Adaptogens · Herbs & Botanicals · Mild Chinese qi tonic root

Pseudostellaria (Tai Zi Shen)

Q: What is tai zi shen (prince ginseng) used for?

Traditionally as a mild tonic for tiredness, weak digestion and recovery after illness, and often for children. Modern evidence is thin: no trial of the root alone, and one small trial of a seven-herb mix.

Q: Is Pseudostellaria the same as ginseng?

No. True ginsengs are Panax species. Pseudostellaria heterophylla is a different plant, from the pink family, used as a milder tonic in Chinese medicine.

Q: How is it different from codonopsis (dang shen)?

Both are Chinese tonic roots sometimes compared to ginseng, but they are different plants and have different research. See the Codonopsis page for that herb.

Q: Is it an adaptogen?

None of the sources we read call it one. The label is used for tonic herbs in some markets and reflects tradition, not a tested effect.

Q: Does it boost the immune system?

Not shown. In one small trial of 40 adults with HIV, a seven-herb mix that included it was linked to better immune blood markers, but the root cannot be separated from the other herbs. Lab studies of its polysaccharides are not proof for people.

Q: Does it help tiredness or recovery after illness?

It is traditionally used for that. We found no trial of the root alone for tiredness or recovery.

Q: Is it safe for children?

Traditional Chinese practice gives it to children, but we found no study in children and no child safety data. Ask a paediatrician before giving it.

Q: Is it safe in pregnancy or while breastfeeding?

No data were found, so avoid it unless a clinician who knows the herb agrees.

Q: Can I take it with diabetes medicine?

Ask your doctor or pharmacist first. In diabetic mice, extracts from the root lowered blood sugar, so an added effect is possible in theory. No human interaction study exists.

Q: Can it be used with immunosuppressants or during cancer treatment?

Ask your specialist first. Lab work shows immune effects, but nothing has been tested with these medicines.

Pseudostellaria heterophylla · also called Tai zi shen, taizishen, 太子参, prince ginseng, child ginseng, hai er shen, Radix Pseudostellariae

Pseudostellaria is the dried root of a small Chinese plant, called tai zi shen or prince ginseng. In traditional Chinese medicine it is a mild tonic for tiredness, weak digestion and recovery after illness, and is often given to children. It is not true ginseng. Research is thin: mostly mouse and lab studies, plus one small trial of a seven-herb mix. Its safety in pregnancy, in children and with medicines has not been studied.

General information, not medical advice. Last substantive update October 25, 2026 · Not medically reviewed. A named clinician has not signed off on this page. How this page is made

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About Pseudostellaria (Tai Zi Shen)

Pseudostellaria (tai zi shen, prince ginseng) is the dried root of a small plant of the pink family, used in traditional Chinese medicine as a mild tonic for tiredness, weak digestion and recovery after illness. It is often given to children. Research is thin. We found no trial of the root alone and no study in children. The only human trial tested a seven-herb mix.

What it is

Pseudostellaria heterophylla is a small plant of the pink family (Caryophyllaceae). Its dried tuberous root is called tai zi shen or Radix Pseudostellariae.

The root contains cyclic peptides (heterophyllins and pseudostellarins), polysaccharides, oligosaccharides and other compounds. A 2025 mass-spectrometry study detected 371 compounds in a water extract.

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Traditional and current uses

In traditional Chinese medicine it is described as slightly bitter and neutral, linked to the spleen and lung, and used to nourish qi, strengthen digestion, make body fluids and moisten the lung. Reviews disagree on how long it has been used (about 100 years versus thousands). Neither claim was verified.

It is commonly described as a gentler substitute for ginseng, often chosen for children and for recovery. These are traditional uses, not proven effects.

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What makes it distinctive

It is not true ginseng (Panax) and not dang shen (Codonopsis); it is a separate plant from the pink family. The name 'prince' or 'child' ginseng comes from being seen as mild.

None of the sources we read call it an adaptogen. That label is used in some markets for tonic roots, but it describes tradition, not a tested effect.

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What the research shows

The best human evidence is one randomised trial of 40 adults with HIV. A seven-herb mix that included this root was added to HIV drugs, and immune blood markers and quality-of-life scores were better. The effect of this root alone cannot be separated, and the abstract leaves out blinding, amounts and funding.

Everything else is mouse, rat or cell work: blood sugar, gut bacteria, stamina, lung scarring, colon tumours, and memory. These are leads, not results for people.

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At a glance

Traditional uses history, not proof

Traditional Chinese medicine: nourishing qi, strengthening the spleen, making body fluids, moistening the lung
Mild tonic for tiredness and weakness after illness
Traditional children's tonic and for poor appetite (no studies in children)
Dried root in soups and decoctions, usually with other herbs

Studied for research

Immune markers in a seven-herb mix with HIV drugs, very low certainty
Tiredness and recovery, children's tonic, memory, insufficient
Blood sugar, gut bacteria, stamina, lung scarring, cancer: mouse or lab only, insufficient

Main compounds

Cyclic peptides (heterophyllins, pseudostellarins)
Polysaccharides and oligosaccharides
Oligopeptides
Saponins (class named, not verified here)

Common forms

Dried sliced root
Decoction with other herbs
Extracts and fractions in research

Research links: PubMed: Seven-herb mix with HIV treatment, randomised trial (2026) · PubMed: Mini-review of chemistry and pharmacology (2019) · PubMed: Cyclic peptides review (2025) · GBIF: Pseudostellaria heterophylla · Research Library · Genes & Biomarkers Library

The plant and its history

Accepted scientific name: Pseudostellaria heterophylla (Miq.) Pax
Naming authority: (Miq.) Pax, accepted species in GBIF (usage key 3815617, exact match, confidence 99)
Synonyms: Krascheninnikovia heterophylla Miq.
Common names: Tai zi shen (taizishen) (Chinese (pinyin)); Prince ginseng (English); Child ginseng (English); Hai er shen (Chinese (pinyin)); Radix Pseudostellariae (Latin (drug name))
Botanical family: Caryophyllaceae (pink family, order Caryophyllales)
Classification: Plantae > Caryophyllales > Caryophyllaceae > Pseudostellaria > Pseudostellaria heterophylla
Native range: Not verified in a source read. Cited chemistry papers place the herb in China.
Habitat: Not verified in a source read.
What the plant looks like: Roots: The dried tuberous root is the medicinal part (p40572486).; Stems: Not verified in a source read.; Leaves: Not verified in a source read.; Flowers: Not verified in a source read.; Fruit: Not verified in a source read.
Cultivation: A 2025 paper says wild supplies are depleted and cultivated material is inconsistent; Fujian is regarded as the traditional best-quality region (p41060419).
Harvest and processing: Not verified in a source read.
Look-alikes and adulterants: Name: True ginsengs (Panax species); Note: A different plant, unrelated. Sometimes confused through names like prince or child ginseng.; Name: Dang shen (Codonopsis pilosula); Note: Another Chinese tonic root, from the bellflower family; a different plant.; Name: Roots from other regions; Note: Differ chemically from Fujian roots (p41060419); authentication methods exist (p32529767).
Sustainability and conservation: Not verified. The 2025 paper says wild resources are depleted.

The plant and the parts used

Dried Pseudostellaria heterophylla roots, close-up — The dried root.

