Dianthus superbus. D. chinensis 瞿 麦 Qú mài   Proud pink   Family: Caryophyllaceae       
PART USED: Upper stem of flowers, with flowers- harvested in Summer and Autumn.
Nature: Cold    FLAVOR: Bitter   CHANNELS: Heart, Small intestine
FUNCTIONS
GROUP: Diuretic
1. Clear Damp Heat.[4] Diuretic.[1]
2. Clear Heat.[2] Clears fever.[1]
3. Breaks up Blood stasis.[4]Activate Blood.[2] Stimulates blood circulation and opens up channel passageways.[1]
4. Unblocks the bowels.[4]
INDICATIONS
1. Any type of painful urinary dysfunction, expecially with blood.[4] Urinary infections.[2] Urinary stones.[2] Edema.[1] Excessive Heat more than Damp.[3] Hot gonorrhea.[1,3]
2. Use as auxillary herb for amenorrhea.[2,4] Irregular menstruation.[1]
3. Carbuncle.[2]
4. Constipation.[4]
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Pregranancy and in cases with Spleen of Kidney deficiency. Some tradiditonal souces state that this herb antagonizes Tenodera sinensis- Sang piao xiao.[4]
PATENT COMBINATIONS
COMBINATIONS
PREPARATIONS: Decoction. Dry plant above ground 9-15 g.[1,2]  3-12 g.[3] 6-12 g, up to 24 g.[4] Good quality is blue-green without dust or roots.
HABITAT: Found growing on hillsides, edges of open woods and seed patches along stream banks.
DESCRIPTION:  Perennial herb. Stem: clustered, height 30-60 cm, joints protruding. Leaves: opposite, linear-lanceolate, apexes acute, bases clasping stem, 3-5 ribbed. Flowers: in autumn, terminal pink flowers forming racemose inflorescences. Capsule: cylindrical.
References
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Constituents
Research

Inhibitory activity of Dianthus superbus L. and 11 kinds of diuretic Traditional Chinese medicines for urogenital Chlamydia trachomatis in vitro. [Article in Chinese]
Li JJ, Tu YY, Tong JZ, Wang PT.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
To detect the susceptibility of urogenital chlamydia trachomatis(CT) to 12 kinds of diuretic traditional Chinese medicines.
METHODS:
The inhibitory activity of these medicines for CT was detected by microculture technique of McCoy cell in vitro.
RESULTS:
All the 12 kinds of diuretic traditional Chinese medicines had inhibitory activities for urogenital CT, with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) from 0.122 mg.ml-1 to 62.5 mg.ml-1. The activities of Dianthus superbus L., Poria cocos(Shcw.) Woft, Polyporus umbellatus and Artemissia capillaris were stronger. The number and volume of CT inclusions reduced gradually and disappeared finally with the rise of concentration.
CONCLUSION:
All the 12 kinds of diuretic traditional Chinese medicines possess some inhibitory activity for urogenital CT.
PMID: 12516457
Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2000 Oct;25(10):628-30. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cognitive-Enhancing Effect of Dianthus superbus var. Longicalycinus on Scopolamine-Induced Memory Impairment in Mice.
Weon JB, Jung YS, Ma CJ.
Abstract
Dianthus superbus (D. superbus) is a traditional crude drug used for the treatment of urethritis, carbuncles and carcinomas. The objective of this study was to confirm the cognitive enhancing effect of D. superbus in memory impairment induced mice and to elucidate the possible potential mechanism. Effect of D. superbus on scopolamine induced memory impairment on mice was evaluated using the Morris water maze and passive avoidance tests. We also investigated acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) expression in scopolamine-induced mice. HPLC-DAD analysis was performed to identify active compounds in D. superbus. The results revealed that D. superbus attenuated the learning and memory impairment induced by scopolamine. D. superbus also inhibited AChE levels in the hippocampi of the scopolamine-injected mice. Moreover, D. superbus increased BDNF expression in the hippocampus. Eight compounds were identified using HPLC-DAD analysis. The content of 4-hydroxyphenyl acetic acid was higher than contents of other compounds. These results indicated that D. superbus improved memory functioning accompanied by inhibition of AChE and upregulation of BDNF, suggesting that D. superbus may be a useful therapeutic agent for the prevention or treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
PMID: 27133261 PMCID: PMC4859793 DOI: 10.4062/biomolther.2015.083
Biomol Ther (Seoul). 2016 May 1;24(3):298-304. doi: 10.4062/biomolther.2015.083. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Neuroprotective Properties of Compounds Extracted from Dianthus superbus L. against Glutamate-induced Cell Death in HT22 Cells.
Yun BR, Yang HJ, Weon JB, Lee J, Eom MR, Ma CJ.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Dianthus superbus L. has been used in Chinese herbal medicine as a diuretic and anti-inflammatory agent.
