Rubia cordifolia.  茜 草 Qiàn cǎo   Madder root   Family: Rubiaceae  
It has been cultivated for a red pigment derived from roots.
PART USED: Root
      FLAVOR: Bitter    CHANNELS: Liver
FUNCTIONS- Common herb for full Hot nature bleeding. Can use as assistant herb with deficient Heat.[3]
GROUP: Regulating Blood- Styptic
1. Regulate Blood.
2. Cool Blood.[3]  Alleviates pain.[1] Bleeding: Hematemesis, epistaxis.[3]
3. Expel coagulation, facilitate menstrual flow. Avalanche bleeding- chronic dribbling.[3]
4. Promotes diuresis and reduces inflammation.[1]
INDICATIONS
1. Bleeding-  Hematemesis, epistaxis, vaginal bleeding.
2. Traumatic injuries.[1,2,3] Rheumatoid arthritis.[1]
3. Dysmenorrhea and abdominal pain.[1] Suppression of menses.
4. Jaundice, edema.[1]
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Deficient conditions: eg Stomach and digestion weak: loose stools- Makes Cold symptoms worse.[3]
PREPARATIONS: Decoction. Dry Roots 9-15 g.[1,3] Dry root and rhizome 6-9 g.[2] When roasted, the herb becomes more styptic.[3]

- Avalanche bleeding- Combine with Huang Qi, ji Jie tan, Bai su, Hai piao sao and Xu duan. Can add with Yin nourishing herbs. eg Mu li, Long gu.[3]
- Amennorhea due to Hot Blood: P- rapid, maybe pimples on face.[3] Use Zian cao with half water and half wine- boil.[3]
- Bleeding due to Hot Blood: Hematemesis, epistaxis- Combine with Sheng di, Bai ji, Chi pu ye.[3]
- Injury or trauma- Combine with Chi sao, Hong hua
HABITAT: Grows wild under cover of damp wet upland forests.
DESCRIPTION: Perennial climbing herb. Stem; creeping, 4 angled, with recursive thorns. Leaflets; whorled, ovate-deltoid, apexes acute, bases rounded or cordate, margins intact. Flowers; in summer, light yellow terminal and axillary flowers forming cymose inflorescences. Berry; globose, bluish-black when ripe.
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.
Research
A Review of the Botany, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicology of Rubiae Radix et Rhizoma

Structural and bioactive studies of terpenes and cyclopeptides from the Genus Rubia
Kuo Xu, Penglong Wang, Bin Yuan, Yatao Cheng, Qiang Li, and Haimin Lei
Abstract
Genus Rubia fell into about 70 species distributed widely around the world, a total of 36 species and 2 varieties were reported from China. The extracts and phytochemicals of Rubia plants had drawn considerable attention due to their potent bioactivities. As the two major ingredients from these plants, pentacyclic triterpenes and cyclopeptides were becoming a hot topic over the past twenty years for their remarkable anticancer, antioxidant and other effects. This paper compiled all 65 terpenes and 44 cyclopeptides with their distributions, physiological activities and melting points (or optical rotations) as reported in 85 references; besides, structure-activity relationships of these derivatives were briefly discussed. The information involved in this paper was expected to be meaningful for the further studies of the Genus Rubia.
Chem Cent J. 2013; 7: 81. Published online 2013 May 4. doi: 10.1186/1752-153X-7-81 PMCID: PMC3698108 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Anticancer constituents from the roots of Rubia cordifolia L.
Son JK, Jung SJ, Jung JH, Fang Z, Lee CS, Seo CS, Moon DC, Min BS, Kim MR, Woo MH.
Abstract
Activity-directed isolation of the methylene chloride fraction of the roots of Rubia cordifolia L. resulted in the identification of a new epoxymollugin (3) and eight known compounds (1, 2, 4-9). The structures of the compounds were elucidated from chemical and spectroscopic evidence. In addition, their topoisomerase I and II inhibitory activities and cytotoxicities were measured.
PMID: 18239313
Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 2008 Feb;56(2):213-6. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Characterization of Rubia cordifolia L. root extract and its evaluation of cardioprotective effect in Wistar rat model
BS Chandrashekar, S Prabhakara, T Mohan, D Shabeer, Basavaraj Bhandare, M Nalini, PS Sharmila, DL Meghana, Basanth Kumar Reddy, HM Hanumantha Rao, H Sahajananda, K Anbazhagan*
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Rubia cordifolia L. (RC) is a well-known and highly valuable medicinal plant in the Ayurvedic system. The present study involves evaluating antioxidant and cardioprotective property of RC root extract.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The characterization of RC root extract was carried out using standard phytochemical and biochemical analysis. The functional groups were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and phytotherapeutic compounds were identified using high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS). Cardioprotective activity of RC root extract was investigated against cyclophosphamide (CP; 100 mg/kg, i.p)-induced cardiotoxicity in male albino Wistar rats. RC (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, p.o) or silymarin (100 mg/kg, p.o) was administered immediately after CP on the 1st day and the next consecutive 10 days. Biochemical and histopathological analysis was performed to observe the cardioprotective effects of RC root extract.
RESULTS: Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of secondary metabolites that include alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, and anthraquinones in RC root extract. FTIR analysis revealed the presence of several functional groups. Based on HR-MS analysis, eight major phytotherapeutic compounds were identified in methanol root extract of RC. Biochemical analysis in CP-induced rat model administered with RC extract revealed significantly enhanced levels of antioxidant markers such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione S-transferase. Histopathological study showed that the rat model treated with the root extract had reduced the cardiac injury.
CONCLUSION: Our results have shown that the RC extract contains various antioxidant compounds with cardioprotective effect. Treatment with RC root extract could significantly protect CP-induced rats from cardiac tissue injury by restoring the antioxidant markers.
DOI: 10.4103/ijp.IJP_418_17
Indian Journal of Pharmacology Year : 2018 | Volume : 50 | Issue : 1 | Page : 12-21 ijp-online.com

