IngredientsSargentodoxa is a monotypic genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Lardizabalaceae, containing only one known species, Sargentodoxa cuneata (Oliv.) Rehder & E.H. Wilson. The full taxonomic classification places it in the kingdom Plantae, phylum Tracheophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Ranunculales, and family Lardizabalaceae. Some classifications have treated the genus within a distinct subfamily or family: the NCBI Taxonomy database places it within Lardizabalaceae, subfamily Sargentodoxoideae. Sargentodoxa cuneata is a deciduous woody liana that belongs to Sargentodoxaceae (previously attributed to Lardizabalaceae), widely distributed over mountain forests from East Asia to central China, and sporadically occurring in Laos and Northern Vietnam.
A noted synonym for the species is Holboellia cuneata Oliv., the name under which the plant was first formally described. A second species was found and named S. simplicifolia S. Z. Qu et C. L. Min by Qu and Min (1986); however, Shi et al. (1994) suggested that the second species was not distinct from S. cuneata.
The stems, when cut, exude a striking red-purple sap that resembles blood, giving rise to its primary Chinese name "Da Xue Teng" (大血藤), literally meaning "great blood vine." It also bears the common alias "Hong Teng" (红藤), meaning Red Vine. It is further known by alternative Chinese names including "DaHuoxue," "HongPiTeng," and "HongTeng." The official pharmaceutical name for the dried stem drug is Caulis Sargentodoxae, or Sargentodoxae Caulis.
The native range of S. cuneata encompasses China (north-central, south-central, and southeast), Indo-China, Hainan, Laos, and Vietnam. It is a vigorous, deciduous woody climbing vine belonging to the family Lardizabalaceae that can grow up to 7.5 to 10 metres in length, supporting itself by twining around nearby vegetation. The leaves are alternate and trifoliate on long stalks; the side leaflets are stalkless and obliquely ovate, while the central leaflet is smaller, obovate or lozenge-shaped. The flowers are greenish-yellow, fragrant, borne in pendulous racemes 6 to 12 cm long. The plant may be dioecious or monoecious, and its fruits are fleshy, dark blue, nearly spherical berries approximately 1 cm in diameter. It prefers a light, warm, and humid environment and grows well in loose, fertile, acidic sandy soil rich in organic matter, often on hillsides, among shrubs, in sparse forests, or along forest edges.
The plant drug is harvested in the autumn and winter, with side branches removed, cut, and dried. Medicinal forms and uses vary from decoctions for oral administration to external washes for wounds. In traditional and research preparation, the dried herb is soaked in water for approximately 15 minutes, decocted over high heat until boiling, then reduced to a simmer for a further 15 minutes, filtered, and the process repeated; the combined filtrates are then concentrated. Approximately 50 kinds of Chinese medicine prescriptions contain the herb, such as Fule granules, Lan Wei Xiao Yan Pian, and Fubao granules. Standardized extracts, granules, tablets, and injectable preparations have been developed for clinical use in China.
Daxueteng (the liana stem of S. cuneata) is a widely used Traditional Chinese Medicine that faces the problem of overflow of commercial adulterants, meaning adulteration or substitution in the marketplace is a recognized quality-control concern.
In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the medicinal use of S. cuneata (Da Xue Teng in Chinese) was first recorded in the authoritative medical book of "Bencao Tujing" (Song Dynasty) over 700 years ago. It is a practical Chinese herbal medicine that first appeared in the Tu Jing Ben Cao (Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica) in the 11th century. The stem of S. cuneata, known as "Da Xue Teng," has been widely used in the treatment of various diseases in China over nine hundred years.
Sargentodoxa cuneata was first recorded in Ben Cao Tu Jing with the property of heat-clearing and detoxicating, blood quickening, and dispelling wind. According to that classical description, its taste was bitter and its medicinal properties were classified as flat (neither cold nor hot), attributed to the large intestine and liver meridians, with effects of detoxification, promoting blood circulation, removing wind and pain; it was used for intestinal carbuncle abdominal pain, heat poisoning sores, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, tumbling pain, and rheumatic arthralgia. It was mainly produced in Anhui, Guizhou, Guangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Hubei provinces.
The plant was extensively used in traditional medicine for treating arthritis, joint pains, amenorrhea, acute appendicitis, and inflammatory intestinal obstruction. Over time, the herb's reputation expanded from its early blood-moving uses to become recognized as the key herb for intestinal abscess, a traditional concept roughly corresponding to appendicitis and other abdominal suppurative conditions.
Full descriptions of traditional TCM indications recorded across historical texts include: clearing heat and removing toxins, promoting blood circulation, dispelling wind and relieving pain; treatment of acute appendicitis, early suppurative appendicitis, appendix abscess, adhesive intestinal obstruction, irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, metrorrhagia, ovarian cyst, salpingitis obstructive acyesis, chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, peptic ulcer, acute pancreatitis, chronic suppurative osteomyelitis, rheumatoid arthritis, gouty arthritis, biliary ascariasis, and bruises.
Among the Shui ethnic group of southwest China, S. cuneata was incorporated into complex multi-herb remedies; for example, a poultice prepared with Sargentodoxa cuneata, Schisandra chinensis, and Eucommia ulmoides was applied to bone fractures, and the broken limb was subsequently washed with a decoction containing S. cuneata and several other plant species. The plant is also called Hongteng or Xueteng in ethnic medicine traditions.
In the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 edition), the herb possesses official recognized abilities of removing toxins (detoxicant) and furuncles, clearing heat, invigorating blood circulation, promoting the flow of channels, dispelling wind, and relieving rheumatic conditions, and is used to treat arthritis and amenorrhea. In China, S. cuneata is widely used in clinical treatment of pelvic inflammatory disease, ulcerative colitis, appendicitis, prostatitis, and other inflammatory diseases.
Over 110 chemical constituents have been isolated and identified from the stem of S. cuneata, including phenolic acids, phenolic glycosides, lignans, flavones, triterpenoids, and other compounds. Sargentodoxa is notably rich in tannins, which are lacking in other genera of Lardizabalaceae.
Reported constituents include phenols and phenolic glycosides, lignans, flavones, triterpenoids, and other compounds such as sargentodosides A–E, quadranoside IV, β-sitosterol, sargentodognan F, vanillic acid, and icariside D1.
Phenolic acids and tyrosols: A comprehensive profiling of phenolics in S. cuneata identified 38 phenolic compounds in total, including four hydroxybenzoic acids, two tyrosols, two caffeoylquinic acids, seven flavanol oligomers, two lignans, three hydroxycinnamic acids, six stilbenes, seven anthraquinones, and five flavanones. Tyrosols and caffeoylquinic acids were identified as unique categories making the greatest antioxidant contributions in S. cuneata.
Phenolic glycosides (Sargentodosides): Five new phenolic glycosides, named Sargentodosides A–E, and two new dihydronaphthalene lignans, named Sargentodognans F–G, together with thirty-two known phenolic compounds, were isolated from the 60% ethanol extracts of S. cuneata.
Lignans: Specific lignans isolated from the stems of S. cuneata include (7R,8S)-3,3'-5-trimethoxy-4,9-dihydroxy-4',7-expoxy-5',8-lignan-7'-en-9'-oic acid 4-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, (−)-isolariciresinol 4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, (−)-isolariciresinol 4-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, and (−)-syringaresinol 4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, among others.
Phenylethanoid glycosides: The phenylethanoid glycoside 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethyl alcohol glycoside (DAG) has been identified in S. cuneata and is considered one of its active biomarker compounds.
Additional identified compounds: Protocatechuic acid, rhodiola glucoside, and chlorogenic acid have been identified as major constituents of the water extract of Caulis Sargentodoxae by HPLC analysis.
Emodin: The active component emodin has been identified in S. cuneata and is considered one of its pharmacologically significant compounds.
Li et al. reported that S. cuneata exhibited the highest total phenols and antioxidant capacities among 45 selected medicinal plants evaluated.
Studies combining network pharmacology with experimental validation indicate that S. cuneata exerts anti-inflammatory effects through regulation of the expression of key targets, including VEGFA, VWF, IL6, TNF, and NFκB1, and is involved in AGE-RAGE, focal adhesion, PI3K/Akt, and NF-κB signaling pathways.