OBJECTIVE:
In this study, we isolated ten bioactive compounds from D. superbus and evaluated their neuroprotective activity against glutamate-induced cell death in the hippocampal neuronal HT22 cells.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
New compound, (E)-methyl-4-hydroxy-4-(8a-methyl-3-oxodecahydronaphthalen-4a-yl) (1) and, nine known compounds, diosmetin-7-O (2'',6''-di-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-pentyl ester benzenepropanoic acid (3), vanillic acid (4), 4-hydroxy-benzeneacetic acid (5), 4-methoxybenzeneacetic acid (6), (E)-4-methoxycinnamic acid (7), 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethanol (8), hydroferulic acid (9), and methyl hydroferulate (10), were isolated by bioactivity-guided separation. Structures of the isolated compounds were identified on the basis of (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), (13)C NMR, and two-dimensional NMR spectra, while their neuroprotective properties were evaluated by performing the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay.
RESULTS:
D. superbus extract had a neuroprotective effect and isolated 10 compounds. Among the compounds, compounds 5 and 6 effectively protected HT22 cells against glutamate toxicity.
CONCLUSION:
In conclusion, the extract of D. superbus and compounds isolated from it exhibited neuroprotective properties, suggesting therapeutic potential for applications in neurotoxic diseases.
SUMMARY:
D. superbus extract significantly protected on glutamate-induced cell death in HT22 cellsNew compound, (E)-methyl-4-hydroxy-4-(8a-methyl-3-oxodecahydronaphthalen-4a-yl) (1) and, nine known compounds, diosmetin-7-O(2'',6''-di-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-pentyl ester benzenepropanoic acid (3), vanillic acid (4), 4-hydroxy-benzeneacetic acid (5), 4-methoxybenzeneacetic acid (6), (E)-4-methoxycinnamic acid (7), 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethanol (8), hydroferulic acid (9), and methyl hydroferulate (10) were isolated from D. superbus extract4-hydroxy-benzeneacetic acid and 4-methoxybenzeneacetic acid showed significant protective activity against glutamate-induced toxicity in HT22 cells. Abbreviations used: CNS: Central nervous system, ROS: Reactive oxygen species, CHCl3: Chloroform, EtOAc: Ethyl acetate, BuOH: Butanol, HPLC: High performance liquid chromatography, TLC: Thin layer chromatography, MPLC: Middle performance liquid chromatography, MeOH: Methanol, OD: Optical density, COSY: Correlation spectroscopy, HMQC: Heteronuclear multiple-quantum correlation, HMBC: Heteronuclear multiple-bond correlation, HR-MS: High-resolution molecular spectroscopy, MTT: 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide.
PMID: 27076746 PMCID: PMC4809164 DOI: 10.4103/0973-1296.177905
Pharmacogn Mag. 2016 Apr-Jun;12(46):109-13. doi: 10.4103/0973-1296.177905. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dianthus superbus fructus suppresses airway inflammation by downregulating of inducible nitric oxide synthase in an ovalbumin-induced murine model of asthma
In-Sik ShinMee-Young LeeHyekyung HaWoo-Young JeonChang-Seob SeoHyeun-Kyoo Shin
Abstract
Background
Dianthus superbus has long been used as a herbal medicine in Asia and as an anti-inflammatory agent. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of Dianthus superbus fructus ethanolic extract (DSE) on Th2-type cytokines, eosinophil infiltration, and other factors in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced murine asthma model. To study the possible mechanism of the anti-inflammatory effect of DSE, we also evaluated the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the respiratory tract.
Methods
Mice were sensitized on days 0 and 14 by intraperitoneal injection of OVA. On days 21, 22 and 23 after initial sensitization, mice received an airway challenge with OVA for 1 h using an ultrasonic nebulizer. DSE was applied 1 h prior to OVA challenge. Mice were administered DSE orally at doses of 100 mg/kg or 200 mg/kg once daily from day 18 to 23. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected 48 h after the final OVA challenge. Levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13 and eotaxin in BALF were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Lung tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for assessment of cell infiltration and mucus production with periodic acid shift staining, in conjunction with ELISA and western blot analyses for iNOS expression. Results
DSE significantly reduced the levels of IL-4, IL-13, eotaxin, and immunoglobulin (Ig) E, number of inflammatory cells in BALF, and inflammatory cell infiltration and mucus production in the respiratory tract. DSE also attenuated the overexpression of iNOS protein induced by OVA challenge.
Conclusion
Our results suggest that DSE effectively protects against allergic airway inflammation by downregulating of iNOS expression and that DSE has potential as a therapeutic agent for allergic asthma.
Journal of Inflammation December 2012, 9:41 doi:10.1186/1476-9255-9-41 link.springer.com