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PubMed · Traditional uses, processing methods, phytochemistry, pharmacology and quality control of Dipsacus asper Wall. ex C.B. Clarke: A review. (2020)
PubMed · Akebia saponin D from Dipsacus asper wall. Ex C.B. Clarke ameliorates skeletal muscle insulin resistance through activation of IGF1R/AMPK signaling pathway. (2024)
Reviewed by: HerbAlly Editorial Team, Medical herbalists and healthcare professionals
Dipsacus root contains active compounds including asperosaponin and dipsacoside that support bone metabolism and tissue repair. In TCM theory, it tonifies the liver and kidneys, which govern the sinews and bones respectively. Laboratory studies suggest these saponins may promote osteoblast activity and reduce inflammation at injury sites. Evidence Level: C. The herb's traditional use for fractures spans centuries, though more rigorous clinical trials are needed to fully elucidate its mechanisms.
Does Dipsacus root interact with any medications?
There are no well-documented drug interactions for Dipsacus root in current literature. However, due to limited research, caution is advised when combining with anticoagulant medications, as some saponin-containing herbs may affect blood clotting. Patients taking prescription medications should consult a qualified healthcare practitioner before adding Dipsacus root to their regimen. Evidence Level: C. Always disclose all supplements to your healthcare provider.
What is the recommended dosage for Dipsacus root?
The typical adult dosage for Dipsacus root is 9-21 grams of dried herb per day, usually prepared as a decoction or taken in pill form. Dosage may vary based on the specific condition being treated and individual constitution. In TCM practice, it is often combined with other herbs in formula prescriptions. Evidence Level: Traditional. Consult a qualified herbalist or healthcare practitioner for personalized dosing recommendations.
Is Dipsacus root safe during pregnancy?
Dipsacus root has been traditionally used in TCM to prevent threatened miscarriage and is generally considered safe during pregnancy when used appropriately. It tonifies the kidneys and helps secure the fetus according to traditional theory. Evidence Level: C. However, pregnant women should only use this herb under the guidance of a qualified TCM practitioner, as improper use or incorrect diagnosis could pose risks. Self-medication during pregnancy is not recommended.
What is Dipsacus root used for in traditional Chinese medicine?
Dipsacus root is primarily used in TCM to mend bones and sinews, tonify the liver and kidneys, and support trauma healing. It is commonly prescribed for fractures, ligament injuries, lower back pain, and weakness in the knees and legs. Additionally, it is used for threatened miscarriage due to its kidney-tonifying properties. Evidence Level: C. The herb has been used for centuries in East Asian medicine for these purposes, though modern clinical evidence remains limited.
What are the side effects of Dipsacus root?
Dipsacus root is generally well tolerated with few reported side effects. Traditional contraindications include caution in cases of Yin deficiency with heat signs, as the herb's warming properties may exacerbate these conditions. Mild digestive upset may occur in sensitive individuals. Evidence Level: Traditional. As with any medicinal herb, quality and sourcing matter—purchase from reputable suppliers to ensure product safety and purity.
PubMed-compiled information sheet
This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Dipsacus asper is a traditional medicinal herb used primarily for bone and joint disorders [PMID:37175164, PMID:32348843]. It contains a diverse array of specialized metabolites, including triterpenoid saponins and iridoids, which exhibit various biological activities [PMID:37175164, PMID:32348843].
Background
Dipsacus asper Wall. ex C.B. Clarke is a perennial herb of the Caprifoliaceae family [PMID:37175164, PMID:37591362]. The dried roots, known as Dipsaci radix or Xuduan, are included in the Chinese and Korean Herbal Pharmacopoeias [PMID:37175164, PMID:32348843].
Traditional uses
It has been used for centuries in Chinese and Korean folk medicines to treat bone diseases such as osteoporosis and bone fractures, joint problems like rheumatic arthritis, traumatic hematoma, uterine bleeding, and conditions caused by liver and kidney deficiency [PMID:37175164, PMID:32348843, PMID:36164864].
Mechanisms vary by compound: Akebia saponin D activates the IGF1R/AMPK signaling pathway to ameliorate skeletal muscle insulin resistance [PMID:37591362] and activates AMPK to attenuate allergic airway inflammation [PMID:38175326]. Asperosaponin VI suppresses nucleus pulposus cell pyroptosis via modulation of the NF-κB/NLRPP3 pathway [PMID:41093224]. Dipsacus asper polysaccharides regulate the RANKL/RANK/OPG/VEGF and PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathways to prevent bone loss [PMID:30735778]. Dipsacus asper extract may induce osteogenesis via the PI3K pathway [PMID:34301001].
Clinical evidence
Evidence DOsteoporosis
Dipsacus asper polysaccharide significantly prevented bone loss and biomechanical reduction in ovariectomized rat models [PMID:30735778].
Evidence DOsteoarthritis
A herb pair of Dipsacus asper and Achyranthes bidentate reduced levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and iNOS in osteoarthritic rats [PMID:38723559].
Evidence DCognitive Impairment (Aluminum-induced)
Dipsacus asper extract reduced cognitive deficits and the overexpression of beta-amyloid protein in rats exposed to aluminum [PMID:12954453].
Evidence DSepsis-associated encephalopathy
Dipsacoside B effectively alleviated cognitive impairment and suppressed central inflammatory responses in SAE mice [PMID:39009096].
Evidence DUlcerative Colitis
Akebia saponin D attenuated ulcerative colitis in a DSS-induced mouse model [PMID:41547071].
