Natural Herb Library

All-Grass of Discolor Cinquefoil

Chinese
翻白草
Pinyin
Fan Bai Cao
Latin
Herba Potentillae Discoloris
Botanical illustration of All-Grass of Discolor Cinquefoil, Potentilla discolor, showing habit, leaves, flowers, fruit, seed, root, and diagnostic plant details.
Botanical plate by Kodi . View print →

Known in TCM as Fan Bai Cao (翻白草), this bitter and sweet, cold herb enters the Stomach and Large Intestine. Traditionally, it clears heat and resolves toxin; treats acute enteritis, bacillary dysentery, amoebic dysentery, tonsillitis, and stomatitis, most often applied for dysentery, type 2 diabetes, and bronchitis. Modern research has identified Quercetin among its active constituents.

Part used: Whole herb

Also Known As

Potentilla

Latin: Herba Potentillae Discoloris | Pinyin: Fan Bai Cao | Chinese: 翻白草

TCM Properties

Taste
bitter, sweet
Temperature
cold
Channels
Stomach, Large Intestine

Traditional Use

Primary Actions

  • Clears heat and resolves toxin; treats acute enteritis, bacillary dysentery, amoebic dysentery, tonsillitis, and stomatitis
  • Cools blood and stops bleeding; used for menorrhagia, functional uterine bleeding, and traumatic haemorrhage
  • Clears heat-damp from the intestines; arrests diarrhea and dysenteric patterns with blood in stool

Secondary Actions

  • Clears heat from the Lung; treats acute bronchitis, pneumonia, lung abscess, and acute laryngitis
  • Reduces swelling and dissipates masses; applied topically and internally for acute mastitis and skin carbuncles
  • Modern adjunct for type 2 diabetes … blood-sugar-lowering effect validated in clinical observation

Classical References

  • Jiuhuang Bencao (救荒本草 … Materia Medica for Relief of Famines, Zhu Su, 1406 AD) … earliest recorded entry; noted as edible and medicinal herb for clearing heat and toxin
  • Ben Cao Gang Mu (本草纲目 … Compendium of Materia Medica, Li Shizhen, 1578) … documented for cooling blood, stopping bleeding, and treating dysentery

Modern Research

Active Compounds

  • Quercetin
  • Kaempferol
  • Beta-sitosterol
  • Tannins (condensed and hydrolysable)
  • Triterpenoids (ursolic acid, oleanolic acid)
  • Polyphenolic acids (gallic acid, ellagic acid)
  • Polysaccharides (hypoglycaemic fraction)

Studied Effects

  • Antidiabetic … polysaccharides and flavonoids reduce fasting blood glucose and improve insulin resistance in T2DM animal models; network pharmacology identifies PI3K/Akt and MAPK pathways (PMC10577192)
  • Hepatoprotective … improves lipid metabolism, reduces hepatic steatosis (NAFLD), and reverses insulin resistance via multi-target mechanisms (PMID 36176915)
  • Anti-inflammatory … NF-κB pathway inhibition; reduces IL-6, TNF-α in inflammatory models
  • Antioxidant … scavenges hydroxyl and DPPH free radicals; activates Nrf2/HO-1 pathway
  • Antimicrobial … active against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and intestinal pathogens
  • Antitumor … cytotoxic activity against HepG-2 hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (ScienceDirect 2011)

PubMed References

Safety & Interactions

Contraindications

  • Yang deficiency or cold-deficiency patterns … cold thermal nature may aggravate deficiency-cold conditions
  • Pregnancy … blood-cooling and haemostatic actions contraindicated; may affect uterine circulation
  • Active menstruation in patients with cold-type dysmenorrhea … cold nature may worsen cramping

Cautions

  • May potentiate hypoglycaemic medications … monitor blood glucose when used alongside antidiabetic drugs
  • Use cautiously in patients on anticoagulant therapy … combined haemostatic and blood-moving properties may produce unpredictable coagulation effects
  • Standard decoction dose 9–15 g dried herb; fresh herb 30–60 g; do not exceed without practitioner supervision

Drug Interactions

  • Antidiabetic drugs (metformin, insulin, sulfonylureas, GLP-1 agonists) … Additive blood-glucose-lowering effect via polysaccharide and flavonoid fractions; concurrent use may cause hypoglycaemia (Moderate) Source: PMC10577192 … Effects of Potentilla discolor bunge extracts on oxidative stress and glycolipid metabolism (systematic review and meta-analysis)

Conditions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is All-Grass of Discolor Cinquefoil used for?

All-Grass of Discolor Cinquefoil is traditionally used to Clears heat and resolves toxin; treats acute enteritis, bacillary dysentery, amoebic dysentery, tonsillitis, and stomatitis, Cools blood and stops bleeding; used for menorrhagia, functional uterine bleeding, and traumatic haemorrhage, Clears heat-damp from the intestines; arrests diarrhea and dysenteric patterns with blood in stool. Research has investigated its effects on: Antidiabetic … polysaccharides and flavonoids reduce fasting blood glucose and improve insulin resistance in T2DM animal models; network pharmacology identifies PI3K/Akt and MAPK pathways (PMC10577192); Hepatoprotective … improves lipid metabolism, reduces hepatic steatosis (NAFLD), and reverses insulin resistance via multi-target mechanisms (PMID 36176915).

What are other names for All-Grass of Discolor Cinquefoil?

All-Grass of Discolor Cinquefoil is also known as Potentilla. In TCM: 翻白草 (Fan Bai Cao); Herba Potentillae Discoloris.

Is All-Grass of Discolor Cinquefoil safe during pregnancy?

All-Grass of Discolor Cinquefoil is not recommended during pregnancy.

What are the contraindications for All-Grass of Discolor Cinquefoil?

All-Grass of Discolor Cinquefoil should not be used in: Yang deficiency or cold-deficiency patterns … cold thermal nature may aggravate deficiency-cold conditions; Pregnancy … blood-cooling and haemostatic actions contraindicated; may affect uterine circulation; Active menstruation in patients with cold-type dysmenorrhea … cold nature may worsen cramping. Consult a qualified practitioner before use.

Does All-Grass of Discolor Cinquefoil interact with any medications?

All-Grass of Discolor Cinquefoil may interact with: Antidiabetic drugs (metformin, insulin, sulfonylureas, GLP-1 agonists) - Additive blood-glucose-lowering effect via polysaccharide and flavonoid fractions; concurrent use may cause hypoglycaemia - (Moderate severity). Always inform your healthcare provider of any herbal supplements you are taking.