Molecular docking analysis showed that compounds eleutheroside A, liriodendrin, epicatechin, 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol, catechin, androsin, coumaroyltyramine, and catechol may exert anti-ulcerative colitis activity through the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway. In animal studies, S. cuneata extracts decreased the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and IL-17, as well as the expression of TLR4, NF-κB p65, NLRP3, and Caspase-1 mRNA in colon tissues.
Active components from S. cuneata can inhibit lipopolysaccharide-mediated inflammation and shift macrophages from the M1 (pro-inflammatory) to M2 (tissue-repair) polarization state in LPS-induced inflammation.
The bioactive phenylethanoid 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethyl alcohol glycoside (DAG), a component isolated from S. cuneata, has been specifically investigated for its effects on sepsis-induced acute lung injury, with related anti-inflammatory mechanisms explored both in vivo and in vitro.
In preclinical animal and cell-line research, the water extract of Caulis Sargentodoxae was evaluated for effects on platelet aggregation in rat platelet-rich plasma, and cytotoxic activity against HL60, A549, S180, and H22 cells was determined by MTT assay. The in vivo antitumor effect was evaluated on H22 cells transplanted in mice, and the expression of caspase-3, caspase-9, Bcl-2, and Bax proteins was assayed by Western blot analysis.
A separate study investigated the therapeutic potential of S. cuneata (Sar) in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) through its modulation of CD8+ T cell tumoricidal capacity. ACY1 and ARG2 were found to be upregulated and positively associated with PD-L1 expression in LUAD samples. ACY1 was shown to inhibit apoptosis in LUAD cells and attenuate cytotoxic activity of CD8+ T lymphocytes via ARG2. S. cuneata induced LUAD cell apoptosis and enhanced CD8+ T cell cytotoxicity by downregulating ACY1 in vitro, and attenuated xenograft tumor development through ACY1 downregulation in vivo.
In bioscreening experiments, twelve compounds isolated from S. cuneata exhibited antibacterial activities against S. aureus ATCC 29213 with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 2–516 μg/mL. The water and ethanol extracts of S. cuneata have been reported to inhibit the growth of many kinds of human pathogenic bacilli in vitro.
According to the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China, the liana stem of S. cuneata has long been utilized for its significant anti-thrombotic effects, among others. Preclinical studies evaluated anti-thrombotic activity via platelet aggregation assays in rat models, with HPLC identification of major constituents, though human studies specifically on anti-thrombotic endpoints for S. cuneata alone are not available in the published literature searched.
Studies have investigated the intrinsic mechanisms of S. cuneata in treating ulcerative colitis from the perspective of intestinal flora and related metabolites, using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify extract components, with effects studied in dextran sulfate sodium-induced mouse models. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed on intestinal contents and correlated with short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).
Sargentodoxa cuneata is primarily utilized as a crucial herb for managing ulcerative colitis (UC), also known as "Da Xue Teng (DXT)" or "Hong Teng" in Chinese.
A 2023 study published in Molecules (PMC10675221) characterized the ethyl acetate extract from the decoction of S. cuneata (EAdSc) for anti-UC activity. A total of 53 compounds from EAdSc were identified in the literature and by GC–MS, and 22 blood-soluble EAdSc components were recognized. Mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC were used to study the therapeutic effects and validate the mechanism of EAdSc against UC. This study shows that EAdSc contains the active ingredients of S. cuneata effective in treating UC, the underlying mechanisms of which are related to the regulation of multiple inflammatory signaling pathways. EAdSc reduced the disease activity, macroscopic colon damage, and histological damage indices, as well as inhibiting DSS-induced spleen enlargement and colon shortening. The main inflammatory signaling pathways involved were the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, JAK-STAT signaling pathway, NF-kappa B signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, and NOD-like receptor signaling pathway.
