Natural Herb Library

All-Grass of Diluteyellow Crotalaria

Chinese
黄花地丁
Pinyin
Huang Hua Di Ding
Latin
Herba Crotalariae Albidae
Botanical illustration of All-Grass of Diluteyellow Crotalaria, Crotalaria albida, showing habit, leaves, flowers, fruit, seed, root, and diagnostic plant details.
Botanical plate by Kodi . View print →

Known in TCM as Huang Hua Di Ding (黄花地丁), this bitter and sweet, cool herb enters the Lung and Liver. Traditionally, it clears heat and resolves toxin; treats carbuncles, sores, and infectious inflammatory conditions, most often applied for bronchitis, asthma, and urinary tract infection. Modern research has identified Neocroalbidine among its active constituents.

Part used: Whole herb

Also Known As

Crotalaria

Latin: Herba Crotalariae Albidae | Pinyin: Huang Hua Di Ding | Chinese: 黄花地丁

TCM Properties

Taste
bitter, sweet
Temperature
cool
Channels
Lung, Liver

Traditional Use

Primary Actions

  • Clears heat and resolves toxin; treats carbuncles, sores, and infectious inflammatory conditions
  • Stops cough and calms wheezing; used for bronchitis, pneumonia, and asthma
  • Prevents and treats malaria; traditional use in Yunnan province for febrile malarial patterns

Secondary Actions

  • Promotes urination and clears damp-heat in the lower jiao; treats urethritis and cystitis
  • Clears liver heat and supports liver function in hepatitis and gastroenteritis patterns
  • Transforms phlegm-heat in the Lung; relieves chest oppression with thick yellow sputum

Classical References

  • Regional folk medicine … Yunnan province (southwest China); commonly known as Huang Hua Di Ding (yellow-flower ground-nail) and used for cough, phlegm accumulation, and anti-inflammatory conditions

Modern Research

Active Compounds

  • Neocroalbidine (pyrrolizidine alkaloid)
  • Neocroalbidinone (pyrrolizidine alkaloid)
  • 2"-isopropenyl dihydrofuran isoflavonoids (novel compounds 1 and 3)
  • 2"-isopropenyl dihydrofuran chromone (novel compound 2)
  • Flavonoids (16 compounds isolated from aerial parts)

Studied Effects

  • Anti-obesity … isoflavonoids inhibit adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells via PPAR-γ pathway suppression (PMID 26285147)
  • Anti-inflammatory … genus-wide activity confirmed across multiple Crotalaria species
  • Antimicrobial … demonstrated against bacterial and fungal pathogens in Crotalaria genus studies
  • Hepatotoxic potential … pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are metabolised by CYP3A4/CYP2A6 to reactive pyrroles that cause hepatocyte nuclear damage

PubMed References

Safety & Interactions

Contraindications

  • Pre-existing liver disease or elevated liver enzymes … pyrrolizidine alkaloids are directly hepatotoxic
  • Pregnancy … pyrrolizidine alkaloids are fetotoxic; contraindicated throughout all trimesters
  • Paediatric use … immature hepatic metabolism increases PA toxicity risk
  • Concurrent hepatotoxic drug therapy … additive liver damage risk

Cautions

  • Limit duration of use; pyrrolizidine alkaloids accumulate and cause cumulative hepatotoxicity
  • Use with caution in renal impairment … nephrotoxic potential reported for pyrrolizidine class
  • Monitor for signs of pulmonary hypertension with extended use; monocrotaline-type PAs implicated in vascular toxicity
  • Cool thermal nature … use cautiously in cold-deficiency patterns, chronic diarrhea, or poor digestion

Drug Interactions

  • CYP3A4 and CYP2A6 substrates and inhibitors … Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are metabolised via CYP3A4 and CYP2A6 to hepatotoxic pyrrole intermediates; CYP inhibitors may reduce detoxification and increase toxicity; CYP inducers may accelerate formation of toxic pyrroles (High) Source: PMC6032134 … Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids: Chemistry, Pharmacology, Toxicology and Food Safety
  • Hepatotoxic drugs (methotrexate, isoniazid, valproate, statins) … Additive hepatotoxic effect; simultaneous use of PA-containing herbs and hepatotoxic pharmaceuticals significantly raises risk of sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS/VOD) (High) Source: PMC8508847 … Metabolic Toxification of 1,2-Unsaturated Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids Causes Human Hepatic Sinusoidal Obstruction Syndrome

Conditions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is All-Grass of Diluteyellow Crotalaria used for?

All-Grass of Diluteyellow Crotalaria is traditionally used to Clears heat and resolves toxin; treats carbuncles, sores, and infectious inflammatory conditions, Stops cough and calms wheezing; used for bronchitis, pneumonia, and asthma, Prevents and treats malaria; traditional use in Yunnan province for febrile malarial patterns. Research has investigated its effects on: Anti-obesity … isoflavonoids inhibit adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells via PPAR-γ pathway suppression (PMID 26285147); Anti-inflammatory … genus-wide activity confirmed across multiple Crotalaria species.

What are other names for All-Grass of Diluteyellow Crotalaria?

All-Grass of Diluteyellow Crotalaria is also known as Crotalaria. In TCM: 黄花地丁 (Huang Hua Di Ding); Herba Crotalariae Albidae.

Is All-Grass of Diluteyellow Crotalaria safe during pregnancy?

All-Grass of Diluteyellow Crotalaria is not recommended during pregnancy.

What are the contraindications for All-Grass of Diluteyellow Crotalaria?

All-Grass of Diluteyellow Crotalaria should not be used in: Pre-existing liver disease or elevated liver enzymes … pyrrolizidine alkaloids are directly hepatotoxic; Pregnancy … pyrrolizidine alkaloids are fetotoxic; contraindicated throughout all trimesters; Paediatric use … immature hepatic metabolism increases PA toxicity risk; Concurrent hepatotoxic drug therapy … additive liver damage risk. Consult a qualified practitioner before use.

Does All-Grass of Diluteyellow Crotalaria interact with any medications?

All-Grass of Diluteyellow Crotalaria may interact with: CYP3A4 and CYP2A6 substrates and inhibitors - Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are metabolised via CYP3A4 and CYP2A6 to hepatotoxic pyrrole intermediates; CYP inhibitors may reduce detoxification and increase toxicity; CYP inducers may accelerate formation of toxic pyrroles - (High severity); Hepatotoxic drugs (methotrexate, isoniazid, valproate, statins) - Additive hepatotoxic effect; simultaneous use of PA-containing herbs and hepatotoxic pharmaceuticals significantly raises risk of sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS/VOD) - (High severity). Always inform your healthcare provider of any herbal supplements you are taking.