Amelioration of cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity in Swiss albino mice by Rubia cordifolia extract |
Jisha Joy, Cherupally Krishnan Krishnan Nair*- (Amala Cancer Research Centre, Trichur 680555, Kerala)
Abstract
Background: Cisplatin is one of the most effective chemotherapeutics against a wide range of cancers including head, neck, ovarian and lung cancers. But its usefulness is limited by its toxicity to normal tissues, including cells of the kidney proximal tubule. The purpose of the present study is to investigate whether the hydro-alcoholic extract of Rubia cordifolia could decrease the intensity of toxicity in Swiss albino mice.
Materials and Methods: Cisplatin at a dose of 12 mg/kg body wt was administered intraperitoneally to Swiss albino mice. Another set of animals was given hydro-alcoholic extract of Rubia cordifolia at different doses along with cisplatin treatment. The antioxidant levels, serum creatinine, serum urea etc. were analyzed.
Results: The extract could significantly decrease the cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity as inferred from the tissue antioxidant status in the drug administered animals. Remarkable change was observed in serum creatinine and urea levels. Lipid peroxidation in the kidney and liver tissues was also considerably reduced in Rubia cordifolia extract treated animals.
Conclusion: Hydro-alcoholic extracts of Rubia cordifolia are effective in reducing the renal damage caused by the cancer chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin. Since Rubia cordifolia has been in use as an important ingredient in the traditional Ayurvedic system of medicine, it could be safe and beneficial to use this herbal extract as an adjuvant to ameliorate renal damage in patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy with cisplatin.
Date of Web Publication 27-Sep-2008 DOI: 10.4103/0973-1482.43139 cancerjournal.net

Pharmacognostic and Biological Studies of the Roots of Rubia Cordifolia Linn. (Rubiaceae)
Ramesh S. Deoda*, Dinesh Kumar, Prasad V. Kadam, Kavita N. Yadav, Santosh S. Bhujbal, Manohar J. Patil
Abstract
Rubia cordifolia (Rubiaceae) is also known as, Manjishtha, Indian madder known to contain substantial amounts of anthraquinones, especially in the roots which is responsible for anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, urinary disorders, antistress antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, radio protective, and anticancer, antimicrobial, antifungal, hypotensive, analgesic, antimalarial, antioxidant, antileukemic and mutagenic functions, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. The plant contains substantial amounts of anthraquinones, triterpenoids especially in the roots, which is responsible for most of its pharmacological activity. In present study the chloroform fraction from methanolic extract of roots of R. cordifolia were evaluated for its biological effect and compared with the parent extract and remaining fraction, where chloroform fraction showed potent protective action for stress induced complications in mice.
International Journal of Drug Development and Research Accepted: 15 July 2011 ijddr.in

Rubia cordifolia Overview: A New Approach to Treat Cardiac Disorders
Pankaj Bhatt*, A. S. Kushwah “Rubia cordifolia Overview: A New Approach to Treat Cardiac Disorders”
Abstract
Ethno-botanical and ethno-pharmacological studies of Rubia cordifolia continue to attract investigators for research work globally. Rubia cordifolia commonly known as Manjistha or Indian madder is an important medicinal plant growing up to 3500 meters height. Rubiae Radix (dried roots of Rubia cordifolia, Rubiaceae) is a rich source of anthraquinones responsible for its traditional, phytochemical and pharmacological activities. Today clinical investigations of herbal formulations and their market preparations, both are on demanding because of better safety and efficacy without or minimal side effects. This review summarizes the concept of finding new approach to treat cardiac disorders on the basis of previous reports of this plant.
Int. J. Drug Dev. & Res., April-June 2013, 5(2): 47-54. ijddr.in