Traditional use and history history, not clinical proof

Tradition or era	Documented use	Source
Traditional Chinese medicine	Slightly bitter, neutral in nature, linked to the spleen and lung. Used for nourishing qi, strengthening the spleen, producing body fluids and moistening the lung.	p40572486
Clinical use in China	One review says it has been used in clinics for 100 years; another says it has been used in TCM for thousands of years. These do not agree and neither was verified from a historical text.	p31139247
Children's tonic	Commonly described as a milder ginseng substitute for children and poor appetite. Taken from our earlier summary of the 2019 review; not confirmed in the abstract.	p31139247
Modern integrative care	Taizishen is among herbs often prescribed in small Chinese studies around stem-cell transplantation.	p27641605

Traditional use shows how a plant was used. It does not show that a supplement works or is safe today.

What is inside, and how it may work

What the plant contains and how those compounds act in cells and animals. Laboratory and animal mechanisms are not proven effects in people.

Main compounds

Compound	Family	Where it is concentrated	Activity studied	Level of evidence
Heterophyllin B PubChem 102022989	cyclic peptide	Root	Reduced lung fibrosis and diarrhoea in mice. ^{4 11}	Animal research
Heterophyllin A PubChem 163041584	cyclic peptide	Root	Named among nine cyclic peptides detected in a root extract. ^{4 11}	Laboratory research
Pseudostellarin A PubChem 10391309	cyclic peptide	Root	Higher in Fujian roots; used as a regional marker candidate. ^{5 11}	Laboratory research
Polysaccharides (PHP)	polysaccharide	Root	Immune, blood-sugar, antioxidant and anti-tumour effects in lab and animal work; structure linked to activity. ^{8 2 13}	Animal research
Oligopeptides (57 identified)	oligopeptide	Root	21 cyclic and 36 linear; blood-sugar lowering in mice. ³	Animal research
Oligosaccharides	oligosaccharide	Root	Described as rich in the root but rarely evaluated. ¹⁰	Laboratory research
Ferulic acid, dihydroferulic acid, azelaic acid	phenolic and organic acids	Root Higher in Fujian roots than other regions	Quality markers only. ⁵	Laboratory research
Saponins	triterpenoid saponins (class named in our summary)	Root	Reported antioxidant and anti-tumour activity in reviews; not verified in the abstracts read here. ¹⁰	Laboratory research

Mechanisms, receptors and pathways

Target or pathway	Gene or receptor	What was found	Level
Immune cells and cytokines	CD4, CD8, Th17, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha	In 40 adults with HIV, a seven-herb mix including this root plus HIV drugs was linked to higher CD4+ and Th17 and lower CD8+, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha than drugs alone. ¹⁶	Human data
Tumour immune environment	JNK, CCL5, M2-like macrophages, CD8 T cells	A water extract lowered CCL5, reduced M2-like macrophage recruitment and raised IFN-gamma CD8 T cells in mouse colon tumours. ⁹	Animal research
Liver enzyme CYP2E1 and mitochondria	CYP2E1	Polysaccharides lowered CYP2E1 expression and protected cell mitochondria under high glucose, and improved limb blood flow in diabetic mice. ¹³	Animal research
Gut-lung axis and ferroptosis	IDO1	Heterophyllin B restored gut barrier by blocking IDO1-linked ferroptosis in colon cells and eased lung fibrosis in mice. ⁴	Animal research
Gut bacteria	Akkermansia, Roseburia, Staphylococcus	Root material shifted gut bacterial makeup in mice. ¹⁵	Animal research
Antioxidant enzymes	CAT, SOD, GSH-Px	Polysaccharides raised antioxidant enzymes and lowered a muscle damage marker after exhaustive swimming in rats. ²	Animal research
Insulin and blood sugar	Insulin	An oligopeptide fraction raised serum insulin and lowered fasting glucose in diabetic mice. ³	Animal research

Absorption, metabolism and elimination

Absorption: Not found for people or animals in the sources read.
Distribution: Not found.
Metabolism: Not found. A lab study showed the root's polysaccharides lower CYP2E1 expression in cell and mouse models (p41005057), which is not a human metabolism study.
Elimination: Not found.
Bioavailability: Not found.

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Isolated compounds versus whole extracts

Most research is on isolated polysaccharides, oligopeptides or single cyclic peptides, often at mouse doses. The whole root, the seven-herb mix and the isolated compounds are different products, and results do not carry across.

Nutritional composition

Used as a food-like root in soups in Chinese cooking (traditional description; no nutrition analysis read).

9benefits and uses looked at

16studies and sources checked

Very low certaintybest evidence rating found

4lab markers tracked in trials

1 very low certainty8 not enough evidence

What was looked at

The 9 benefits and uses checked for Pseudostellaria (Tai Zi Shen), each with how strong the evidence is. Tap one to open it.

Tiredness and recovery after illness (traditional use)Not enough evidence
Immune function and recovery of blood countsVery low certainty
Use as a children's tonic and for appetite (traditional use)Not enough evidence
Memory and thinking (lab idea only)Not enough evidence
Blood sugar and diabetes (mouse studies)Not enough evidence
Gut bacteria and gut health (one mouse study)Not enough evidence
Exercise stamina and antioxidant effects (rat study)Not enough evidence
Lung scarring (lab study of one peptide)Not enough evidence
Cancer (lab and mouse findings only)Not enough evidence

Lab markers tracked in the studies

CD4+ T-cell count (and CD8+)HaemoglobinSerum albuminFasting blood glucose (mice)

What is Pseudostellaria (Tai Zi Shen) good for?

The main proposed uses and how strong the human evidence is for each. 'Very-low' means one tiny trial, of a mixture; 'insufficient' means traditional use, animal or cell work only, or no human study.

Benefits, one by one

Each card is a research question, not a promise. Tap a goal to filter. Open a card to see the studies, doses and limits.

Tiredness and recovery after illness (traditional use)

Not enough evidence

This is what the root is traditionally used for. We found no trial of the root alone for tiredness or recovery. The only human data are small studies of herb mixes.

3 studiesTraditionally taken as a dried root in soups and decoctions, usually …

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

A 2016 review of Chinese herbal medicine around stem cell transplantation found 9 clinical studies, mostly small and retrospective, in which taizishen was one of the 9 most often prescribed herbs. That shows it is used in recovery care, not that it works. No human trial of this root taken alone was found for any use.

Results

Use is documented. Benefit for tiredness or recovery is not shown.

Why this rating

Traditional use only. The review that lists it does not test it and the studies were small and mostly retrospective.

Form and dose studied

Traditionally taken as a dried root in soups and decoctions, usually with other herbs. No tested form or amount is available.

Who was studied

Not tested in people for this use.

Limits

Traditional use is not evidence of effect. Mixtures cannot show what one herb does.

Why researchers looked

Chinese medicine treats it as a gentle qi tonic for tiredness and weakness after illness, often called a milder alternative to ginseng.

Traditional use

Radix Pseudostellariae (tai zi shen) is a traditional Chinese qi tonic, described as nourishing qi, strengthening the spleen, helping body fluids and moistening the lung. Authors of one review say it has been used in clinics in China for about 100 years; another says thousands of years. We could not check either claim.

Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism

Lab work suggests polysaccharides and cyclic peptides may act on immune cells. Nothing explains a tiredness effect in people.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Safety in recovering or frail people has not been studied. Ask a doctor first, especially during cancer treatment or after a transplant.

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Immune function and recovery of blood counts

Very low certainty

One small trial of a seven-herb mix that includes this root, added to HIV drugs, reported better immune blood markers. The effect of this root cannot be separated from the other six herbs. Lab work on its polysaccharides is not proof for people.

3 studiesA seven-herb decoction (dose not stated in the abstract); the root al…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Zhang 2026 randomly assigned 40 adults living with HIV in China to standard HIV drugs alone or with a seven-herb decoction (astragalus, Chinese yam, dangshen, poria, white atractylodes, radix pseudostellariae, rehmannia). The add-on group had higher CD4+ counts, lower CD8+ counts, higher Th17 cells, lower inflammatory messengers (IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha), higher haemoglobin and albumin, and higher quality-of-life scores. Adverse reactions were similar. Laboratory reviews describe immune-modulating effects of the polysaccharides but give no human data.

Results

Reported gains on several blood markers, from a mixture. Illness outcomes such as infections or survival were not reported in the abstract.

Effect sizes as reported

CD4+ 37.58 vs 30.25 cells/uL, CD8+ 22.41 vs 28.62, haemoglobin 126.87 vs 116.32 g/L, albumin 38.82 vs 32.45 g/L, MOS-HIV 80.36 vs 72.58 (all as reported; abstract gives no confidence intervals)

Why this rating

One tiny trial of a seven-herb mixture with unclear blinding, no stated placebo or funding, and unusual-looking CD4 units in the abstract. Everything else is lab or animal work.

Form and dose studied

A seven-herb decoction (dose not stated in the abstract); the root alone is untested in people.

Who was studied

Adults living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy, in China.

Limits

Cannot attribute any effect to this root. Not a replacement for HIV treatment or any prescribed medicine.

Why researchers looked

Its polysaccharides and cyclic peptides show immune-modulating effects in lab and animal work, so it is tested as an immune tonic.

Traditional use

Proposed mechanism Animal research

Lab and animal work links the root's polysaccharides to immune-modulating effects (review of laboratory studies). In mice injured with cyclophosphamide, root material raised red blood cell content and immune-factor expression and lowered platelet counts. This has not been shown to work the same way in people.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Adverse reactions were reported as similar between groups (types and numbers not given in the abstract). Immune-modulating herbs can matter if you take immunosuppressant drugs; ask your doctor.

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Use as a children's tonic and for appetite (traditional use)

Not enough evidence

Chinese medicine often gives this root to children as a mild tonic, which is how it got the name child ginseng or prince ginseng. We found no trial in children and no child safety data.

2 studiesTraditionally a dried root in soups or decoctions. Nothing tested.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

No clinical trial in children was found. The description of children's use comes from our earlier summary of the 2019 review's text; the abstract itself does not mention children. No human trial of this root taken alone was found for any use.

Results

Not tested.

Why this rating

Traditional use only. No study of any kind in children was found.

Form and dose studied

Traditionally a dried root in soups or decoctions. Nothing tested.

Who was studied

Children (traditional use only); no studies.

Limits

No child safety, growth or dosing data. Do not assume a gentle traditional herb is safe for a child.

Why researchers looked

Its mild, neutral character in Chinese medicine is why it is often chosen over stronger tonics for children and for poor appetite.

Traditional use

Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory

No mechanism has been tested for this use.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Ask a paediatrician before giving any herb to a child. Child safety has not been studied.

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Memory and thinking (lab idea only)

Not enough evidence

A 2025 review of the root's cyclic peptides says laboratory work points to possible cognitive benefits. We found no study in people.

1 studiesNot applicable.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

No human study of the root or its peptides for memory or thinking was found. Details of the animal work were not available in the abstract.

Why this rating

A one-line mention in a review abstract; the underlying studies were not read.

Limits

Lab only. Not a reason to take the root for memory.

Why researchers looked

Cyclic peptides from the root are being studied for effects on the brain in cells and animals.

Traditional use

Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism

The review reports cognitive benefits of the cyclic peptides in laboratory work. The abstract does not say which models or results.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

None known; safety for this use is unstudied.

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Blood sugar and diabetes (mouse studies)

Not enough evidence

Mouse studies of peptides and polysaccharides from the root report lower blood sugar. No human trial exists, so we do not know if it does anything for blood sugar in people.

3 studiesPurified fractions given by mouth to mice; not the whole root.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

No human trial of the root or its extracts for blood sugar was found. Chen 2025 (streptozotocin-diabetic mice) reported lower fasting glucose, better glucose tolerance, higher insulin and better blood fats with an oligopeptide fraction (57 oligopeptides identified). Wang 2025 (diabetic limb ischaemia mice and cells) reported better blood flow and vessel growth with polysaccharides. A 2025 review of polysaccharides lists blood-sugar-lowering among their lab effects.

Results

Mouse results only.

Effect sizes as reported

No numbers in the abstracts

Why this rating

Animal and cell work with purified fractions; no human study.

Form and dose studied

Purified fractions given by mouth to mice; not the whole root.

Who was studied

Mice and cells.

Limits

Purified fractions, not the whole root; mouse doses not transferable to people.

Why researchers looked

Peptides and polysaccharides from the root lowered blood sugar in diabetic mice, so it is studied as a possible diabetes helper.

Traditional use

Proposed mechanism Animal research

In mice, an oligopeptide fraction raised serum insulin and lowered fasting glucose; polysaccharides lowered levels of the liver enzyme CYP2E1 and improved limb blood flow in a diabetic mouse model. Unproven in people.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

If it does lower blood sugar it could add to diabetes medicines (theory only). People on diabetes drugs should ask a doctor or pharmacist first.

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Gut bacteria and gut health (one mouse study)

Not enough evidence

In mice, the root changed the mix of gut bacteria. This is a single animal study.

1 studiesRoot material (form and amount not stated in the abstract).

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

No human gut study was found. Zhang 2024 fed P. heterophylla to healthy mice and mice injured with cyclophosphamide and reported more potentially useful bacteria, fewer pathogens and changes in gut chemicals.

Results

Changes in bacteria in mice; no health outcome shown for people.

Effect sizes as reported

No numbers in the abstract

Why this rating

One mouse study.

Form and dose studied

Root material (form and amount not stated in the abstract).

Who was studied

Mice.

Limits

Mouse study. A change in gut bacteria is not a proven health benefit.

Why researchers looked

It is used in Chinese medicine to strengthen the spleen (digestion), so the gut is a natural place to look.

Traditional use

Proposed mechanism Animal research

In mice, root material raised bacteria such as Akkermansia and Roseburia and lowered Staphylococcus, and raised levels of oligosaccharides and vitamins in the gut.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

No safety data.

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Exercise stamina and antioxidant effects (rat study)

Not enough evidence

Rats given root polysaccharides swam longer and had higher antioxidant enzymes. No human study.

1 studiesPolysaccharide extract at 100, 200 or 400 mg per kg in rats.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

No human study. In a 2013 rat study (40 rats, 28 days, three doses of polysaccharides), supplemented rats swam longer to exhaustion, had lower blood lactate, higher haemoglobin and higher antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD, GSH-Px).

