Golden Saxifrage

Chinese
金腰草
Pinyin
Jing Yao Cao
Latin
Herba Chrysosplenii

TCM Properties

Taste
bitter
Temperature
cool
Channels
Liver, Gallbladder

Traditional Use

Primary Actions

  • Clears Heat and resolves toxicity
  • Clears Damp-Heat from the Liver and Gallbladder
  • Promotes bile flow and reduces jaundice
  • Reduces inflammation and fever

Secondary Actions

  • Hepatoprotective — reduces liver enzyme elevation in hepatobiliary disease
  • Addresses headache associated with Liver-Gallbladder Fire

Classical References

  • Tibetan Pharmacopoeia chronicles record the genus Chrysosplenium (Tibetan: Yajima) for removing undesired Heat, treating acute icteric hepatitis, and acute liver necrosis — the closest classical tradition for this folk herb
  • Chrysosplenium sinicum Maxim. (中华金腰 Zhong Hua Jin Yao) is documented in Chinese folk medicine of southwest China as a remedy for cholecystitis and cholelithiasis

Modern Research

Active Compounds

  • Chrysosplenol (polymethoxylated flavonoid; predominant metabolite)
  • Chrysosplenoside (polymethoxylated flavonoid)
  • Chrysosplenosides B and D
  • Chrysosplenols B and D
  • Triterpenoids
  • Volatile oils

Studied Effects

  • Hepatoprotective: Chrysosplenium nudicaule extract reduced serum AST, ALT, ALP, and bilirubin in ANIT-induced intrahepatic cholestasis mice; mechanism involves activating FXR and BSEP/MRP2 transporter genes to reduce bile acid synthesis and enhance biliary excretion (PMID 30989870)
  • Flavonoid profile characterised in C. alternifolium by HPLC; chrysosplenoside B and D and chrysosplenol B and D identified as quality-control markers with total flavonoid content 2.5–4.3% dry weight (PMID 19615839)
  • Genomic analysis of C. sinicum confirmed high-level expression of flavonoid biosynthesis genes; chrysosplenol and chrysosplenoside identified as characteristic bioactive components (PMID 39152309)

PubMed References

Safety & Interactions

Contraindications

  • Cold-Damp patterns of the Liver and Gallbladder
  • Spleen-Stomach Deficiency Cold

Cautions

  • Standard dose 9–15g in decoction
  • Primarily documented in Tibetan and southwest Chinese folk medicine; limited clinical safety data for extended use
  • Avoid in the absence of Heat or Damp-Heat signs

Conditions