Safety & adverse effects
Dipsacus saponin C was identified as a key ingredient that potently induces procoagulant activities in human platelets, potentially increasing pro-thrombotic risks [PMID:22405282].
Evidence summary
The current evidence is primarily based on in vitro studies and animal models (Level D), with a few review articles (Level C) summarizing traditional uses and phytochemistry. No human clinical trials (Level B) or meta-analyses (Level A) were provided.
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 37175164 (2023) — Dipsacus and Scabiosa Species-The Source of Specialized Metabolites with High Biological Relevance: A Review. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2.PMID: 32348843 (2020) — Traditional uses, processing methods, phytochemistry, pharmacology and quality control of Dipsacus asper Wall. ex C.B. Clarke: A review. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
3.PMID: 36607173 (2023) — Divergent Total Syntheses of Hetero-Oligomeric Iridoid Glycosides. · Organic letters
4.PMID: 41547071 (2026) — Akebia saponin D attenuates ulcerative colitis via targeting EGFR and remodeling gut microbiota homeostasis. · Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
5.PMID: 42144814 (2026) — Two Unpresented Triterpenoid Saponins From Dipsacus asper.
Government sources
No direct government monograph is available for this herb. The content below is AI-generated and has not been verified against an authoritative government source. Use the search links to check official sources before relying on this information.
6.PMID: 28911735 (2017) — Antifungal activity of sterols and dipsacus saponins isolated from Dipsacus asper roots against phytopathogenic fungi. · Pesticide biochemistry and physiology
7.PMID: 37711689 (2023) — Metabolomic and microbiomic insights into color changes during the sweating process in Dipsacus asper. · Frontiers in microbiology
8.PMID: 23705356 (2012) — [Study on identification of wild Dipsacus asper and cultivated Dipsacus asper at different growth years by organization structure]. · Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
9.PMID: 36164864 (2022) — [Cloning and bioinformatics analysis of β-amyrin synthase in Dipsacus asper]. · Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
10.PMID: 24606767 (2014) — Chinese herbal prescriptions for osteoarthritis in Taiwan: analysis of National Health Insurance dataset. · BMC complementary and alternative medicine
11.PMID: 38723559 (2024) — An exploratory metabolomic study reveals the Dipsacus asper-Achyranthes bidentate herb pair against osteoarthritis by modulating imbalance in polyunsaturated fatty acids and energy metabolism. · Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
12.PMID: 37591362 (2024) — Akebia saponin D from Dipsacus asper wall. Ex C.B. Clarke ameliorates skeletal muscle insulin resistance through activation of IGF1R/AMPK signaling pathway. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
14.PMID: 18057739 (2007) — On the chemical constituents of Dipsacus asper. · Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
15.PMID: 22405282 (2012) — Procoagulant and prothrombotic effects of the herbal medicine, Dipsacus asper and its active ingredient, dipsacus saponin C, on human platelets. · Journal of thrombosis and haemostasis : JTH
16.PMID: 30735778 (2019) — Protective effects of Dipsacus asper polysaccharide on osteoporosis in vivo by regulating RANKL/RANK/OPG/VEGF and PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway. · International journal of biological macromolecules
17.PMID: 30959403 (2019) — Triterpenoids and triterpenoid saponins from Dipsacus asper and their cytotoxic and antibacterial activities. · Phytochemistry
18.PMID: 23627090 (2012) — [Chemical constituents of Dipsacus asper]. · Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
19.PMID: 30018232 (2018) — Authentication of Herbal Medicines Dipsacus asper and Phlomoides umbrosa Using DNA Barcodes, Chloroplast Genome, and Sequence Characterized Amplified Region (SCAR) Marker. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
20.PMID: 41093224 (2025) — Asperosaponin VI alleviates intervertebral disc degeneration by suppressing nucleus pulposus cell pyroptosis through modulation of the NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway. · European journal of pharmacology
21.PMID: 25635380 (2015) — New Lignans and Iridoid Glycosides from Dipsacus asper Wall. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
22.PMID: 39041083 (2024) — [Material basis of kidney Yang deficiency rats before and after salt processing of Dipsacus asper based on spectrum-effect relationship]. · Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
23.PMID: 38175326 (2024) — Akebia saponin D attenuates allergic airway inflammation through AMPK activation. · Journal of natural medicines
24.PMID: 24133979 (2013) — [Chemical constituents of Dipsacus asper]. · Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
25.PMID: 16671811 (2006) — Two novel tetrairidoid glucosides from Dipsacus asper. · Organic letters
26.PMID: 40346454 (2025) — Positive regulation Asperosaponin VI accumulation by DaERF9 through JA signaling in Dipsacus asper. · BMC plant biology
27.PMID: 30717528 (2018) — [A developmental research on wild Dipsacus asper in Chongqing Wulong district]. · Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
28.PMID: 39009096 (2024) — Dipsacoside B ameliorates cognitive impairment in sepsis-associated encephalopathy by reducing Th17 cell infiltration and neuroinflammation. · Biochemical pharmacology
29.PMID: 12954453 (2003) — The herbal medicine Dipsacus asper wall extract reduces the cognitive deficits and overexpression of beta-amyloid protein induced by aluminum exposure. · Life sciences
30.PMID: 31051193 (2019) — Absolute structure assignment of an iridoid-monoterpenoid indole alkaloid hybrid from Dipsacus asper. · Fitoterapia