Results

Rat benefit; unknown in people.

Effect sizes as reported

No numbers in the abstract

Why this rating

Single rat study with a polysaccharide extract.

Form and dose studied

Polysaccharide extract at 100, 200 or 400 mg per kg in rats.

Who was studied

Rats.

Why researchers looked

Polysaccharides from the root were tested for protection from exercise stress.

Traditional use

Proposed mechanism Animal research

In rats, polysaccharides lowered blood lactate and a muscle damage marker (MDA) and raised antioxidant enzymes after exhaustive swimming.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

No safety data in people.

Lung scarring (lab study of one peptide)

Not enough evidence

In mice, one cyclic peptide from the root, heterophyllin B, reduced lung scarring and eased the gut side effects of a lung-scarring drug. Mouse work only.

1 studiesIsolated peptide (40 mg per kg in mice) and a root extract.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

No human study. Chen 2025 used isolated heterophyllin B in mice and cells; a root extract with similar peptides also helped the mice.

Results

Mouse and cell results only.

Effect sizes as reported

No numbers in the abstract

Why this rating

Mouse study with an isolated compound.

Form and dose studied

Isolated peptide (40 mg per kg in mice) and a root extract.

Who was studied

Mice and cells.

Limits

Not whole root; not people.

Why researchers looked

The root is used in Chinese medicine to moisten the lung, and its peptides are being tested in lung disease models.

Traditional use

Proposed mechanism Animal research

In mice with bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis, heterophyllin B reduced scarring and diarrhoea and worked together with the drug nintedanib. The authors link this to the gut-lung axis and a cell-death process called ferroptosis.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Nothing known in people. Do not use instead of prescribed lung treatment.

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Cancer (lab and mouse findings only)

Not enough evidence

Water extract of the root slowed colon tumour growth in mice. This is not evidence that it treats cancer in people.

3 studiesWater extract in mice (amount not stated).

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

No clinical cancer trial of the root was found. Gui 2025 reported that a water extract slowed MC38 colon tumours in mice without obvious toxicity. Laboratory reviews of polysaccharides and cyclic peptides describe anticancer activity in cells and animals.

Results

Mouse tumours grew slower.

Effect sizes as reported

No numbers in the abstract

Why this rating

Mouse and cell work only.

Form and dose studied

Water extract in mice (amount not stated).

Who was studied

Mice and cells.

Limits

Not evidence for people. Do not use instead of cancer treatment.

Why researchers looked

The root is used in China alongside treatment for digestive cancers, so researchers test it in cancer models.

Traditional use

Proposed mechanism Animal research

In mouse colon cancer, the extract lowered a signal (CCL5) that draws immune cells that help tumours, and increased cancer-fighting T cells. The review of cyclic peptides and polysaccharides also report anticancer activity in the lab.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

If you are having cancer treatment, ask your cancer team before adding any herb.

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Connections to the rest of health

How Pseudostellaria (Tai Zi Shen) connects to the rest of our health knowledge graph. Every link says what kind of connection it is. A safety link (for example to the liver) is a warning, not a benefit. A study that merely mentions a topic never creates a benefit link.

Explore every connection: goals, body systems, organs, symptoms, genes

Kind of connection Connected to Search

A. Wellness goals

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Energy Boost	Traditional use	Not enough evidence	Tiredness and recovery after illness (traditional use): This is what the root is traditionally used for. We found no trial of the root alone for tiredness or recovery. The only human data are small studies of herb mixes. Use as a children's tonic and for appetite (traditional use): Chinese medicine often gives this root to children as a mild tonic, which is how it got the name child ginseng or prince ginseng. We found no trial in children and no child safety data.	^{6 10 14}
Reduce Fatigue	Traditional use	Not enough evidence	Tiredness and recovery after illness (traditional use): This is what the root is traditionally used for. We found no trial of the root alone for tiredness or recovery. The only human data are small studies of herb mixes.	^{6 10 14}
Immune Support	Potential benefit	Very low certainty	Immune function and recovery of blood counts: One small trial of a seven-herb mix that includes this root, added to HIV drugs, reported better immune blood markers. The effect of this root cannot be separated from the other six herbs. Lab work on its polysaccharides is not proof for people.	^{16 8 15}
Digestive Support	Traditional use	Not enough evidence	Use as a children's tonic and for appetite (traditional use): Chinese medicine often gives this root to children as a mild tonic, which is how it got the name child ginseng or prince ginseng. We found no trial in children and no child safety data.	^{10 14}
Memory Support	Preliminary mechanism	Not enough evidence	Memory and thinking (lab idea only): A 2025 review of the root's cyclic peptides says laboratory work points to possible cognitive benefits. We found no study in people.	¹⁴
Cognitive Performance	Preliminary mechanism	Not enough evidence	Memory and thinking (lab idea only): A 2025 review of the root's cyclic peptides says laboratory work points to possible cognitive benefits. We found no study in people.	¹⁴
Blood Sugar Balance	Preliminary mechanism	Not enough evidence	Blood sugar and diabetes (mouse studies): Mouse studies of peptides and polysaccharides from the root report lower blood sugar. No human trial exists, so we do not know if it does anything for blood sugar in people.	^{3 13 8}
Gut Health	Preliminary mechanism	Not enough evidence	Gut bacteria and gut health (one mouse study): In mice, the root changed the mix of gut bacteria. This is a single animal study.	¹⁵
Digestive Support	Preliminary mechanism	Not enough evidence	Gut bacteria and gut health (one mouse study): In mice, the root changed the mix of gut bacteria. This is a single animal study.	¹⁵
Physical Stamina	Preliminary mechanism	Not enough evidence	Exercise stamina and antioxidant effects (rat study): Rats given root polysaccharides swam longer and had higher antioxidant enzymes. No human study.	²
Endurance Support	Preliminary mechanism	Not enough evidence	Exercise stamina and antioxidant effects (rat study): Rats given root polysaccharides swam longer and had higher antioxidant enzymes. No human study.	²
Lung Support	Preliminary mechanism	Not enough evidence	Lung scarring (lab study of one peptide): In mice, one cyclic peptide from the root, heterophyllin B, reduced lung scarring and eased the gut side effects of a lung-scarring drug. Mouse work only.	⁴
Inflammation Balance	Preliminary mechanism	Not enough evidence	Cancer (lab and mouse findings only): Water extract of the root slowed colon tumour growth in mice. This is not evidence that it treats cancer in people.	^{9 8 14}

B. Body systems

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Immune System	Biological association	Not enough evidence	Studied for: Tiredness and recovery after illness (traditional use) Studied for: Immune function and recovery of blood counts	^{6 10 14 16 8 15 9}
Digestive System	Biological association	Not enough evidence	Studied for: Use as a children's tonic and for appetite (traditional use) Studied for: Gut bacteria and gut health (one mouse study)	^{10 14 15}
Nervous System	Biological association	Not enough evidence	Studied for: Memory and thinking (lab idea only)	¹⁴
Endocrine System	Biological association	Not enough evidence	Studied for: Blood sugar and diabetes (mouse studies)	^{3 13 8}
Musculoskeletal System	Biological association	Not enough evidence	Studied for: Exercise stamina and antioxidant effects (rat study)	²
Respiratory System	Biological association	Not enough evidence	Studied for: Lung scarring (lab study of one peptide)	⁴