A related 2024 study (PMC10847537) assessed the aqueous extract of S. cuneata (AESc) in a DSS-induced mouse model, focusing on UC-associated liver injury and intestinal flora modulation. Mice with UC induced by dextran sulfate sodium were used to study the effects of AESc on UC and its associated liver injuries, with 16S rRNA gene sequencing performed on intestinal contents. The ethyl acetate extract from decoction of S. cuneata, which is rich in total flavonoids, has been shown to have a good therapeutic effect on UC in these preclinical settings.
Evidence strength: All current evidence for ulcerative colitis is preclinical, based on animal models (predominantly DSS-induced colitis in mice) and in vitro network pharmacology analyses. No human clinical trials for UC with S. cuneata as sole agent have been retrieved.
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a common gynecological infection, and the combined use of S. cuneata and Patrinia villosa has been shown in preclinical research to inhibit PID progression. The active components of S. cuneata identified in this context include emodin (Emo). The potential key targets in the treatment of PID include SRC, GRB2, PIK3R1, PIK3CA, PTPN11, and SOS1, which act on signaling pathways such as EGFR, PI3K/Akt, TNF, and IL-17.
A network pharmacology study published in Frontiers in Pharmacology (2020) investigated the mechanism of the SC–PS combination (SC = S. cuneata, PS = Patrinia scabiosifolia) against PID with dampness-heat stasis syndrome. Active compounds with oral bioavailability ≥30% and drug-likeness ≥0.18 were obtained from the TCMSP database, and targets of compounds and disease were acquired from multiple databases including GeneCards, CTD, and TCMSP.
A 2023 study explored the anti-inflammatory effects and mechanism of the combined S. cuneata and Patrinia villosa (S&P) extract. The components of the combined S&P extract were detected using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and the effects on the viability and migration ability of macrophages were assessed using CCK8, LDH, adhesion, and transwell assays.
Evidence strength: Evidence is predominantly in vitro and network-pharmacological, supplemented by cell-based validation experiments. Human clinical trials using S. cuneata alone for PID have not been identified in the searched literature; the herb is typically used as part of multi-herb formulae in Chinese clinical practice.
Cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes play a pivotal role in anti-tumor immunity. S. cuneata (Sar) has demonstrated anti-cancer potential, and a study investigated its therapeutic potential in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) through its modulation of CD8+ T cell tumoricidal capacity, with CD8+ T cells isolated and co-cultured with treated HCC2935 and H1975 LUAD cell lines. The extract induced LUAD cell apoptosis and enhanced CD8+ T cell cytotoxicity by downregulating ACY1 in vitro, and attenuated xenograft tumor development through ACY1 downregulation in vivo; this study establishes S. cuneata as a promising agent in LUAD by enhancing CD8+ T tumoricidal capacity through targeting the ACY1/ARG2 co-regulatory axis.
Evidence strength: All antitumor evidence to date is preclinical — comprising cell line studies and mouse xenograft models. No human clinical trials have been reported for any oncological indication.
The Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China recognizes significant anti-bacterial effects of S. cuneata. UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS or GC/MS studies have shown that S. cuneata contains a variety of active components such as phenols, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, and triterpenoids, which exert anti-oxidant, anti-bacteria, anti-inflammatory, and anti-viral effects.
In bioscreening experiments, twelve compounds isolated from S. cuneata exhibited antibacterial activities against S. aureus ATCC 29213 with MIC values of 2–516 μg/mL.
Evidence strength: Evidence is entirely in vitro. No clinical trials evaluating S. cuneata as an antimicrobial agent in humans have been retrieved.
The phenylethanoid glycoside DAG, identified in S. cuneata, has been assessed for effects on sepsis-related conditions. S. cuneata is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, ulcers, acute appendicitis, amenorrhea, and painful menstruation, and DAG is one of its active ingredients. Male C57BL/6 mice were used to establish a sepsis-induced acute lung injury model, and levels of inflammatory cytokines were determined using qRT-PCR and ELISA.
Regarding use in sepsis clinical formulas: a multi-ingredient formula called Shenhuang Granules (SHG), composed of six ingredients including Panax ginseng, Rheum palmatum, Sargentodoxa cuneata (Sargentodoxae Caulis), Taraxacum mongolicum, Aconitum carmichaelii, and Whitmania pigra, has been reported to strengthen vital energy, clear heat and detoxify, promote qi circulation, and enhance blood circulation; a study was designed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of SHG in patients with sepsis. However, this is a multi-herb formulation, and the specific contribution of S. cuneata alone cannot be isolated from these results.
Evidence strength: Anti-sepsis data for S. cuneata as a single herb are preclinical (mouse models). Sepsis-related clinical data come from multi-component formulations and do not isolate the role of S. cuneata.
The extracts and compounds of S. cuneata have been shown in preclinical pharmacological studies to possess anti-arthritis effects, as well as a wide spectrum including antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-sepsis activities. Traditional uses for rheumatoid arthritis, gouty arthritis, and joint pain are well-documented in TCM texts and pharmacopoeial sources, but controlled clinical evidence specifically isolating S. cuneata for arthritic conditions in humans has not been retrieved in the searched literature.
Evidence strength: Primarily preclinical and traditional use; human trial evidence specific to this application is not available in the accessed literature.
Total phenols and flavonoids of S. cuneata and its adulterants, and their abilities to scavenge DPPH• and ABTS•+, to absorb peroxyl radicals (ORAC), and to inhibit AAPH-induced supercoiled plasmid DNA strand scission, have been comprehensively assessed. The ethyl acetate fraction of S. cuneata (SCEA) showed the strongest antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, likely associated with its high polyphenol content, as supported by studies reporting abundant phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and lignans.
Evidence strength: Antioxidant data are from in vitro assays. No human clinical trials for antioxidant endpoints have been located.
In TCM clinical practice, the standard dose of 9–15 g (dried stem, used as decoction) is considered suitable for most indications including intestinal abscess, dysmenorrhoea, and rheumatic joint pain. For acute intestinal abscess (appendicitis-like conditions), higher doses toward 15–30 g may be used.
In preclinical research studies, the following specific dosages have been reported:
Regarding commercially available finished products: approximately 50 kinds of Chinese medicine prescriptions contain S. cuneata, such as Fule granules, Lan Wei Xiao Yan Pian, and Fubao granules. Dosages for these combination products are determined by the specific formulation and are not addressed here as no independent clinical dosage data for S. cuneata as a standalone human supplement were retrieved.
The quality of medicinal materials of S. cuneata used in research was confirmed to meet the requirements of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 edition). The Chinese Pharmacopoeia listing provides quality standards and specifies recognized uses, constituting the primary regulatory acknowledgement of the herb's safety profile in China. No specific acute toxicity findings from human exposure are reported in the searched literature; preclinical research has included acute toxicity evaluation in mice as part of study methodology.
One of the major safety problems faced by S. cuneata-based herbal drugs is the appearance of commercial adulterants, owing to the difficulty of identifying liana herbs visually, especially when marketed as dry slices of their stems. Daxueteng (the liana stem of S. cuneata) is a widely used Traditional Chinese Medicine facing the overflow of its commercial adulterants. This means that products labeled as S. cuneata may contain other species, with potentially different chemical profiles and safety implications.
Wild resources of S. cuneata have been seriously deteriorated due to years of over-harvesting, indicating an urgent need for reasonable conservation strategies. This may affect the quality, availability, and consistency of supply, with implications for preparations derived from wild-harvested material.
The Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China recognizes significant anti-thrombotic properties of the herb. Its documented ability to promote blood circulation and inhibit platelet aggregation in preclinical models is pharmacologically relevant when considering use alongside anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications, though direct drug–drug interaction studies in humans have not been retrieved in the searched literature.
According to historical TCM sources, the medicinal nature of Hong Teng is relatively neutral, with a bitter taste, and it has therapeutic effects attributed to the large intestine and liver meridians. TCM classical sources associate herbs with "blood-invigorating" properties, such as S. cuneata, with caution during pregnancy, though no specific human adverse event data on this point were retrieved from the peer-reviewed literature searched.
The herb must not be confused with Ji Xue Teng (鸡血藤, Spatholobus suberectus), a Legume family vine with a similar appearance when freshly cut but very different therapeutic actions.
Health conditions that Sargentodoxa may help support.
Body systems that Sargentodoxa may help support.
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