foot (Tutup Bumi Bulu). Dense velvety white-silky tomentose rosette leaves. Powerfully drains Liver fire, clears epidemic fevers, dissolves malignant scrofula and tumors, and neutralizes snakebites.

    Cautions & Contraindications

    • Extreme bitter cold nature; pair with ginger/red dates in chronic use to protect Spleen-Yang. CONTRAINDICATED in cold deficiency watery diarrhea without toxic heat. Caution in pregnancy.

    Clinical Applications

    • Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC adjuvant therapy), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), acute/chronic viral hepatitis B/C (ALT/AST normalization), acute pharyngitis, and nephritis edema.

    Quality Markers

    Deoxyelephantopin (去氧地胆草内酯) >= 0.50% & Molephantinin >= 0.30% (HPLC/LC-MS MHM standard)

    Mechanism & Phytochemistry

    1. Deoxyelephantopin and molephantinin Michael acceptors alkylate cysteine-179 of IKKb, abolishing NF-kB p65 nuclear translocation and inducing G2/M arrest and Caspase-3/9 apoptosis in carcinoma cells. 2. Hepatoprotective membrane stabilization. 3. Antivenom action.

    Preparation & Dosage

    Dried whole herb in decoction: 15-30 g daily (up to 60 g in oncology regimens). THE SOVEREIGN LINGNAN ONCOLOGY STEW (Maodidan Dun Shourou): 30 g simmered with lean pork, Hedyotis diffusa, and Scutellaria barbata for 2 hours. Fresh poultice: 30-50 g.

    Appended Prescriptions

    • 1. The Sovereign Nasopharyngeal & Hepatic Oncology Synergy with Hedyotis diffusa and Scutellaria barbata. 2. Nanyang Acute Hepatitis & Jaundice Decoction with Phyllanthus niruri (Dukung Anak).

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