D. Symptoms

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Fatigue	Traditional use	Not enough evidence	Traditional qi-tonic use; no trial of the root alone. Preparation or compound: Dried root	^{10 6}

I. Biomarkers

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
CD4+ T-cell count (and CD8+)	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: raised. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	¹⁶
Haemoglobin	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: raised. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	¹⁶
Serum albumin	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: raised. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	¹⁶
Fasting blood glucose (mice)	Biological association	Not enough evidence	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	³

J. Genes, receptors and enzymes

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
CYP2E1	Preliminary mechanism	Animal	Downregulated by root polysaccharides in a diabetic ischaemia mouse model and in cells.	¹³
IDO1	Preliminary mechanism	In vitro	Silencing and heterophyllin B action in colon cells linked to ferroptosis protection.	⁴

K. Biological pathways

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
JNK / CCL5	Preliminary mechanism	Animal	Water extract inhibited JNK signalling and CCL5 in colon cancer cells.	⁹

L. Active compounds

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Heterophyllin B	Biological association	Animal	Reduced lung fibrosis and diarrhoea in mice. Preparation or compound: Root	^{4 11}
Heterophyllin A	Biological association	In vitro	Named among nine cyclic peptides detected in a root extract. Preparation or compound: Root	^{4 11}
Pseudostellarin A	Biological association	In vitro	Higher in Fujian roots; used as a regional marker candidate. Preparation or compound: Root	^{5 11}
Polysaccharides (PHP)	Biological association	Animal	Immune, blood-sugar, antioxidant and anti-tumour effects in lab and animal work; structure linked to activity. Preparation or compound: Root	^{8 2 13}
Oligopeptides (57 identified)	Biological association	Animal	21 cyclic and 36 linear; blood-sugar lowering in mice. Preparation or compound: Root	³
Oligosaccharides	Biological association	In vitro	Described as rich in the root but rarely evaluated. Preparation or compound: Root	¹⁰
Ferulic acid, dihydroferulic acid, azelaic acid	Biological association	In vitro	Quality markers only. Preparation or compound: Root	⁵
Saponins	Biological association	In vitro	Reported antioxidant and anti-tumour activity in reviews; not verified in the abstracts read here. Preparation or compound: Root	¹⁰

Each connection is stored with the ingredient, the connected record, the kind of connection, the evidence status, the supporting studies, the preparation or compound involved, and a review date (last reviewed October 25, 2026).

Evidence at a glance: what changed in 4 lab markers

Tap a number to show only those markers. Counts are markers, not people.

Metabolic1 Organ function1 Other2

The evidence

The research centre for Pseudostellaria (Tai Zi Shen). Every record here was checked against PubMed or the publisher's page; we never list a study we have not verified.

Evidence by outcome

Bars show how many studies we found for each outcome, not how well it works. People are added up across trials only (reviews are not added, to avoid double counting).

How we rate evidence

High certainty

Several well-run trials or reviews agree; further research is unlikely to change the picture much.

Moderate certainty

Good trials point the same way, but some doubt remains.

Low certainty

Small, short or inconsistent trials. The finding could change with better research.

Very low certainty

Very little or very weak human data. Treat as a possibility only.

Mixed findings

Trials or reviews disagree with each other.

Not enough evidence

Not enough human research to say either way.

Evidence against

Good research found no benefit, or found harm.

We take the reviewers' own risk-of-bias and GRADE statements where they exist, and otherwise judge from study size, design, consistency, directness and whether a product matches what is sold. Many publications do not make evidence high. Method note: We searched PubMed, read the abstract of each cited paper, and checked plant names and chemical records against GBIF and PubChem. Full texts were not read for most studies. We did not find monographs from the EU herbal committee, NCCIH, LiverTox or LactMed for this plant, but some of those sites could not be searched automatically.

