Lysimachia christinae

Among the Han Chinese, the herb called Jin Qian Cao (the dried whole plant of Lysimachia christinae) is taken as a warm decoction to “promote urination, clear damp‑heat, and relieve painful urinary dysfunction,” as summarized in the WHO monograph on selected medicinal plants (WHO, 2002). The modern pharmacopoeias further note that it is used for jaundice with damp‑heat and for gall‑bladder symptoms and is usually taken as a decoction (State Pharmacopoeia Commission of PRC, 2020). Across southern China’s Guangxi and Guizhou provinces, the same herb—used as a tea or decoction—appears in Zhuang, Miao and Yao herbal practice as a remedy for “naturally moving stones” and “passing painful urine,” with these ethnic uses described in the China ethnobotany literature (Xiao, 2002). In some Anhui communities it is also steeped as a simple hot infusion after fasting to “clear damp heat and benefit urination,” a practice noted in local materia medica (Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, 2009). In each case the plant part is the aerial herb—leaves, stems and flowers—dried and used in water preparations rather than being taken as a powder or smoke.

A concise tea/decoction can be made with about 12–15 g of the dried whole herb (leaves, stems and flowers) simmered in 600–800 mL of water for 20–30 minutes, then cooled and strained. The resulting liquid is split into two daily doses. Some practitioners prefer a gentler infusion for shorter periods and will repeat the tea for several days as needed. As with many diuretic and cholagogue herbs, do not use during pregnancy or if you have known bile‑duct obstruction, and consult a qualified practitioner if you have gallstones, kidney disease or are taking diuretics or anticoagulants (WHO, 2002; PRC Pharmacopoeia, 2020).

Phytochemically, Jin Qian Cao is well known to contain flavonoids (including quercetin, kaempferol and myricetin glycosides), phenolic acids (such as caffeic and chlorogenic acids), coumarins (including scopoletin and esculetin), saponins and terpenoids. These classes fit the herb’s traditional actions in relieving painful urination and supporting gallbladder function (He et al., 2008; Yang et al., 2010). While in vitro work suggests bile‑sequestering and smooth‑muscle‑relaxing activities that could plausibly help stone movement, clinical evidence for single‑herb effectiveness remains limited.

Today the dried herb is widely available from reputable Chinese herbal suppliers and specialty TCM retailers, and it remains a familiar domestic remedy in southern Chinese households. Modern pharmacology explores the flavonoids for gallstone‑related activity, but standardized preparations and clear clinical guidance are still evolving, and most patients in contemporary care use it as part of a multi‑herb formula rather than as a single therapy.

Common products:
• Gum/resin ("Jin Qian Cao" gum) produced by the plant, traded as a naturally sourced adhesive/raw material.

Industrial and craft applications:
• Adhesives/coatings: The plant's dried gum resin is used as a natural adhesive base in traditional craft formulations (e.g., bonding paper, wood veneers). Its adhesive properties are attributed to water-soluble polysaccharides and resinous components.
• Scientific/model organism: While not a standard laboratory model, the species serves in botanical research, genetics, and ecology studies. Documented uses include its role in phylogenetic studies within Myrsinoideae and investigations into its resin biosynthesis.

Properties relevant to use:
• Gum resin composition: Contains water-soluble polysaccharides (e.g., arabinose, galactose-rich polymers) contributing to adhesive properties.
• Resin components: Comprises resin acids and terpenoids providing tackiness and water resistance when cured.

Standards and regulation:
• No specific ISO/ASTM/EN standards identified for *L. christinae* gum resin. General adhesive or raw botanical material regulations may apply.

Sustainability and sourcing:
• Collection primarily occurs from wild populations in its native range (China, N. Vietnam). Overharvesting for gum resin poses sustainability risks, necessitating management plans for wild sourcing. No data on cultivation for non-medicinal products.

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No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

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