IngredientsPlatycodon grandiflorum (Jacq.) A. DC. is the only species of the genus Platycodon (family Campanulaceae), commonly known as balloon flower in English and as Kikyou in Japan. It is primarily found in northeastern, northern, and central China, as well as in Korea, Japan, the far east of Russia, and southeastern Siberia. The English common name derives from the plant's distinctive balloon-shaped buds, which resemble swollen balls before blooming, later opening into beautiful, five-petaled flowers in shades of blue, purple, white, or pink.
The plant grows to 40–80 cm tall, forming erect, hairless stems with alternately arranged, lanceolate leaves. The root system is a taproot — strong and fleshy — and the root is the most medicinally valuable part of the plant.
It is termed Jiegeng (桔梗) in China, Doraji in Korea, and Kikyo in Japan. In formal pharmacopoeial nomenclature, the dried root is referred to as Platycodi Radix (also written Platycodonis Radix) or Platycodon Rhizoma.
As a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Jiegeng was first documented in the Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica (Shennong Bencao Jing) during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 CE). Its efficacy was described as alleviating symptoms such as chest and hypochondriac pain, abdominal fullness, faint bowel sounds, palpitations, and shortness of breath.
According to traditional Chinese medicine theory, the root of P. grandiflorum has the functions of relieving sore throat, eliminating phlegm, and draining pus, and is widely used in lung diseases and respiratory system disorders. Chinese doctors widely prescribed Platycodon grandiflorus A. DC. to treat lung carbuncles in ancient China.
The processing history of balloon flower root in China was first documented in the Zhou Hou Bei Ji Fang of the Jin Dynasty. Over the subsequent centuries, the root became a fixture in classical formularies. It was commonly prescribed for productive coughs, chest congestion, and tonsillitis, often paired with licorice root (Gan Cao) or other harmonizing herbs to enhance its soothing and clearing effects.
It is categorized in TCM as an "ascending herb," meaning it helps direct the effects of a formula upward, often used to guide other herbs to the upper body or to the lungs.
Balloon flower roots (BRs, Platycodi radix, also called doraji in Korea) are commonly consumed as food and employed in traditional herbal medicine. In Korean traditional medicine, platycodon root (called doraji) is similarly revered and is still widely used in teas, syrups, and soups to maintain lung and throat health. In Korea, the roots are added to salads, cold soup, vegetables, or just pan-fried and served on their own.
Platycodon grandiflorus (Campanulaceae) is commonly known as a balloon flower whose rhizomes have been widely utilized in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and in various Japanese prescriptions for the treatment of respiratory diseases, diabetes, and inflammatory disorders.
Traditional uses of Platycodon grandiflorus include treatments for cough, phlegm, sore throat, lung abscess, chest pain, dysuria, and dysentery. For thousands of years, this perennial herb has been used to treat hypotension, lipid reduction, atherosclerosis, inflammation, relieving cough and phlegm, promoting cholic acid secretion, and as an antioxidant.
To date, researchers have identified 219 chemical constituents in Platycodon grandiflorum, encompassing 89 saponins, 11 flavonoids, 21 polysaccharides, 14 phenolic acids, six polyacetylenes, five sterols, 34 fatty acids, 17 amino acids, and 22 trace elements.
Triterpene saponins are the primary bioactive compounds of PG. To date, 76 triterpene saponin compounds have been isolated and identified from PG. In addition, there are other biological components, such as flavonoids, polyacetylene, and phenolic acids.
Certain saponins identified in balloon flower roots include platycodins, polygalacin D, platyconic acid A, and platycosides. The principal pharmacologically active compound is platycodin D (PLD). Platycodin D (PLD) is an oleanane-type triterpenoid saponin and one of the most active substances in PG.
PLD is one of the active substances in PG and has been revealed to have anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-oxidation, anti-obesity, anticoagulant, spermicidal, and anti-tumor activities. The mechanisms of these effects draw significant research attention, with various signaling pathways involved in these processes.
Other notable saponins include platycodin D3, platycodin D2, platycodin A, platycosides A through F, and polygalacin D. Platycodin D and platycodin D3, as main active ingredients of PG, have anti-inflammatory activities, as shown by their ability to mitigate the inflammatory response induced by lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells.
PGPStc, a polysaccharide derived from PG, stimulates the proliferation of spleen lymphocytes and promotes cell cycle progression of T cells, suggesting that PG may have immunomodulatory effects. Polysaccharide fractions have been isolated using hot water, ultrasonic-assisted, acid-assisted, and alkali-assisted methods, yielding fractions with distinct structural characteristics and bioactivities.
PG consists of a variety of chemical components including triterpenoid saponins, polysaccharides, flavonoids, polyphenols, polyethylene glycols, volatile oils, and mineral components, which have medicinal and edible value. Balloon flower sprouts are a valuable source of bioactive compounds and exert anti-inflammatory effects via suppression of NF-ÎşB activation due to their polygalacin D and polyphenol content.
Platycodon grandiflorus exhibits therapeutic effects on the respiratory system, particularly on cough and phlegm, by promoting the generation of saliva and bronchial secretions. A decoction at the dose of 1 g/kg increases airway mucus secretion in dogs and cats. Oral administration of PG saponin (PGS) stimulates the respiratory tract mucous membrane to increase mucus secretion and to dilute sputum.
The potential mechanisms of the antitussive and expectorant effects of Jiegeng include inhibiting excessive mucin secretion in the airways, reducing inflammation, and suppressing the secretion of inflammatory cytokines.
The various platycodin saponins have shown diverse pharmacological activities and strongly suppress inflammatory responses by blocking the generation of pro-inflammatory mediators. The primary anti-inflammatory signaling pathways documented for platycodin D include inhibition of NF-ÎşB, modulation of the TLR4/MyD88 pathway, and downregulation of MAPK signaling cascades.
Platycodin D has been identified as a novel activator of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and in preclinical models it attenuates obesity via regulation of adipogenesis and thermogenesis. Platycodin D inhibits lipogenesis through AMPKα-PPARγ2 pathways in 3T3-L1 cells and modulates fat accumulation in obese mice.
Fermented PG extract (FPGE), which has increased platycodin D content, has been investigated for its ability to activate the immune response in macrophage cell lines. PLD has been recently considered to have the potential to be a solubilizer or an immunologic adjuvant.
Platycodin D-induced cancer cell death is associated with cytoplasmic pinocytic and autophagic vacuolation. Cellular energy levels are decreased by this compound, leading to the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Additionally, compound C, an inhibitor of AMPK, completely prevented PD-induced vacuolation, suggesting that PD induces cancer cell death through AMPK activation when cellular energy levels are low.
The bioavailability of PLD could be improved by being prescribed with Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. (licorice root), a finding consistent with the historical co-prescription of these two herbs in classical TCM formularies. Research on PLD's pharmacokinetics and extraction processes is ongoing.
Evidence level: Preclinical (animal and cell-based); limited direct human clinical trial data available.
Jiegeng has a long history of clinical use in the treatment of respiratory diseases, with its main functions being lung ventilation and phlegm expulsion. Cough and sputum represent primary clinical symptoms in respiratory diseases, including upper respiratory tract infections, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and COVID-19 pneumonia.
Animal model data provides mechanistic support: In a mouse model of cough induced by ammonia water, compared with the model group (28.0 ± 11.8 s), the cough latency period in the low-dose group and high-dose group of Jiegeng aqueous extract (JGAE) was prolonged to (52.0 ± 10.7) s and (96.0 ± 32.3) s, respectively. Tracheal phenol red secretion in both the low-dose (1.40 ± 0.28) μg/mL and high-dose groups of JGAE (1.90 ± 0.31) μg/mL significantly increased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) compared to the blank control group (0.63 ± 0.17) μg/mL. This increase in respiratory secretions aids in thinning thick sputum attached to the respiratory mucosa, facilitating its detachment and promoting expectoration.
Animal studies found that the total number of cells in alveolar lavage fluid and the number of neutrophils in lung tissue were significantly lower than those in control groups, while the proportion of lymphocytes and macrophages increased and the latent period of coughing was prolonged. Cough and asthma were decreased, and the amount of phenol red excretion in the respiratory tract was increased with platycodin administration, suggesting that platycodin has significant antitussive, antiasthmatic, and expectorant effects.
Modern clinical experiences have demonstrated that PG plays a crucial role in treating chronic pharyngitis, plum pneumonia, pneumoconiosis, acute and chronic laryngitis, and so forth. However, these "clinical experiences" are documented primarily in Chinese-language traditional medicine literature and are not equivalent to rigorously controlled randomized clinical trials. No large-scale, independent, placebo-controlled human RCTs on balloon flower root for respiratory outcomes have been identified in the peer-reviewed English-language literature as of the search date.
Evidence level: Preclinical (in vitro and animal); no robust human RCT data.
Platycodon grandiflorum (PG), an oriental herbal medicine, has been known to improve liver function, and has both anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. The anti-inflammatory mechanism has been studied extensively in cell culture models. One study evaluated the effect of platycodin D on alcohol-induced fatty liver in rats, using a model set up by feeding ethanol and fish oil, with PD administered at 10, 20, and 30 mg/kg body weight per day for 4 weeks. Treatment with PD significantly decreased the levels of serum ALT, AST, and TBIL, the coefficient of liver index, and hepatic tissue contents of TG, and dramatically decreased serum endotoxin levels, downregulating MD-2 and CD14 levels, as well as mRNA expression of TLR4, MyD88, and TRAF-6. These findings are from animal studies and have not been replicated in human clinical trials.
Evidence level: Predominantly preclinical; early human-use data in Korean/Chinese clinical settings but lacking rigorous controlled design.
In the past decade, researchers have discovered new pharmacological potential of platycodin in the treatment of chronic conditions, including hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity.
In animal models, saponins from balloon flower roots have demonstrated anti-obesity effects. Platycodin D, as a novel activator of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), attenuates obesity in db/db mice via regulation of adipogenesis and thermogenesis. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that Platycodon grandiflorum saponin, flavonoids, polysaccharides, and phenolic acids are the main active components and have significant antitussive, expectorant, anti-tumor, anti-oxidation, and hypoglycemic effects. These findings are based on cell culture and rodent experiments; no well-powered randomized human clinical trials on body weight, glycemia, or lipid endpoints attributable solely to balloon flower root have been identified in the peer-reviewed literature.
Evidence level: Preclinical (in vitro and animal); no human cancer trial data.
Modern pharmacological studies have demonstrated significant antitussive, expectorant, anti-tumor, anti-oxidation, and hypoglycemic effects of PG. In recent years, an increasing number of research findings have demonstrated the anticancer potential of P. grandiflorum.
Platycodin D has been used in traditional prescription to eliminate phlegm, relieve cough, reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and for weight loss; it has also been used to treat tumors and improve human immunity. Studies in cell lines have shown that PD induces apoptosis in cancer cells of multiple types. PD possesses multiple biological and pharmacological properties, including anti-cancer activity. Studies have been designed to characterize PD-induced cytoplasmic vacuolation in human cancer cells, revealing that PD-induced cancer cell death is associated with cytoplasmic pinocytic and autophagic vacuolation. All anticancer evidence to date is preclinical; no human clinical trials investigating balloon flower or platycodin D as a cancer treatment have been published.
Evidence level: Preclinical (cell and animal models); one rat study referenced.
P. grandiflorum possesses antitumor, immunomodulatory, and antioxidative properties. In preclinical studies, platycodin D and platycodin D3, as main active ingredients of PG, have anti-inflammatory activities, and PGPStc, a polysaccharide derived from PG, stimulates the proliferation of spleen lymphocytes and promotes cell cycle progression of T cells. These results are from cell culture and animal models and have not been validated in human clinical studies.
Evidence level: In vitro (cell culture with mast cells).
In Korean traditional medicine, platycodon root has been widely used since ancient times as a traditional drug to treat cold, cough, and asthma. However, its effects on bone marrow-derived mast cell (BMMC)-mediated allergy and inflammation mechanisms have required investigation. One study evaluated the biological effect of Platycodon root ethanol extract (PE) in BMMCs after induction of allergic mediators, investigating production of several allergic mediators such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), leukotriene C4 (LTC4), β-hexosaminidase, and COX-2 protein. This work was conducted entirely in cell culture and has not been extended to human trials.
Evidence level: Animal models only.
The root of Platycodon grandiflorus, with hepatoprotective and anti-oxidation effects, has a long history of being used as food and herbal medicine in Asia. In preclinical rodent models, saponins isolated from the root have been investigated for protection against acute ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity and CCl4-induced liver damage. No human hepatology trials have been published.
Evidence level: In vitro with human sperm; in vivo in rats.
A study was designed to evaluate the spermicidal and contraceptive activity, as well as the safety, of Platycodin D (PD). Using computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA), the sperm-immobilizing activity of PD was studied using highly motile human sperm. Sperm viability was assessed by fluorescent staining; sperm membrane integrity was assessed by evaluating hypo-osmotic swelling and transmission and scanning electron microscopy. In vivo contraceptive efficacy was evaluated in rats using post-intrauterine PD application. The comet assay was employed to determine whether PD caused DNA damage in the sperm. Platycodin D exhibits spermicidal and contraceptive activity. It damages sperm's head and separates tail membranes. In female rats, it stops fertility without imposing negative effects on rat vaginal tissue. This evidence is not from human clinical contraceptive trials.
The following dosage information is drawn from the peer-reviewed and pharmacopoeial literature; no dosage claim here constitutes a clinical recommendation.
It must be noted that rigorous human dose-finding clinical trials for balloon flower root are lacking, and further clinical verification of the efficacy of P. grandiflorum is required.
The median lethal dose of a decoction of Platycodon grandiflorus administered orally was 24 g/kg in mice. The median lethal doses of PG saponin (PGS) in mice and rats were 420 and 800 mg/kg (oral) or 22.3 and 14.1 mg/kg (intraperitoneal), respectively.
In formal safety evaluations of fermented PG extract (FPGE), the material did not induce genotoxicity in Ames, chromosome aberration, or micronucleus tests. In an acute toxicity study, the approximate lethal dose (ALD) of FPGE was greater than 3,000 mg/kg in SD rats. In a 13-week subchronic toxicity study, the NOAEL (no-observed-adverse-effect level) of FPGE was 3,000 mg/kg in SD rats.
A subchronic toxicity evaluation in rats did not find toxicologically significant effects for Platycodon grandiflorus root extract, indicating negligible toxicity.
PLD was discovered to have hemolytic activity. Hemolysis is a known pharmacological property of saponins in general; this is relevant for parenteral administration contexts and may also bear on intravenous or injectable research preparations, though oral exposure is generally considered safer due to limited intestinal absorption of intact saponins.
P. grandiflorum oral medicine may have certain potential adverse reactions, with common ones including gastrointestinal discomfort and allergic reactions; high-dose use or long-term administration may also cause liver damage.
In terms of drug-nutrient interactions, concurrent use of these preparations with anticoagulant drugs may increase the risk of bleeding, while co-administration with gastrointestinal drugs can affect the absorption of their own active ingredients, resulting in absorption disorders.
The bioavailability of PLD could be improved by being prescribed with Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. or by creating a new dosage form. This interaction is of clinical relevance for formulations combining the two herbs, which is consistent with classical TCM co-prescription patterns.
The extract of Platycodon grandiflorum has been reported to have effective spermicidal activity. Platycodin D (PD), a major saponin in Platycodon grandiflorum, has demonstrated spermicidal and contraceptive activity. Though this evidence derives from in vitro human sperm studies and rat models, it represents a notable biological property associated with the plant's key saponin.
PLD has broad application prospects and reveals practical pharmacological activities in pre-clinical research. These activities of PLD likely contribute to the overall efficacy of PG. What is apparent is that the clinical translation of PLD still has a long way to go. The body of evidence supporting balloon flower's health effects consists overwhelmingly of in vitro cell studies and animal experiments, with clinical studies of the main therapeutic aspects, toxicity, and adverse effects of Platycodon grandiflorus as an undoubted focus of future investigation.
Health conditions that Balloon flower may help support.
Balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) root has 2,000+ years of use in East Asian medicine for cough, phlegm, bronchitis, and lung conditions. Its saponins provide expectorant and anti-inflammatory properties, with a 2025 PMC study confirming anti-asthmatic effects via TLR4/NF-ÎşB inhibition in animal models.
Balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) root is a classic TCM expectorant used for phlegm-related coughs, bronchitis, and lung carbuncles. Its saponins—particularly platycodin D—are recognized in TCM pharmacopeias and modern research as exhibiting significant antitussive, expectorant, and anti-inflammatory effects. It is listed among the most commonly adopted expectorant herbs in Chinese clinical respiratory therapy.
Balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) root is a core Traditional Chinese and Korean medicine herb for bronchial congestion and bronchitis, used to expel phlegm and open the lungs. The 2025 Frontiers in Pharmacology systematic review on chronic bronchitis identifies its polysaccharides and platycodin D as suppressing mucin expression. Classified as an expectorant in both Chinese and Korean Pharmacopoeias.
Balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorum) is the same medicinal plant as Platycodon/Jie Geng, used in TCM specifically for tonsillitis and throat inflammation. It is included in classical Kampo formulas for tonsillitis studied in clinical settings. Saponin constituents demonstrate direct anti-inflammatory and throat-protective activity.
Balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorum) root is the common English name for the TCM herb Jie Geng, used for cough, phlegm, and sore throat in upper respiratory conditions. Its saponins provide expectorant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral activity. It features in multiple classical URTI formulas such as Jie Geng Tang and Sang Ju Yin.
Body systems that Balloon flower may help support.
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