Study library: every study we checked 16

Design Research type Plant part Year from Search

Study	Design	People	Product, dose, length	Result
AlternativeMed research log 2026 Searches for a regulator or database entry on Pseudostellaria heterophylla (2026-10-25) Internal search record	Other n/a	n/a	n/a	A guessed NCCIH address returned not found; the EMA search page refused an automated request; PubMed searches for pregnancy, breastfeeding, drug interaction or toxicity found no human paper on the root. This shows only that we did not find an entry, not that none exists. n/a Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Whether an EU herbal monograph, NCCIH page, LiverTox or LactMed entry exists Limitations: Not an exhaustive search. LiverTox and LactMed indexes were not opened. Read: summary-only
Chen 2013 Protective effects of Radix Pseudostellariae polysaccharides against exercise-induced oxidative stress in male rats. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine · PMID 23596474 · DOI	Other animal	40 40 male Wistar rats	Polysaccharides of the root, by mouth root 100, 200 or 400 mg per kg of rat body weight 28 days · vs Saline	Supplemented rats swam longer, had lower blood lactate and higher haemoglobin and antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD, GSH-Px), and lower muscle MDA. No numbers in abstract Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Swimming time to exhaustion, blood lactate, haemoglobin, antioxidant enzymes, muscle MDA Limitations: Rat study with a polysaccharide extract; does not show an effect in people. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in abstract Read: abstract
Chen 2025 Identification of oligopeptide components derived from Pseudostellaria heterophylla and its hypoglycemic effects in streptozotocin-induce type 2 diabetes mice. Fitoterapia · PMID 41075951 · DOI	Other animal	Mice with streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetes	Oligopeptide-enriched fraction of the root, by mouth root · vs Untreated diabetic mice (implied)	57 oligopeptides identified (21 cyclic, 36 linear). The fraction reduced fasting blood glucose, improved glucose tolerance, raised serum insulin, improved lipid profile and lowered inflammatory markers in diabetic mice. No numbers in abstract Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Fasting glucose, glucose tolerance, insulin, blood lipids, liver, inflammation markers Limitations: Mouse study with a purified fraction; says nothing about the whole root or about people. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in abstract Read: abstract
Chen 2025 Synergistic effects of heterophyllin B with nintedanib against experimental pulmonary fibrosis in mice. Phytomedicine · PMID 40513322 · DOI	Other animal	Mice with bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis, and colon cells	Heterophyllin B (an isolated cyclic peptide from the root), with and without the drug nintedanib root 40 mg per kg per day in mice About 14 days · vs Untreated fibrotic mice	Heterophyllin B reduced lung fibrosis and diarrhoea in mice and added to nintedanib's effect while easing its gut side effects. A root extract containing similar cyclic peptides also helped. Nine cyclic peptides were identified in the extract. No numbers in abstract Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Lung fibrosis, diarrhoea, gut bacteria, gut barrier Limitations: Mouse and cell work with an isolated compound; not the whole root and not people. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in abstract Read: abstract
Ding 2025 From comprehensive profiling to targeted authentication: an FBMN-guided metabolomics strategy for authentication of Pseudostellaria heterophylla Dao-di and non-Dao-di herbs. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry · PMID 41060419 · DOI	Other n/a	Root samples from Fujian, Anhui, Guizhou and Jiangsu	Mass-spectrometry profiling root	Roots from Fujian (the traditional high-quality region) differed chemically from other commercial regions. Six marker compounds (pseudostellarins A and F, heterophyllin J, ferulic acid, dihydro ferulic acid, azelaic acid) were higher in Fujian roots. The authors note wild resources are depleted and cultivated material is inconsistent. Not given in abstract Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Chemical differences by region Limitations: Laboratory method paper; no health outcome. Funding and conflicts: No competing interests declared Read: abstract
Fleischer 2016 Post-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with hematologic disorders: Chinese herbal medicine for an unmet need. Journal of Integrative Medicine · PMID 27641605 · DOI	Systematic review	9 clinical studies of Chinese herbal medicine around stem cell transplantation	Chinese herbal medicine regimens; taizishen was one of the 9 herbs most often prescribed root Varied Varied · vs Varied	Of 9 papers, 6 were from one research group and all but one were retrospective or observational. Taizishen (P. heterophylla) appeared among the 9 most commonly prescribed herbs. Not given in abstract Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Engraftment, graft-versus-host disease, survival (objectives varied widely) Limitations: Small, mostly retrospective studies; says nothing about the effect of this herb alone. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in abstract Read: abstract
GBIF Secretariat 2026 GBIF Backbone Taxonomy match: Pseudostellaria heterophylla (Miq.) Pax GBIF API · Source	Other n/a	Taxonomic record	n/a	Accepted species, usage key 3815617, family Caryophyllaceae, order Caryophyllales. Synonyms include Krascheninnikovia heterophylla Miq. Exact match, confidence 99. n/a Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Accepted name, family, synonyms Limitations: Taxonomy only; NCBI Taxonomy was not queried. Read: full-text
Gao 2025 Polysaccharides of Pseudostellaria heterophylla (Miq.) Pax ex Pax et Hoffm: Extraction, purification, structural characteristics, pharmacological activities, and structure-activity relationships: A review. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules · PMID 41046896 · DOI	Other in-vitro	Review of laboratory and animal work on P. heterophylla polysaccharides (PHP)	Polysaccharide fractions of the root root	The review links PHP structure (molecular weight, sugar makeup, chemical changes such as selenization) to immune-modulating, blood-sugar-lowering, antioxidant and anti-tumour effects. None given in abstract Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Immune, blood-sugar, antioxidant and anti-tumour activity linked to PHP structure Limitations: Narrative review of lab and animal work; no human evidence is described in the abstract. Authors are from a pharmacy and drug-engineering group. Funding and conflicts: No competing interests declared Read: abstract
Gui 2025 Pseudostellaria heterophylla (Miq.) Pax, a traditional folk medicine, ameliorates colorectal cancer by remodeling the tumor immune microenvironment. Journal of Ethnopharmacology · PMID 39828144 · DOI	Other animal	MC38 colon-cancer mice and cancer cells	Water extract of the root (AEPH) root · vs Untreated tumour mice	The water extract slowed tumour growth in mice without obvious toxicity, and shifted the tumour's immune cells (fewer M2-like macrophages, more IFN-gamma CD8 T cells). 371 compounds were detected in the extract. No numbers in abstract Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Tumour growth, immune cells in tumour, JNK pathway, CCL5 Limitations: Mouse study; not evidence that it treats cancer in people. Funding and conflicts: No competing interests declared Read: abstract
Hu 2019 Chemistry, pharmacology and analysis of Pseudostellaria heterophylla: a mini-review. Chinese Medicine · PMID 31139247 · DOI	Other in-vitro	Mini-review of chemistry, pharmacology and analysis methods	Whole herb and compounds root	States the herb has been used in clinics in China for 100 years, that many analyses exist but few are accepted as quality-control methods, and that some rich chemicals such as oligosaccharides have rarely been evaluated. None Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Chemistry, pharmacology, quality-control methods Limitations: Short narrative review. Our earlier internal summary also drew on its full text; only the abstract was re-read for this file. Funding and conflicts: No competing interests declared Read: abstract
NCBI PubChem 2026 PubChem records: Heterophyllin A, Heterophyllin B, Pseudostellarin A PubChem · Source	Other n/a	Chemical records	n/a	Heterophyllin B CID 102022989 (C40H58N8O8); Heterophyllin A CID 163041584 (C37H57N7O8); Pseudostellarin A CID 10391309 (C25H35N5O6). n/a Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Compound identifiers Limitations: Identifiers by name search only. Read: full-text
Pan 2020 Rapid authentication of Pseudostellaria heterophylla (Taizishen) from different regions by near-infrared spectroscopy combined with chemometric methods. Journal of Food Science · PMID 32529767 · DOI	Other n/a	Laboratory samples of the root from different regions	Near-infrared spectroscopy plus statistics root	The method distinguished roots from different regions. The authors say drug effects differ by region and that the method may also help tell the herb from look-alike powders. Not given in abstract Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Whether region of origin can be told apart Limitations: Laboratory method; abstract gives no accuracy figure. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in abstract Read: abstract
Wang 2025 Pseudostellaria heterophylla polysaccharides attenuate diabetic lower limb ischemia via CYP2E1-mediated mitochondrial homeostasis and PANoptosis regulation. Phytomedicine · PMID 41005057 · DOI	Other animal	Mouse model of diabetic lower-limb ischaemia and human umbilical vein cells in high glucose	Polysaccharides of the root (PHP) root	PHP improved blood flow and vessel density in ischaemic mouse limbs and reversed high-glucose damage in cells. It lowered expression of the liver enzyme CYP2E1 in the models. No numbers in abstract Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Blood flow, vessel density, cell death pathways, CYP2E1 expression Limitations: Mouse and cell study only. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in abstract Read: abstract
Yang 2025 Chemical Properties, Preparation, and Pharmaceutical Effects of Cyclic Peptides from Pseudostellaria heterophylla. Molecules · PMID 40572486 · DOI	Other in-vitro	Review of cyclic peptides from the root (lab and animal work)	Cyclic peptides (such as heterophyllins and pseudostellarins) root	Describes the traditional use (nourishing qi, invigorating the spleen, making body fluids, moistening the lung) and reports that the cyclic peptides show anticancer, antioxidant, immunomodulatory and cognitive effects in laboratory work. None given in abstract Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Anticancer, antioxidant, immune and cognitive effects of the peptides Limitations: Narrative review. Abstract names no human trial. Traditional-use description comes from the authors. Funding and conflicts: No conflicts declared Read: abstract
Zhang 2024 Pseudostellaria heterophylla improves intestinal microecology through modulating gut microbiota and metabolites in mice. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture · PMID 38459926 · DOI	Other animal	Mice (healthy, and mice injured with the drug cyclophosphamide)	P. heterophylla root material fed to mice root · vs Control mice	Under cyclophosphamide injury, red blood cell content, antioxidant capacity and immune-factor expression rose and platelet counts fell versus control. Gut bacterial makeup changed in healthy mice. No numbers in abstract Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Red blood cells, antioxidant capacity, immune factors, platelets, gut bacteria, metabolome Limitations: Mouse study; no human data. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in abstract Read: abstract
Zhang 2026 Clinical effects of adjunctive spleen- and kidney-invigorating Chinese herbal therapy combined with highly active antiretroviral treatment on immune recovery and nutritional status in people living with HIV. Malawi Medical Journal · PMID 42597322 · DOI	Controlled trial	40 40 adults living with HIV, in China (Shaoxing)	Seven-herb decoction (astragalus, Chinese yam, dangshen, poria, white atractylodes, radix pseudostellariae, rehmannia) plus standard HIV drugs (HAART); a combination, not the root alone root (radix pseudostellariae is one of seven herbs) Reported at 6 to 12 months · vs Standard HAART alone	Add-on group had higher CD4+ counts, lower CD8+ counts, higher Th17, lower IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, higher haemoglobin and albumin and higher MOS-HIV scores. Adverse reaction rates were similar in both groups. CD4+ 37.58 vs 30.25 cells/uL (P<0.0001); CD8+ 22.41 vs 28.62 (P<0.0001); Th17 2.26 vs 1.89 (P<0.0001); haemoglobin 126.87 vs 116.32 g/L (P=0.009); albumin 38.82 vs 32.45 g/L (P<0.0001); MOS-HIV 80.36 vs 72.58 (P=0.0026) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, Th17 cells, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, haemoglobin, serum albumin, adverse reactions, MOS-HIV quality-of-life score Limitations: Tiny trial of a seven-herb mix, so the effect of this root cannot be separated. The abstract does not describe blinding, placebo, dose or funding. The CD4 values quoted (about 30-38 cells/uL) look unusual for the units given, so the numbers should be read with caution. Only the abstract was read. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in abstract Read: abstract

What we do not know yet

What the evidence supports: one small trial of a seven-herb mix; mouse and lab findings for blood sugar, gut, stamina, lung and tumours.
No trial of the root alone for any use.
No study in children, although children are the traditional target group.
No safety, liver, pregnancy, breastfeeding or drug interaction data.
Quality: no agreed marker compounds, regional differences, and no retail contamination testing found.

How new research is added

New studies are found by a saved PubMed search and are placed in a review queue. A person reads each one before it changes any evidence rating or safety wording. New publications never change ratings automatically.

Lab markers

What changed in blood or saliva tests during trials. A changed number is not the same as feeling or being healthier, and we give no "normal ranges".

Metabolic 1

▼

Fasting blood glucose (mice)

Lowered in trials

Blood sugar measured after not eating.

Not enough evidence

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Used in mice to test whether a root fraction affects diabetes.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Mouse result only; no human blood sugar data exist.

Safety implication

Could add to diabetes medicines if it works in people (theory).

Study	Result	People	Product
³	Reduced fasting glucose in diabetic mice; no values given in the abstract	Streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice	Oligopeptide-enriched fraction of the root by mouth

Organ function 1

▲

Haemoglobin

Raised in trials

The protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. Low levels mean anaemia.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

A nutrition and anaemia marker in the HIV trial.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Statistically significant in a small trial of a mixture. Cause cannot be pinned on one herb.

Safety implication

None identified.

Study	Result	People	Product
¹⁶	126.87 vs 116.32 g/L (P=0.009), as reported	40 adults with HIV	Seven-herb decoction including radix pseudostellariae plus HAART vs HAART alone

¹⁶

Other 2

▲

CD4+ T-cell count (and CD8+)

Raised in trials

CD4+ and CD8+ are types of white blood cell that help run the immune response. In HIV care CD4+ is the number doctors follow.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

The HIV trial used it to see if a herb mix added to HIV drugs changed immune recovery.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Statistically significant in the abstract but from 40 people and a mixture. The units look unusual, so treat the numbers with caution. A blood count is not the same as being healthier.

Safety implication

Does not replace HIV treatment. Tell the HIV team about any herb you use.

Study	Result	People	Product
¹⁶	CD4+ 37.58 vs 30.25 cells/uL on mix vs drugs alone; CD8+ 22.41 vs 28.62 (both P<0.0001) at 6 to 12 months, as reported	40 adults with HIV	Seven-herb decoction including radix pseudostellariae plus HAART vs HAART alone

¹⁶

▲

Serum albumin

Raised in trials

A blood protein often used as a rough marker of nutrition.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Used in the HIV trial as a nutritional status marker.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

A lab marker from a mixture trial; not proof of better nutrition or health.

Safety implication

None identified.

Study	Result	People	Product
¹⁶	38.82 vs 32.45 g/L (P<0.0001), as reported	40 adults with HIV	Seven-herb decoction including radix pseudostellariae plus HAART vs HAART alone

¹⁶

Safety

What studies and official sources say about side effects, medicines and who should check first. Each point shows what kind of evidence it comes from.

Main points to know 3

No safety study of the root alone in people was found. We found no human safety study, no regulator monograph and no case reports of harm for Pseudostellaria heterophylla root. A lack of reports is not proof of safety, because so little research exists. Authoritative guidance ^{1 10}
The one human trial used a seven-herb mix. In 40 adults with HIV, adverse reactions were reported as similar with and without a seven-herb decoction that included this root. Types and numbers were not given in the abstract, and the root's own contribution cannot be separated. Controlled trial ¹⁶
A mouse study saw no obvious toxicity. A water extract of the root slowed colon tumours in mice without obvious toxicity. This is animal evidence and says little about long-term use in people. Animal research ⁹

Side effects 1

Effect	How often	Severity and recovery	Evidence
Adverse reactions (types not named) Mixture of seven herbs, not the root alone.	Reported as similar between the herb-mix and drug-only groups in a 40-person trial; no counts in the abstract	Not stated Not stated	Controlled trial ¹⁶

Liver

No human case of liver injury from this root was found. We did not open the LiverTox index, so we cannot say it has no entry. Two mouse studies in our files report no obvious toxicity (colon-cancer extract study) or lower liver fat (diabetic mouse fraction study), which is not a safety test in people. One lab study found the root's polysaccharides lowered the liver enzyme CYP2E1 in a diabetic model; its meaning for drug processing in people is unknown. ^{9 3 13}

How often. No frequency of liver injury is available.

Monitoring. No agency monitoring advice found. Stop and see a doctor if you develop yellow skin or eyes, dark urine or unusual tiredness.

This is a safety connection. It is not evidence that Pseudostellaria (Tai Zi Shen) supports liver health.

Medicines and supplements 4

With	Why it matters	Importance	Evidence	What to do
Diabetes medicines and insulin prescription	Purified fractions lowered blood sugar in diabetic mice. If the whole root did the same in people it could add to diabetes drugs.	Possible extra blood sugar lowering. No human interaction study was found.	Pharmacological theory Very low certainty ^{3 13}	If you use diabetes medicine, ask a doctor or pharmacist before adding this root, and check blood sugar as advised.
Immunosuppressant drugs (for transplants or autoimmune disease) prescription	Lab and animal work describe immune-modulating effects of the root's polysaccharides. It is not known whether this matters for people taking drugs that lower immunity.	Unknown. Theoretical only.	Pharmacological theory Not enough evidence ^{8 15}	Tell your transplant or specialist team before using it. Do not add it on your own.
Cancer treatment (chemotherapy and others) prescription	Mouse studies show effects on immune cells and tumours, and the root is traditionally combined with cancer care in China. No interaction study exists.	Unknown.	Pharmacological theory Not enough evidence ^{9 6}	Ask your cancer team before using any herb during treatment.
HIV antiretroviral drugs prescription	The one trial gave a seven-herb mix alongside HAART and reported similar adverse reactions. No drug-level (pharmacokinetic) study was done.	Not assessed.	Controlled trial Very low certainty ¹⁶	Tell the HIV team about any herb you use.

Who should check first 6

Situation	Advice	Evidence
Pregnancy	No human safety data were found. Avoid unless a clinician who knows the herb agrees.	Authoritative guidance ¹
Breastfeeding	No lactation data were found (LactMed index not opened). Avoid unless a clinician agrees.	Authoritative guidance ¹
Children	Traditional Chinese practice gives it to children, but we found no trial, safety or growth study in children. Ask a paediatrician first; long traditional use is not a safety test.	Traditional use ^{10 1}
Diabetes treated with medicine	Ask a doctor or pharmacist first; blood sugar effects are possible in theory.	Pharmacological theory ³
Organ transplant, autoimmune disease or immunosuppressant treatment	Ask your specialist first because immune effects are possible in theory.	Pharmacological theory ⁸
Planned surgery	No surgery-specific data exist. Tell the surgical team you take it.	Authoritative guidance ¹

Overdose, product quality and regulators

Summary. No toxic part of the root was identified in the sources read, and no human overdose or poisoning case was found.

Animal. A water extract of the root slowed colon tumours in mice without obvious toxicity. No formal toxicity study (acute, long-term or reproductive) was found.

Human doses studied. Amounts in the one human trial were not stated in the abstract.

Overdose response. No human overdose case was found.

Genotoxicity. Not found.

Toxic plant parts. No toxic part identified. The dried tuberous root is the medicinal part (cited review); we found nothing on leaves or stems used as medicine.

The documented problems are quality and origin, not a known poisonous look-alike. Roots from different regions differ chemically, and few quality-control methods are agreed.

No agreed quality marker. A 2019 review says many analyses exist but few are accepted as quality-control methods. ¹⁰

Origin differences. Chemistry differs between Fujian roots (the traditional high-quality region) and roots from Anhui, Guizhou and Jiangsu. The authors note wild supplies are depleted and cultivated material is inconsistent. ^{5 12}

Look-alike powders. A 2020 method paper suggests its technique may help tell the root from powders of similar appearance. It does not name an adulterant. ¹²

Not true ginseng, not codonopsis. The plant belongs to the pink family (Caryophyllaceae). It is a different plant from Panax ginsengs and from dang shen (Codonopsis), though all are sold as tonic roots. Labels that mix the names can confuse buyers. ⁷

Cadmium (summary-only). Our earlier summary reports that the 2019 review cites a study finding cadmium slightly enriched in the herb. We did not read that study, and no heavy-metal testing of retail products was found. ¹⁰

Body	Action	Date

When to get medical help

Itching, hives, swelling of the face or throat, or trouble breathing after taking it (allergy; stop and get urgent help).
Shaking, sweating, confusion or faintness in someone on diabetes medicine (possible low blood sugar).
Yellow skin or eyes, dark urine or severe stomach pain.
Any new symptom in a child after a herbal tonic: stop and call a doctor.

Stop the supplement and contact a clinician or emergency service. In the US, Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222.

General information only, not medical advice. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before use, especially with medicines, in pregnancy or with a health condition. See the Natural Remedy Safety guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is tai zi shen (prince ginseng) used for?

Traditionally as a mild tonic for tiredness, weak digestion and recovery after illness, and often for children. Modern evidence is thin: no trial of the root alone, and one small trial of a seven-herb mix.

^{14 16}

Is Pseudostellaria the same as ginseng?

No. True ginsengs are Panax species. Pseudostellaria heterophylla is a different plant, from the pink family, used as a milder tonic in Chinese medicine.

^{7 10}

How is it different from codonopsis (dang shen)?

Both are Chinese tonic roots sometimes compared to ginseng, but they are different plants and have different research. See the Codonopsis page for that herb.

⁷

Is it an adaptogen?

None of the sources we read call it one. The label is used for tonic herbs in some markets and reflects tradition, not a tested effect.

¹⁰

Does it boost the immune system?

Not shown. In one small trial of 40 adults with HIV, a seven-herb mix that included it was linked to better immune blood markers, but the root cannot be separated from the other herbs. Lab studies of its polysaccharides are not proof for people.

^{16 8}

Does it help tiredness or recovery after illness?

It is traditionally used for that. We found no trial of the root alone for tiredness or recovery.

^{6 10}

Is it safe for children?

Traditional Chinese practice gives it to children, but we found no study in children and no child safety data. Ask a paediatrician before giving it.

^{10 1}

Is it safe in pregnancy or while breastfeeding?

No data were found, so avoid it unless a clinician who knows the herb agrees.

Can I take it with diabetes medicine?

Ask your doctor or pharmacist first. In diabetic mice, extracts from the root lowered blood sugar, so an added effect is possible in theory. No human interaction study exists.

^{3 13}

Can it be used with immunosuppressants or during cancer treatment?

Ask your specialist first. Lab work shows immune effects, but nothing has been tested with these medicines.

^{8 9}

Can the cancer lab results be trusted for people?

No. A water extract slowed colon tumours in mice, but that does not show it treats cancer in people, and it should never replace cancer treatment.

⁹

How do I choose a good product, and how much should I take?

Look for the Latin name Pseudostellaria heterophylla, the plant part and the origin, since roots differ by region and few quality standards exist. For amounts, ask a doctor or pharmacist; no tested amount is available.

^{10 5 12}

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Editorial transparency

Written by: AlternativeMed editorial team. Research compiled with AI assistance, then checked against PubMed records.
Medical review: None. This page has not been reviewed by a physician or pharmacist.
First published: 2026-10-25
Last substantive update: 2026-10-25
How we research: We searched PubMed, read the abstract of each cited paper, and checked plant names and chemical records against GBIF and PubChem. Full texts were not read for most studies. We did not find monographs from the EU herbal committee, NCCIH, LiverTox or LactMed for this plant, but some of those sites could not be searched automatically.
How we rate evidence: See "How we rate evidence" in the Evidence tab.
Independence: No product is promoted on this page. No affiliate links are shown. If one is added later it will be labelled and kept apart from the evidence.

Sources 16

Each source was opened and checked. Where we read only the abstract, it says so. The small numbers in the text point here.

AlternativeMed research log. Searches for a regulator or database entry on Pseudostellaria heterophylla (2026-10-25). Internal search record. 2026. (summary-only)
Chen Z, Li S, Wang X et al.. Protective effects of Radix Pseudostellariae polysaccharides against exercise-induced oxidative stress in male rats.. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine. 2013. PMID 23596474. DOI 10.3892/etm.2013.942. (abstract)
Chen Y, Qu X, Xiang X et al.. Identification of oligopeptide components derived from Pseudostellaria heterophylla and its hypoglycemic effects in streptozotocin-induce type 2 diabetes mice.. Fitoterapia. 2025. PMID 41075951. DOI 10.1016/j.fitote.2025.106919. (abstract)
Chen C, Han Z, Luo J et al.. Synergistic effects of heterophyllin B with nintedanib against experimental pulmonary fibrosis in mice.. Phytomedicine. 2025. PMID 40513322. DOI 10.1016/j.phymed.2025.156922. (abstract)
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