This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a medical condition.
How does Nandina domestica work as a cough suppressant?
Nandina domestica contains isoquinoline alkaloids, particularly nantenine and domesticine, which act on the central nervous system to suppress the cough reflex. Berberine contributes additional antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. The antitussive mechanism involves modulation of cough receptor sensitivity and central cough center activity. These compounds work synergistically to reduce cough frequency and intensity. Evidence level: C (preclinical and traditional use data).
Does Nandina domestica interact with any medications?
Nandina domestica contains berberine and other alkaloids that may interact with cytochrome P450 enzymes, potentially affecting metabolism of various medications. It may enhance effects of sedatives and CNS depressants due to its mild sedative properties. Those taking antihypertensives, anticoagulants, or liver-metabolized medications should exercise caution. Evidence level: C. Consult a healthcare provider before combining with prescription medications.
What is the recommended dosage for Nandina domestica?
The traditional adult dosage for Nandina domestica dried fruit is 3-6 grams daily, typically prepared as a tea or decoction. In Japanese Kampo medicine, it is often combined with other herbs in standardized formulations. Dosage should not exceed recommended amounts due to alkaloid content. Evidence level: C (traditional use). Always follow practitioner guidance, as individual needs may vary based on condition and constitution.
Is Nandina domestica safe during pregnancy?
Nandina domestica is contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The plant contains alkaloids including berberine, domesticine, and nantenine, which may stimulate uterine contractions and pose risks to fetal development. Traditional Japanese Kampo sources explicitly warn against use in pregnant women. Evidence level: C. Women who are pregnant, nursing, or planning pregnancy should avoid this herb entirely.
What is Nandina domestica used for in traditional medicine?
Nandina domestica is primarily used in Japanese Kampo medicine as an antitussive for treating coughs and respiratory infections. Traditional applications include whooping cough, bronchitis, and asthma. The dried fruit is the primary medicinal part, valued for its cough-suppressing and antimicrobial properties. It has been used for centuries in East Asian medicine. Evidence level: C (traditional and preclinical evidence).
What are the side effects of Nandina domestica?
Common side effects include gastrointestinal upset such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea due to alkaloid content. Mild sedation or drowsiness may occur. Higher doses can cause more severe symptoms including respiratory depression. The herb is contraindicated in children due to potential alkaloid toxicity. Evidence level: C. Discontinue use if adverse effects occur and consult a healthcare provider.
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
Nandina domestica is a traditional herbal drug used in China and Japan for respiratory and inflammatory conditions [PMID:39045046]. It contains a wide array of alkaloids and flavonoids with demonstrated antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities [PMID:39045046, PMID:29576801].
Background
Nandina domestica Thunb., also known as heavenly bamboo, is a member of the Berberidaceae family [PMID:39045046, PMID:31072069]. It is used as an ornamental plant in the United States and is distributed across Korea, Japan, China, and India [PMID:28421827, PMID:31072069].
Traditional uses
It has been used in China and Japan for the treatment of colds, fevers, asthma, chronic bronchitis, conjunctivitis, whooping cough, and pharyngeal tumors [PMID:39045046]. It is also used in traditional medicine for the treatment of cough [PMID:31072069].
Active compounds
The plant contains at least 366 constituents, including isoquinoline alkaloids (characteristic markers), flavonoids, lignans, terpenoids, phenolic acids, and fatty acids [PMID:39045046]. Specific identified compounds include higenamine, nantenine, protopine, robustaflavone, and various caffeoyl glucosides [PMID:32272546, PMID:30932278, PMID:26410076].
Mechanism of action
Higenamine acts as a beta-2 adrenoceptor agonist to induce rapid tracheal relaxation [PMID:32272546, PMID:21282929]. Nantenine induces slow tracheal relaxation via Ca2+ antagonism [PMID:32272546, PMID:21282929] and shows affinity for 5-HT2A receptors [PMID:12269391]. Protopine stabilizes p53, increasing p53-mediated transcriptional activity and promoting apoptosis in colon cancer cells [PMID:30932278]. Robustaflavone downregulates inflammatory mediators by suppressing iNOS and COX-2 expression [PMID:31072069].
Clinical evidence
Evidence DRespiratory Inflammation/Asthma
Leaf extract alleviated allergy and asthma in guinea pig models; fruit extract inhibited LPS-induced COX-2 expression in human pulmonary epithelial A549 cells [PMID:29576801, PMID:22791150]
Evidence DBacterial Infection
Leaf extract inhibited the growth of bacteria and destroyed bacterial membranes [PMID:29576801]
Evidence DCancer
Protopine inhibited proliferation of HCT116 colon cancer cells [PMID:30932278]; nandsterine exhibited cytotoxicity against HL-60 human leukaemia cells [PMID:24897106]
Evidence DVascular Inflammation
Caffeoyl glucosides from fruits inhibited LPS-induced hyperpermeability, adhesion, and migration of leukocytes [PMID:26410076]
Safety & adverse effects
The fruit is considered poisonous when eaten raw, causing nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain [PMID:39045046]. Parts of the plant, especially berries, contain cyanogenic glycosides that convert to hydrogen cyanide upon ingestion [PMID:28421827].
Evidence summary
The current evidence is primarily based on in vitro studies, animal models, and literature reviews (Level C and D). There are no human clinical trials provided in the abstracts.
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 39045046 (2024) — Nandina domestica Thunb.: a review of traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology. · Frontiers in pharmacology
2.PMID: 28421827 (2018) — Pediatric Nandina domestica ingestions reported to poison centers. · Human & experimental toxicology
3.PMID: 24897106 (2014) — A new alkaloid from the fruit of Nandina domestica Thunb. · Natural product research
4.PMID: 29576801 (2018) — Antibacterial Effects of Leaf Extract of Nandina domestica and the Underlined Mechanism. · Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
5.PMID: 35161335 (2022) — Higenamine in Plants as a Source of Unintentional Doping. · Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
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.
PMID: 31872787 (2021) — Two new isoquinoline alkaloids from the seeds of Nandina domestica. · Natural product research
7.PMID: 31072069 (2019) — Robustaflavone Isolated from Nandina domestica Using Bioactivity-Guided Fractionation Downregulates Inflammatory Mediators. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
8.PMID: 30932278 (2019) — Protopine isolated from Nandina domestica induces apoptosis and autophagy in colon cancer cells by stabilizing p53. · Phytotherapy research : PTR
10.PMID: 32272546 (2011) — Biphasic Tracheal Relaxation Induced by Higenamine and Nantenine From Nandina domestica THUNBERG. · Journal of pharmacological sciences
11.PMID: 34428520 (2021) — Cell death-inducing activities via P-glycoprotein inhibition of the constituents isolated from fruits of Nandina domestica. · Fitoterapia
12.PMID: 21282929 (2011) — Biphasic tracheal relaxation induced by higenamine and nantenine from Nandina domestica Thunberg. · Journal of pharmacological sciences
13.PMID: 6726648 (1984) — Serotonergic receptor antagonist from Nandina domestica Thunberg. · Journal of pharmaceutical sciences
14.PMID: 22791150 (2012) — Extract from Nandina domestica inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced cyclooxygenase-2 expression in human pulmonary epithelial A549 cells. · Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
15.PMID: 28801989 (2017) — Determination of higenamine and coclaurine levels in human urine after the administration of a throat lozenge containing Nandina domestica fruit. · Drug testing and analysis
16.PMID: 12269391 (2002) — Suppressive effect of nantenine, isolated from Nandina domestica Thunberg, on the 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan plus clorgyline-induced head-twitch response in mice. · Life sciences
17.PMID: 17978476 (2007) — The extract from Nandina domestica THUNBERG inhibits histamine- and serotonin-induced contraction in isolated guinea pig trachea. · Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
18.PMID: 29975178 (2018) — Characterization of a novel hydroxynitrile lyase from Nandina domestica Thunb. · Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry