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.
Rang Chued (Thunbergia laurifolia) contains antioxidant compounds including quercetin, kaempferol, and phenylethanoids that help protect liver cells from oxidative damage. These compounds work by neutralizing free radicals and reducing inflammation in hepatic tissues. The herb may also enhance the liver's natural detoxification pathways by supporting enzyme activity involved in toxin metabolism. Evidence level: C (preliminary research).
Does Rang Chued interact with medications?
Limited research exists on drug interactions with Thunbergia laurifolia. Due to its effects on liver detoxification pathways, Rang Chued may potentially alter how the liver metabolizes certain medications, affecting their blood levels and effectiveness. If you take prescription medications, especially those processed by the liver, consult a healthcare provider before using this herb. Evidence level: C.
What is the recommended dosage for Rang Chued?
The traditional adult dosage for Rang Chued is 15-30 grams of dried leaf daily, typically prepared as a decoction or tea. This dosage is based on traditional Thai herbal practice rather than standardized clinical trials. Dosage may vary depending on the specific preparation and intended use. Always follow product label instructions or consult a qualified herbalist for personalized guidance. Evidence level: Traditional.
Is Rang Chued safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding?
Rang Chued (Thunbergia laurifolia) is contraindicated during pregnancy and should be avoided. There is insufficient safety data regarding its use during breastfeeding, so nursing mothers should also avoid this herb. The herb's effects on detoxification pathways and potential uterine stimulation make it unsuitable for pregnant women. Consult a healthcare provider for pregnancy-safe alternatives. Evidence level: Traditional/Expert consensus.
What is Rang Chued used for in Thai traditional medicine?
Rang Chued is widely used in Thai traditional medicine as a detoxification herb and antidote for various poisonings. Primary uses include treating alcohol poisoning, drug toxicity, and food poisoning. It is also employed for fever reduction and as a hepatoprotective agent to support liver health. The herb has a long history of traditional use for these purposes, though clinical evidence remains limited. Evidence level: C.
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
Rang Chued (Thunbergia laurifolia) is a Thai medicinal plant recognized for its antioxidant, detoxifying, and hepatoprotective properties [PMID:36518438, 29410686].
Background
Thunbergia laurifolia, also known as Rang Chued or Rang-jued, is a medicinal plant from the Acanthaceae family used in Thailand [PMID:36518438, 34829549].
Traditional uses
It is used in traditional Thai medicine as an antidote, for decreasing body temperature (antipyretic), to treat mouth ulcers, and as an herbal tea [PMID:36518438, 38735681, 35745006].
Active compounds
Major bioactive compounds include rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, and vicenin-2 [PMID:38735681, 34451693]. Other identified constituents include apigenin, gallic acid, carotenoids, chlorophylls (Pheophytin a and Hydroxy Pheophytin a), iridoid glucosides (8-epi-grandifloric acid and 3'-O-beta-glucopyranosyl-stilbericoside), and 5-acetoxyfuranonapthoquinone [PMID:38790743, 12150796, 36170203].
Mechanism of action
The herb acts by increasing antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD1, SOD2, CAT, GPx), reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and modulating the p62-KEAP1-NRF2 signaling pathway [PMID:34829549, 36309371]. It also induces the detoxifying enzyme NQO-1 in liver cells [PMID:38790743] and may inhibit MMP-1, MMP-2, and MMP-9 [PMID:32326348, 29410686].
Clinical evidence
Evidence DLead-induced renotoxicity
Leaf extracts partially recovered renotoxicity by modulating cell signaling pathways in mice [PMID:34466056]
Evidence DParaquat-induced lung and kidney injury
Aqueous leaf extract alleviated lung injury by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation, and ameliorated kidney injury by regulating NADPH oxidase in rats [PMID:35317802, 35399379]
Evidence DAlcohol-induced hangover
Leaf extract administered prior to ethanol increased locomotor activity and reduced blood ethanol levels and liver enzyme changes in rats [PMID:40430504]
Evidence DGestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)
Ethanolic extract significantly reduced blood glucose and increased insulin levels in a rat model [PMID:38941042]
Evidence DCognitive and emotional deficits
Leaf extract reduced cognitive deficits in olfactorectomized mice [PMID:25609149]
Evidence DCadmium toxicity
Safety & adverse effects
Acute toxicity studies in Wistar rats using oral gavage of water, ethanol, and acetone extracts at doses up to 15,000 mg/kg did not report immediate lethal toxicity [PMID:36518438]. Chronic oral administration (30 days) at 1 and 10 g/kg did not cause addiction behavior in rats [PMID:26817209].
Pregnancy & lactation
A study in a rat model of gestational diabetes showed that T. laurifolia extract reduced blood glucose and increased insulin levels from gestation day 7 until term [PMID:38941042].
Evidence summary
The current evidence consists primarily of in vitro cell studies and in vivo animal models (rats, mice, ducks, rabbits). There is a lack of human clinical trial data.
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 36518438 (2022) — Acute and sub-chronic toxicity study of Rang Chuet (Thunbergia laurifolia Lindl.) extracts and its antioxidant activities. · Toxicology reports
2.PMID: 38790743 (2024) — Identification of Pheophytin a and Hydroxy Pheophytin a from Rang Chuet (Thunbergia laurifolia Linn.) as Potent NQO-1 Inducers in Liver Cells. · Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
3.PMID: 34829549 (2021) — Thunbergia laurifolia Leaf Extract Inhibits Glutamate-Induced Neurotoxicity and Cell Death through Mitophagy Signaling. · Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
4.PMID: 34466056 (2020) — Thunbergia laurifolia leaf extract partially recovers lead-induced renotoxicity through modulating the cell signaling pathways. · Saudi journal of biological sciences
5.PMID: 31935795 (2020) — Thunbergia laurifolia Leaf Extract Increased Levels of Antioxidant Enzymes and Protected Human Cell-Lines In Vitro Against Cadmium.
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.
Crude dried extract protected human embryonic kidney (HEK293) and liver (HepG2) cells against cadmium toxicity in vitro [PMID:31935795]
Evidence DGlutamate-induced neurotoxicity
Leaf extract prevented neuronal death and reduced ROS in mouse hippocampal cells (HT-22) in vitro [PMID:34829549]
· Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
6.PMID: 38735681 (2024) — Experimental design approach for the quantitative analysis of multicomponents by single marker and HPLC fingerprinting of Thunbergia laurifolia aqueous extract. · Phytochemical analysis : PCA
7.PMID: 33557734 (2022) — Formulations for Effective Detoxification Derived from Three Medicinal Plants: Thunbergia laurifolia, Clerodendrum disparifolium and Rotheca serrata. · Current pharmaceutical biotechnology
8.PMID: 40430504 (2025) — Anti-Hangover and Hepatoprotective Effects of the Leaf Extract of Thunbergia laurifolia in Sprague-Dawley Rats. · Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
9.PMID: 39195744 (2024) — Antioxidative and Antimycotoxigenic Efficacies of Thunbergia laurifolia Lindl. for Addressing Aflatoxicosis in Cherry Valley Ducks. · Toxins
14.PMID: 35369604 (2022) — Treatment efficacy of Thunbergia laurifolia, Curcuma longa, Garcinia mangostana, and Andrographis paniculata extracts in Staphylococcus aureus-induced rabbit dermatitis model. · Veterinary world
15.PMID: 25609149 (2015) — Thunbergia laurifolia extract ameliorates cognitive and emotional deficits in olfactorectomized mice. · Pharmaceutical biology
16.PMID: 41471819 (2025) — Optimization of Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent-Assisted Extraction of Rosmarinic Acid from Thunbergia laurifolia Lindl. and Evaluation of Antioxidant Activity. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
17.PMID: 34451693 (2021) — Antioxidant Activity and Anti-Photoaging Effects on UVA-Irradiated Human Fibroblasts of Rosmarinic Acid Enriched Extract Prepared from Thunbergia laurifolia Leaves. · Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
18.PMID: 36309371 (2022) — Standardized Thunbergia laurifolia Extract Inhibits PM2.5-Induced Oxidative Stress by Regulating p62-KEAP1-NRF2 Signaling Pathway. · In vivo (Athens, Greece)
19.PMID: 38941042 (2024) — Therapeutic Potential of Thunbergia laurifolia L. Extract in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Insights from a Rat Model. · Chinese journal of integrative medicine
20.PMID: 40163407 (2025) — Efficacy of Thunbergia laurifolia crude extracts against carcinogenic liver fluke, Opisthorchis viverrini. · Tropical biomedicine
21.PMID: 31353691 (2019) — Approach to preserve phenolics in Thunbergia laurifolia leaves by different drying treatments. · Journal of food biochemistry
22.PMID: 27925210 (2017) — Effects of steam-microwave blanching and different drying processes on drying characteristics and quality attributes of Thunbergia laurifolia Linn. leaves. · Journal of the science of food and agriculture
23.PMID: 35745006 (2022) — Evaluation of the Intestinal Permeability of Rosmarinic Acid from Thunbergia laurifolia Leaf Water Extract in a Caco-2 Cell Model. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
24.PMID: 29410686 (2017) — Thunbergia laurifolia Exhibits Antifibrotic Effects in Human Hepatic Stellate Cells. · Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
25.PMID: 26817209 (2015) — Chronic Effect of Thunbergia laurifolia Extract and Cocaine in Rats Using Behavior Model of Addiction. · Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet thangphaet
26.PMID: 32326348 (2020) — Chemical Constituents, Antioxidant, Anti-MMPs, and Anti-Hyaluronidase Activities of Thunbergia laurifolia Lindl. Leaf Extracts for Skin Aging and Skin Damage Prevention. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
27.PMID: 36170203 (2024) — A new furanonapthoquinone from the stems of Thunbergia laurifolia. · Natural product research
28.PMID: 19152199 (2009) — Traditional medicine in the treatment of drug addiction. · The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse