Herbs & Botanicals · Chinese kidney-tonic fruit
Ligustrum
Ligustrum lucidum · also called Glossy privet fruit, nu zhen zi, Chinese privet
Ligustrum, or nu zhen zi, is the dried fruit of glossy privet and a traditional Chinese kidney and liver tonic. It is used alone or in formulas such as Er Zhi Wan. Human research is small, and most findings come from animals and cells. It is not the same as garden privet, whose berries are poisonous, so never use hedge berries.
General information, not medical advice. Last substantive update · Not medically reviewed. A named clinician has not signed off on this page. How this page is made
About Ligustrum
Ligustrum fruit (nu zhen zi) is a Chinese tonic with little human research. A few small studies of combinations or capsule products point to possible help in chemotherapy quality of life, womb lining and hot flushes, but all are very low certainty. Bone, liver, eye and immune effects are seen only in animals and cells. Safety in pregnancy and with immune drugs is unknown, and garden privet berries are poisonous.
What it is
Nu zhen zi is the dried ripe fruit of glossy privet, Ligustrum lucidum, in the olive family. In Chinese medicine it is a kidney and liver tonic. It is often used in formulas, most famously Er Zhi Wan, which pairs it with Eclipta.
It is not common privet (Ligustrum vulgare), a different hedge plant. Key fruit compounds include oleanolic acid, salidroside and specnuezhenide.
What the research shows
Human research is small. One placebo-controlled trial (82 people) tested a reishi and privet combination during lung-cancer chemotherapy; the quality-of-life gain was not statistically significant. One open-label study (104 women) found a thicker womb lining and more pregnancies with a capsule product. One small non-randomised study of a formula containing Er Zhi Wan saw fewer hot flushes.
Everything else, including bone, liver, eye and immune effects, comes from rats, mice and cells. No human trial of the plain fruit was found.
At a glance
Traditional uses history, not proof
- Kidney and liver tonic
- Dizziness, ringing in the ears and weak waist and knees
- Early grey hair and dim eyes
- Hot flashes and 'bone steam'
Studied for research
- Quality of life in chemotherapy (combination): very low
- Thin womb lining (capsule): very low
- Hot flushes (formula): very low
- Bone, liver, eyes, immune: lab and animal only
Main compounds
- Oleanolic acid
- Ursolic acid
- Salidroside
- Specnuezhenide and nuzhenide
Common forms
- Dried fruit
- Decoction or formula (Er Zhi Wan)
- Capsule products
- Extracts and isolated compounds (lab)
Research links: Cao 2023: review of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus (PubMed) · Liu 2020: Reishi & Privet Formula trial (PubMed) · Chen 2017: bone and safety review (PubMed) · MSK: Ligustrum lucidum · Research Library · Genes & Biomarkers Library
The plant and its history
- Accepted scientific name
- Ligustrum lucidum W.T.Aiton
- Naming authority
- GBIF species match API, read 2026-10-25: accepted name, usage key 3172297.
- Synonyms
- Name: Fructus Ligustri Lucidi (FLL); Note: Drug name of the fruit.; Name: Ligustri Lucidi Fructus (LLF); Note: Pharmacopoeia style name.; Name: Nu zhen zi / nvzhenzi; Note: Chinese name; in our graph summary; Dong qing zi is also listed.
- Common names
- Glossy privet, Chinese privet fruit (English); Nu zhen zi (fruit) (Chinese)
- Botanical family
- Oleaceae (olive family)
- Classification
- Plantae > Oleaceae > Ligustrum > Ligustrum lucidum
- Native range
- Not verified here.
- Habitat
- Not verified; a weed database lists it as invasive in some places.
- What the plant looks like
- Roots: Not verified.; Stems: Not verified.; Leaves: Not verified.; Flowers: Not verified.; Fruit: The ripe dried fruit is the medicine; wine-steamed in traditional processing (mouse paper).
- Cultivation
- Not verified.
- Harvest and processing
- Wine-steamed fruit is mentioned in a 2026 paper; our graph summary says sometimes processed with rice wine.
- Look-alikes and adulterants
- Name: Ligustrum vulgare L. (common privet); Note: Separate accepted species (GBIF key 3172300). Frequent poison-centre inquiries in Germany; do not use as a substitute.; Name: Other Ligustrum species (e.g. L. robustum, L. quihoui); Note: MSK says several species are thought to have different medicinal properties; results do not transfer.; Name: Er Zhi Wan (formula); Note: A two-herb formula of Ligustrum fruit plus Eclipta (Herba Ecliptae). It is not the same thing as the fruit alone.
- Sustainability and conservation
- Not assessed in the sources read.
Traditional use and history history, not clinical proof
| Tradition or era | Documented use | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese medicine | Tonic for kidney and liver; dizziness, tinnitus, soreness and weakness of the waist and knees, premature grey hair, darkened eyes, internal heat and thirst, 'bone steam' and hot flashes. | p36208822 |
| Modern Chinese Pharmacopoeia | More than 100 prescriptions in the 2020 edition contain it, including Er Zhi Wan and Zhenqi Fuzheng formula. | p38933667 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oleanolic acid PubChem 10494 | triterpenoid | Fruit | Named as the major pharmacologically active component in a 2015 review; liver and bone effects are lab and animal. 17 2 | Animal research |
| Ursolic acid PubChem 64945 | triterpenoid | Fruit | Reported anti-osteoporosis activity in the lab. 2 | Animal research |
| Salidroside PubChem 159278 | phenylethanoid glycoside | Fruit | Called an active constituent in blood after dosing; named as a bone-active compound; suggested as an active compound of the Erzhi pill with methotrexate in rats. 2 12 | Animal research |
| Specnuezhenide PubChem 11146840 | secoiridoid glycoside | Fruit | Reduced retinal vessel growth and mouse liver injury in the lab. 20 22 | Animal research |
| Nuzhenide PubChem 6440999 | secoiridoid glycoside | Fruit | Named as a possible anti-osteoporosis compound. 2 | Laboratory research |
| Polysaccharides, flavonoids and iridoid glycosides | mixed | Fruit | 206 compounds isolated in total, mainly flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, iridoid glycosides and triterpenoids. 3 21 | Laboratory research |
Mechanisms, receptors and pathways
| Target or pathway | Gene or receptor | What was found | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bone turnover and calcium absorption | PTH, FGF-23, 1,25-(OH)2D3, CaSR, RANKL/OPG, vitamin D receptor, TRPV6 | Extracts raised bone mass and altered bone markers in rats; results varied by extract type. 2 8 6 | Animal research |
| Retinal blood-vessel growth | HIF-1alpha / VEGF | Specnuezhenide lowered VEGF in cells and rat pups. 20 | Animal research |
| Liver stress response | PERK/eIF2alpha/CHOP | Specnuezhenide lowered ER stress and liver injury in mice. 22 | Animal research |
| Steroid and arthritis-drug signalling | cAMP/PKA/CREB; IDO1-KYN-AhR | Herb pairs changed the lab effects of dexamethasone and methotrexate in rats. 14 12 | Animal research |
Absorption, metabolism and elimination
- Absorption
- Not covered for people in the sources read.
- Distribution
- Not covered.
- Metabolism
- Not covered.
- Elimination
- Not covered.
- Bioavailability
- A 2017 review says salidroside is an active constituent in blood, while tyrosol is hard to detect.
Isolated compounds versus whole extracts
Most lab results come from isolated compounds (specnuezhenide, oleanolic acid) or special extracts. Ethanol and water extracts behaved differently in rats, and the capsule and formulas used in human trials are not the plain fruit. Results do not carry between forms.
Nutritional composition
A 2024 review calls it a herb with homology of medicine and food in China and says it contains nutritional components; no nutrient values were read.
3 very low certainty6 not enough evidence
What is Ligustrum good for?
The studied uses and how strong the evidence is. Most are lab or animal findings.
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.
Quality of life during lung-cancer chemotherapy (reishi + privet combination)
Very low certaintyOne small placebo-controlled trial of a combination of reishi mushroom and Ligustrum fruit in 82 people on chemotherapy saw a higher quality-of-life score, but the difference was not statistically significant. The fruit cannot be separated from the reishi.
2 studiesReishi & Privet Formula (combination); fruit amount not given; amount…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
One phase II double-blind trial (n = 82) in China tested Reishi & Privet Formula against placebo for 6 weeks across 2 chemotherapy cycles. Memorial Sloan Kettering describes it as a small study and says human data are quite limited.
Results
Quality of life (FACT-L) trended higher on the formula; general health P = .050 and emotional well-being P = .090 were also not significant. Adverse events did not differ from placebo.
Effect sizes as reported
FACT-L total score P = .086 (not significant); no effect size given in the abstract.
Why this rating
One small pilot, main result not significant, combination product, industry grant declared.
Form and dose studied
Reishi & Privet Formula (combination); fruit amount not given; amount for people is not covered here.
Who was studied
Adults with non-small cell lung cancer on chemotherapy in China.
Limits
Not significant; the Ligustrum share of any effect is unknown; no result for other cancers.
Why researchers looked
Chemotherapy lowers quality of life; Ligustrum is used in China alongside cancer care.
Traditional use
Fruit of Ligustrum lucidum (nu zhen zi) is a Chinese kidney and liver tonic, used for dizziness, ringing in the ears, weak waist and knees, early grey hair, dim eyes and hot flashes (a 2023 review). This is tradition, not trial evidence.
Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory
Not tested in this trial. Lab work suggests immune and antioxidant effects, which have not been shown to explain any benefit in people.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Adverse events did not differ from placebo in this trial. People on chemotherapy should ask their cancer team before adding any herb.
Low white blood cells after chemotherapy (leukopenia)
Not enough evidenceNo human trial of Ligustrum fruit alone for low white blood cells after chemotherapy was found. Memorial Sloan Kettering says Ligustrum combined with Siberian ginseng may protect against chemotherapy-related bone-marrow suppression, but that statement could not be traced here to a human trial.
2 studiesNot applicable.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
No human trial found in the PubMed searches done for this profile. The MSK statement is an authoritative summary of work we did not open.
Results
Not shown in people.
Effect sizes as reported
None
Why this rating
No human data located; only a secondary statement.
Form and dose studied
Not applicable.
Who was studied
Cancer patients.
Limits
Whether any protection exists is unknown. Blood counts during chemotherapy need medical monitoring, not herbs.
Why researchers looked
Chemotherapy can lower blood counts; herbal tonics are traditionally used to 'support' recovery.
Traditional use
Fruit of Ligustrum lucidum (nu zhen zi) is a Chinese kidney and liver tonic, used for dizziness, ringing in the ears, weak waist and knees, early grey hair, dim eyes and hot flashes (a 2023 review). This is tradition, not trial evidence.
Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory
Not established. Reviews describe immune-regulating effects in lab and animal studies.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Do not use a herb in place of medical care for low blood counts.
Thin womb lining and pregnancy rate (capsule product)
Very low certaintyOne open-label trial of 104 women with thin womb lining reported a thicker lining and a higher pregnancy rate with a Ligustrum fruit capsule than with no treatment. It had no placebo, and the capsule is a product, not the plain fruit.
1 studiesZi Gui Nv Zhen capsules; amounts not stated in the abstract.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
One prospective open-label study (n = 104; 55 treated, 49 not) from China; abstract describes it as both randomised and observational.
Results
Lining thickness 0.8 +/- 0.27 vs 0.68 +/- 0.10 (p < .05); better 'type A' lining 34.2% vs 13.2%; pregnancy 43.6% vs 22.4% (p < .05). Liver and kidney tests stayed normal and no adverse events were reported.
Effect sizes as reported
Pregnancy 43.6% vs 22.4% (absolute figures from the abstract; no confidence interval given).
Why this rating
Single open-label study, no placebo or blinding, inconsistent design wording, product not the plain fruit.
Form and dose studied
Zi Gui Nv Zhen capsules; amounts not stated in the abstract.
Who was studied
Women aged 20-40 with infertility and thin womb lining.
Limits
Open label so expectations can affect outcomes; one trial; pregnancy safety of the capsule is not addressed.
Why researchers looked
A thin womb lining can make it harder to conceive; Ligustrum is a traditional kidney tonic used in women's formulas.
Traditional use
Fruit of Ligustrum lucidum (nu zhen zi) is a Chinese kidney and liver tonic, used for dizziness, ringing in the ears, weak waist and knees, early grey hair, dim eyes and hot flashes (a 2023 review). This is tradition, not trial evidence.
Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory
Not tested. Authors link lining thickening to better 'proliferation' of the lining; not shown to be hormonal.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding safety of Ligustrum is not established (see safety).
Hot flushes in women with breast cancer on chemotherapy (formula containing Er Zhi Wan)
Very low certaintyA small non-randomised study of a two-formula combination that includes Er Zhi Wan (Ligustrum plus Eclipta) found fewer hot flushes than in untreated women. Ligustrum is only one part of one formula, so the result is not about the fruit alone.
1 studiesJia Wei Xiao Yao San plus Er Zhi Wan 3:1, 4 g three times a day for 2…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
One non-randomised controlled study, 48 women enrolled (43 finished: 25 herb, 18 control) over 24 weeks.
Results
Hot flush frequency was lower at 12 and 24 weeks and severity lower at 12 weeks (P < .05). No severe adverse effects observed.
Effect sizes as reported
Group differences P < .05; numbers not in the abstract.
Why this rating
Not randomised, small, formula of many herbs, self-rated symptoms.
Form and dose studied
Jia Wei Xiao Yao San plus Er Zhi Wan 3:1, 4 g three times a day for 24 weeks (as trialled; not a recommendation).
Who was studied
Women with stage I-III breast cancer on adjuvant chemotherapy.
Limits
The effect cannot be assigned to Ligustrum. Women taking hormone-blocking cancer drugs should ask their oncology team about any herb.
Why researchers looked
Hot flushes are common after chemotherapy; Er Zhi Wan is a traditional formula for hot flashes and 'yin deficiency'.
Traditional use
Fruit of Ligustrum lucidum (nu zhen zi) is a Chinese kidney and liver tonic, used for dizziness, ringing in the ears, weak waist and knees, early grey hair, dim eyes and hot flashes (a 2023 review). This is tradition, not trial evidence.
Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory
Not tested. Authors measured skin electrical activity and sympathetic activity; the clinical meaning is unclear.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Authors report no severe adverse effects in 25 treated women; too few to rule out rarer problems.
Bone health and osteoporosis
Not enough evidenceIn rats and cells the fruit and its extracts improved bone measures. No human bone trial was found, and the 2017 review asks for well-designed clinical trials.
5 studiesEthanol extract, water extract and Er Zhi Wan formula in rats (animal…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
No human trial found.
Results
Rats: ethanol extract raised bone mass and calcium absorption in growing rats; Er Zhi Wan (with Eclipta) prevented bone loss in ovariectomised rats without changing uterus weight. One rat study found the ethanol extract raised active vitamin D but did not improve calcium balance.
Effect sizes as reported
Animal only; no effect size for people.
Why this rating
Only lab and animal data were found; no human trial.
Form and dose studied
Ethanol extract, water extract and Er Zhi Wan formula in rats (animal amounts, not for people).
Who was studied
Rats and cell lines.
Limits
Results differ by extract; rats are not people; dried fruit not tested.
Why researchers looked
Used in kidney-tonic formulas for 'bone steam' and weak waist and knees; osteoporosis is the best-studied lab area.
Traditional use
Fruit of Ligustrum lucidum (nu zhen zi) is a Chinese kidney and liver tonic, used for dizziness, ringing in the ears, weak waist and knees, early grey hair, dim eyes and hot flashes (a 2023 review). This is tradition, not trial evidence.
Proposed mechanism Animal research
Animal studies point to bone-building and calcium-absorption pathways (PTH, vitamin D, RANKL/OPG). Compounds named: oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, salidroside, nuzhenide.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Not tested for fracture or bone density in people.
Liver protection (lab and animal)
Not enough evidenceIn mice, the fruit compound specnuezhenide and fruit polysaccharides lowered liver damage markers after a chemical injury. Nobody has shown this in people.
3 studiesIsolated compound (specnuezhenide) in mice; not the dried fruit.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
No human trial found.
Results
Specnuezhenide before a liver-injuring drug reduced ALT and AST in mice. Reviews also describe oleanolic-acid-rich fractions protecting animal liver.
Effect sizes as reported
Animal only.
Why this rating
Only lab and animal data were found; no human trial.
Form and dose studied
Isolated compound (specnuezhenide) in mice; not the dried fruit.
Who was studied
Mice.
Limits
Isolated compound given before the injury; not a test of the fruit as sold.
Why researchers looked
Called a liver tonic in Chinese medicine; oleanolic acid is a known liver-active triterpene.
Traditional use
Fruit of Ligustrum lucidum (nu zhen zi) is a Chinese kidney and liver tonic, used for dizziness, ringing in the ears, weak waist and knees, early grey hair, dim eyes and hot flashes (a 2023 review). This is tradition, not trial evidence.
Proposed mechanism Animal research
Reported to reduce ER stress, inflammation and oxidative stress in mouse liver.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Animal protection does not prove safety in people; see the liver section in safety.
Eyesight and retina
Not enough evidenceThe fruit is used traditionally for dim eyes. A fruit compound reduced abnormal retinal vessel growth in cells and rat pups. No human eye trial was found.
2 studiesIsolated compound, not the fruit.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
No human eye trial found.
Results
Reduced VEGF release in human retinal cells under low-oxygen stress and prevented abnormal retinal vessels in rat pups (isolated compound).
Effect sizes as reported
Cell and rat results only.
Why this rating
Only lab and animal data were found; no human trial.
Form and dose studied
Isolated compound, not the fruit.
Who was studied
Human cell line and rat pups.
Limits
Isolated compound; abnormal-vessel model.
Why researchers looked
Traditional use for darkened eyes and poor vision.
Traditional use
Fruit of Ligustrum lucidum (nu zhen zi) is a Chinese kidney and liver tonic, used for dizziness, ringing in the ears, weak waist and knees, early grey hair, dim eyes and hot flashes (a 2023 review). This is tradition, not trial evidence.
Proposed mechanism Animal research
Specnuezhenide suppressed HIF-1alpha/VEGF signalling in lab tests.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
MSK lists poor vision as a purported use without human support.
Immune support, antioxidant and antiviral activity (lab only)
Not enough evidenceReviews describe immune-regulating, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in cells and animals. The cancer centre notes human data are quite limited. This does not show it boosts immunity in people.
3 studiesExtracts and isolated compounds.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
No human immune trial found.
Results
Lab and animal findings only. MSK describes in vitro immune, antiviral and antitumour effects.
Effect sizes as reported
Not applicable.
Why this rating
Only lab and animal data were found; no human trial.
Form and dose studied
Extracts and isolated compounds.
Who was studied
Cells and animals.
Limits
Lab effects often fail to carry over to people.
Why researchers looked
Marketed as an immune booster and used alongside cancer care.
Traditional use
Fruit of Ligustrum lucidum (nu zhen zi) is a Chinese kidney and liver tonic, used for dizziness, ringing in the ears, weak waist and knees, early grey hair, dim eyes and hot flashes (a 2023 review). This is tradition, not trial evidence.
Proposed mechanism Laboratory research
Cell and animal studies; compounds include oleanolic acid and iridoid glycosides.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Immune-modulating herbs could in theory matter for people on immune-suppressing drugs (see safety).
Er Zhi Wan combined with arthritis and asthma drugs (rat and cell studies)
Not enough evidenceIn rats, the Er Zhi Wan formula or a Ligustrum plus Epimedium pair worked better than methotrexate or dexamethasone alone. This is an early lab signal that herb and drug can interact, not evidence of benefit for people.
2 studiesErzhi pill (Ligustrum fruit plus Eclipta); Epimedium plus Ligustrum d…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
No human trial found.
Results
Methotrexate plus Erzhi pill protected bone better than methotrexate alone in arthritic rats. Epimedium plus Ligustrum (especially with dexamethasone) lowered airway inflammation in asthmatic rats (abstract read in part).
Effect sizes as reported
Animal only.
Why this rating
Only lab and animal data were found; no human trial.
Form and dose studied
Erzhi pill (Ligustrum fruit plus Eclipta); Epimedium plus Ligustrum decoction; animal amounts.
Who was studied
Rats and human airway cells.
Limits
Both papers have errata; the asthma abstract was read only in part.
Why researchers looked
Kidney-tonic formulas are often paired with standard drugs in China.
Traditional use
Fruit of Ligustrum lucidum (nu zhen zi) is a Chinese kidney and liver tonic, used for dizziness, ringing in the ears, weak waist and knees, early grey hair, dim eyes and hot flashes (a 2023 review). This is tradition, not trial evidence.
Proposed mechanism Animal research
Possible effects on IDO1-kynurenine-AhR signalling (arthritis) and cAMP/PKA/CREB signalling (asthma) were proposed in animals.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Raises a theoretical herb-drug interaction concern, not a proven one.
Connections to the rest of health
How Ligustrum 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
A. Wellness goals
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immune Support | Traditional use | Not enough evidence | Low white blood cells after chemotherapy (leukopenia): No human trial of Ligustrum fruit alone for low white blood cells after chemotherapy was found. Memorial Sloan Kettering says Ligustrum combined with Siberian ginseng may protect against chemotherapy-related bone-marrow suppression, but that statement could not be traced here to a human trial. | 15 1 |
| Womens Wellness | Potential benefit | Very low certainty | Thin womb lining and pregnancy rate (capsule product): One open-label trial of 104 women with thin womb lining reported a thicker lining and a higher pregnancy rate with a Ligustrum fruit capsule than with no treatment. It had no placebo, and the capsule is a product, not the plain fruit. | 18 |
| Fertility Support | Potential benefit | Very low certainty | Thin womb lining and pregnancy rate (capsule product): One open-label trial of 104 women with thin womb lining reported a thicker lining and a higher pregnancy rate with a Ligustrum fruit capsule than with no treatment. It had no placebo, and the capsule is a product, not the plain fruit. | 18 |
| Menopause Support | Potential benefit | Very low certainty | Hot flushes in women with breast cancer on chemotherapy (formula containing Er Zhi Wan): A small non-randomised study of a two-formula combination that includes Er Zhi Wan (Ligustrum plus Eclipta) found fewer hot flushes than in untreated women. Ligustrum is only one part of one formula, so the result is not about the fruit alone. | 5 |
| Healthy Aging | Preliminary mechanism | Not enough evidence | Bone health and osteoporosis: In rats and cells the fruit and its extracts improved bone measures. No human bone trial was found, and the 2017 review asks for well-designed clinical trials. | 2 8 4 6 3 |
| Liver Support | Preliminary mechanism | Not enough evidence | Liver protection (lab and animal): In mice, the fruit compound specnuezhenide and fruit polysaccharides lowered liver damage markers after a chemical injury. Nobody has shown this in people. | 22 17 15 |
| Immune Support | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Immune support, antioxidant and antiviral activity (lab only): Reviews describe immune-regulating, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in cells and animals. The cancer centre notes human data are quite limited. This does not show it boosts immunity in people. | 1 3 15 |
| Inflammation Balance | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Immune support, antioxidant and antiviral activity (lab only): Reviews describe immune-regulating, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in cells and animals. The cancer centre notes human data are quite limited. This does not show it boosts immunity in people. | 1 3 15 |
| Joint Support | Drug or supplement interaction | Not enough evidence | Er Zhi Wan combined with arthritis and asthma drugs (rat and cell studies): In rats, the Er Zhi Wan formula or a Ligustrum plus Epimedium pair worked better than methotrexate or dexamethasone alone. This is an early lab signal that herb and drug can interact, not evidence of benefit for people. | 12 14 |
B. Body systems
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immune System | Biological association | Very low certainty | Studied for: Quality of life during lung-cancer chemotherapy (reishi + privet combination) Studied for: Low white blood cells after chemotherapy (leukopenia) | 13 15 1 3 12 14 |
| Reproductive System | Biological association | Very low certainty | Studied for: Thin womb lining and pregnancy rate (capsule product) Studied for: Hot flushes in women with breast cancer on chemotherapy (formula containing Er Zhi Wan) | 18 5 |
| Endocrine System | Biological association | Very low certainty | Studied for: Hot flushes in women with breast cancer on chemotherapy (formula containing Er Zhi Wan) | 5 |
| Musculoskeletal System | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Bone health and osteoporosis Studied for: Er Zhi Wan combined with arthritis and asthma drugs (rat and cell studies) | 2 8 4 6 3 12 14 |
| Hepatic System | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Liver protection (lab and animal) | 22 17 15 |
| Nervous System | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Eyesight and retina | 20 15 |
G. Root causes and contributing factors
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medication side effects | Drug or supplement interaction | Not enough evidence | Rat studies show the formula changed the effect of methotrexate and dexamethasone; no human study. Preparation or compound: Fruit and Er Zhi Wan with immune and arthritis drugs |
12 14 |
I. Biomarkers
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Womb lining thickness (ultrasound) | Biological association | Very low certainty | Measured in trials: raised. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 18 |
| Lung-cancer quality-of-life score (FACT-L) | Biological association | Very low certainty | Measured in trials: no-change. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 13 |
| Hot flushes per week (self-reported) | Biological association | Very low certainty | Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 5 |
J. Genes, receptors and enzymes
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HIF1A / VEGFA | Preliminary mechanism | Animal | Retinal blood-vessel pathway. | 20 |
K. Biological pathways
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calbindin-D9k, TRPV6 and vitamin D receptor | Preliminary mechanism | Animal | Calcium absorption genes in rat gut. | 8 |
L. Active compounds
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oleanolic acid | Biological association | Animal | Named as the major pharmacologically active component in a 2015 review; liver and bone effects are lab and animal. Preparation or compound: Fruit |
17 2 |
| Ursolic acid | Biological association | Animal | Reported anti-osteoporosis activity in the lab. Preparation or compound: Fruit |
2 |
| Salidroside | Biological association | Animal | Called an active constituent in blood after dosing; named as a bone-active compound; suggested as an active compound of the Erzhi pill with methotrexate in rats. Preparation or compound: Fruit |
2 12 |
| Specnuezhenide | Biological association | Animal | Reduced retinal vessel growth and mouse liver injury in the lab. Preparation or compound: Fruit |
20 22 |
| Nuzhenide | Biological association | In vitro | Named as a possible anti-osteoporosis compound. Preparation or compound: Fruit |
2 |
| Polysaccharides, flavonoids and iridoid glycosides | Biological association | In vitro | 206 compounds isolated in total, mainly flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, iridoid glycosides and triterpenoids. Preparation or compound: Fruit |
3 21 |
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 3 lab markers
Tap a number to show only those markers. Counts are markers, not people.
The evidence
The research centre for Ligustrum. 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 read our existing herb summary, searched PubMed, read the abstract of every PubMed study cited, read the Memorial Sloan Kettering page, and checked names in GBIF and compounds in PubChem. NCCIH has no ligustrum page; EMA, LiverTox and LactMed were not read.
Study library: every study we checked 22
| Study | Design | People | Product, dose, length | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cao 2023 Ligustri Lucidi Fructus, a traditional Chinese Medicine: Comprehensive review of botany, traditional uses, chemical composition, pharmacology, and toxicity J Ethnopharmacol · PMID 36208822 · DOI |
Narrative review review |
Literature on Ligustri Lucidi Fructus | Ligustri Lucidi Fructus (fruit) fruit n/a n/a · vs n/a |
Lists traditional uses (dizziness, tinnitus, weak waist and knees, early grey hair, darkened eyes, hot flashes). Reports extracts and compounds act in lab and animal work against tumours, liver injury, high sugar and fats, and on immune regulation. Calls for further study of the medical use, toxicity and pharmacokinetics. Review conclusion: more in-depth studies needed Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Botany, traditional use, chemistry, pharmacology, toxicity Limitations: Narrative review, no quality grading; mostly lab and animal evidence; abstract gives no toxicity detail. Funding and conflicts: No competing interests declared. Read: abstract |
| Chen 2017 Fructus Ligustri Lucidi in Osteoporosis: A Review of its Pharmacology, Phytochemistry, Pharmacokinetics and Safety Molecules · PMID 28872612 · DOI |
Narrative review review |
About 150 papers on FLL and bone | Fructus Ligustri Lucidi fruit n/a n/a · vs n/a |
Animal and cell data show better bone metabolism and quality in ovariectomised, growing, aged and diabetic rats. Oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, salidroside and nuzhenide are reported anti-osteoporosis compounds. Salidroside is an active constituent in blood; tyrosol is hard to detect. Acute and subacute toxicity studies show it is well tolerated. The authors ask for well-designed clinical trials. Animal and cell data only for bone Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Bone effects, constituents, pharmacokinetics, safety Limitations: No human bone trial reviewed; toxicity conclusion rests on animal studies. Funding and conflicts: No competing interests declared. Read: abstract |
| Chen 2024 A review of botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and applications of the herb with the homology of medicine and food: Ligustrum lucidum W.T. Aiton Front Pharmacol · PMID 38933667 · DOI |
Narrative review review |
Literature on L. lucidum | Ligustrum lucidum fruit fruit n/a n/a · vs n/a |
206 compounds isolated (flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, iridoid glycosides, triterpenoids). Reported effects (bone, tumour, liver, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immune) are from lab and animal work. More than 100 prescriptions in the 2020 Chinese Pharmacopoeia contain it, including Er Zhi Wan. Not applicable Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Botany, 206 isolated compounds, pharmacology, uses Limitations: Narrative review; no grading of evidence. Funding and conflicts: No competing interests declared. Read: abstract |
| Cheng 2011 A traditional Chinese herbal preparation, Er-Zhi-Wan, prevent ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in rats J Ethnopharmacol · PMID 22001072 · DOI |
Animal research animal |
60 Female rats after ovary removal |
Er-Zhi-Wan (Fructus Ligustri Lucidi plus Herba Ecliptae) fruit plus Eclipta herb 2.25, 4.5 or 9.0 g/kg/day in rats (animal dose, not for people) 26 weeks · vs estradiol valerate; vehicle |
The formula prevented bone loss and worsening bone structure in rats, and, per the abstract, without affecting uterus weight. Rats only; no uterine growth effect seen Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Bone density and turnover markers, uterus weight Limitations: Rats; formula of two herbs; amounts are animal amounts. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in abstract record. Read: abstract |
| Chin 2025 Efficacy of Chinese Herbal Medicine in Managing Hot Flushes in Breast Cancer Patients on Adjuvant Chemotherapy: A Clinical Investigation Integr Cancer Ther · PMID 41317109 · DOI |
Non randomised trial |
48 Women with stage I-III breast cancer on adjuvant chemotherapy (43 finished) |
Jia Wei Xiao Yao San plus Er Zhi Wan (3:1) formula; Er Zhi Wan contains Ligustrum fruit formula (includes fruit) 4 g three times a day 24 weeks · vs non-CHM control group (not randomised) |
Fewer hot flushes at 12 and 24 weeks and lower severity at 12 weeks in the herb group (P < .05); no severe adverse effects observed. Reduced hot flush frequency (numbers not in abstract) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Hot flush frequency and severity, quality of life, acupoint electrical activity Limitations: Not randomised; formula of two parts, Ligustrum is only one ingredient in one part; small; self-rated symptoms. Funding and conflicts: No competing interests declared. Read: abstract |
| Dong 2016 Ethanol Extract of Fructus ligustri lucidi Increased Circulating 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) Levels, but Did Not Improve Calcium Balance in Mature Ovariectomized Rats Am J Chin Med · PMID 27627920 · DOI |
Animal research animal |
Mature ovariectomised rats and human kidney cells | FLL ethanol extract versus water extract fruit Not stated in abstract Not stated in abstract · vs water extract |
Neither extract clearly improved calcium balance; the ethanol extract (not water) raised active vitamin D in rats and boosted its activating enzyme in kidney cells. Mixed: vitamin D raised, calcium balance not improved Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Calcium balance, active vitamin D Limitations: Animal and cell study; shows the results depend on the extract type. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in abstract record. Read: abstract |
| EBSCO Research Starters Ligustrum's therapeutic uses (EBSCO Research Starters) EBSCO Research Starters · Source |
Consumer reference |
General readers | Not stated Not stated |
Summary-only (from our existing herb summary; page not re-opened). Safety not established in young children, pregnant or nursing women, or people with severe liver or kidney disease; interactions not covered. Methods, limits and fundingLimitations: Consumer reference; not re-opened for this profile. Read: summary-only |
| Feng 2014 Fructus ligustri lucidi ethanol extract improves bone mineral density and properties through modulating calcium absorption-related gene expression in kidney and duodenum of growing rats Calcif Tissue Int · PMID 24343527 · DOI |
Animal research animal |
Growing male rats | FLL ethanol extract fruit 0.40-0.90% of diet 4 months · vs vehicle control |
Raised bone mass, increased the bone-formation marker OCN and lowered the resorption marker CTX-I; raised calcium absorption and retention. Rats only Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Bone density, calcium absorption, turnover markers Limitations: Animal study; extract not the same as dried fruit. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in abstract record. Read: abstract |
| GBIF 2026 GBIF species match: Ligustrum vulgare L. GBIF · Source |
Database n/a |
Taxonomy | Not stated Not stated |
Accepted name, family Oleaceae, key 3172300; a separate species from L. lucidum; read via API 2026-10-25. Methods, limits and fundingLimitations: Backbone taxonomy only. Read: full-text |
| GBIF 2026 GBIF species match: Ligustrum lucidum W.T.Aiton GBIF · Source |
Database n/a |
Taxonomy | Not stated Not stated |
Accepted name, family Oleaceae, key 3172297; read via API 2026-10-25. Methods, limits and fundingLimitations: Backbone taxonomy only. Read: full-text |
| IUCN GISD 2026 Ligustrum lucidum (Global Invasive Species Database, IUCN) IUCN GISD · Source |
Database n/a |
Invasive-species record | Not stated Not stated |
Summary-only (from our existing herb summary). Says leaves and fruit of glossy privet are poisonous to humans, citing a local weed-council source. Methods, limits and fundingLimitations: Weed-database statement, not a clinical toxicity study; not re-opened. Read: summary-only |
| Li 2026 Erzhi pill enhances methotrexate efficacy in rheumatoid arthritis bone homeostasis via activation of the IDO1-KYN-AhR pathway Phytomedicine · PMID 42208105 · DOI |
Animal research animal |
Rat arthritis model and bone cells | Erzhi pill with methotrexate fruit plus Eclipta formula Not stated in abstract Not stated in abstract · vs methotrexate alone |
The pill plus methotrexate beat methotrexate alone for bone protection in rats; salidroside and ferulic acid were suggested active compounds. An erratum exists for this paper. Rats and cells only Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Bone loss in arthritis Limitations: Animal; shows the formula can change how a drug performs in the lab, but no human data. Erratum published, details not read. Funding and conflicts: Authors declare no competing interests (per abstract record). Read: abstract |
| Liu 2020 Preliminary Efficacy and Safety of Reishi & Privet Formula on Quality of Life Among Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial Integr Cancer Ther · PMID 32840126 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
82 Adults in China with non-small cell lung cancer starting chemotherapy |
Reishi & Privet Formula (reishi mushroom plus Ligustrum lucidum; exact fruit amount not stated in abstract) fruit (privet) plus reishi, combination 3.36 g/day of the formula 6 weeks · vs placebo (randomised 3:1) |
Quality of life was higher on the formula but not statistically significant (FACT-L total P = .086); general health P = .050; emotional well-being P = .090. Adverse event rates did not differ between groups. No significant difference on the main outcome Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Quality of life (FACT-L total), safety by CTCAE Limitations: Phase II pilot; combination product so the fruit cannot be separated from reishi; small, 3:1 allocation; abstract calls for adequately powered trials. Funding and conflicts: Grant funding from Nanjing Zhongke Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd declared (industry link). Read: abstract |
| Ma 2026 Epimedium brevicornum Maxim and Ligustrum lucidum Ait enhance glucocorticoid-associated anti-inflammatory effects in asthma via the cAMP/PKA/CREB signaling pathway J Ethnopharmacol · PMID 41690429 · DOI |
Animal research animal |
Asthma model in rats and human airway cells | Epimedium plus Ligustrum decoction, with dexamethasone fruit plus Epimedium Not stated in abstract (first part read) Not stated · vs dexamethasone alone |
Abstract (read in part) says the herb pair, especially combined with dexamethasone, was associated with reduced airway inflammation in rats; the pair appeared to alter steroid-related signalling. Rats and cells only Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Airway inflammation markers Limitations: Only the first part of the abstract was read; an erratum exists. Animal data suggest herb-steroid interaction is plausible, not proven in people. Funding and conflicts: Not stated. Read: abstract |
| Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center 2022 Ligustrum lucidum (Memorial Sloan Kettering integrative medicine herb page) Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center · Source |
Authoritative guidance |
Patients and clinicians | Not stated Not stated |
Read 2026-10-25. Often used in combination in Chinese medicine. Lab findings only for antitumour, immune, sugar, bone, antiviral, liver effects. Ligustrum with Siberian ginseng may protect against chemotherapy-induced bone-marrow suppression (referenced work not opened). Data in humans are quite limited; a reishi-and-Ligustrum formula helped maintain quality of life in a small lung-cancer trial. Contraindication: hypersensitivity. Adverse reactions: none reported. Purported uses: cancer, immune stimulation, dizziness, fever, insomnia, poor vision. Methods, limits and fundingLimitations: Cancer-centre summary; not a systematic review; the dosage section is for patients of that centre only. Read: full-text |
| NCBI 2026 NCBI Taxonomy: Ligustrum lucidum NCBI · Source |
Database n/a |
Taxonomy | Not stated Not stated |
Taxonomy ID 458695 returned by NCBI search for Ligustrum lucidum, 2026-10-25. Methods, limits and fundingLimitations: ID only; record page not opened. Read: summary-only |
| Pang 2015 The advances in research on the pharmacological effects of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi Biomed Res Int · PMID 25874204 · DOI |
Narrative review review |
Literature on FLL | Fructus Ligustri Lucidi fruit n/a n/a · vs n/a |
Describes liver-protective, anticancer and antioxidant activity and names oleanolic acid as a major active component. Abstract gives no human data. Not applicable Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Pharmacological effects Limitations: Short abstract; narrative review; lab and animal focus. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in abstract record. Read: abstract |
| Ruan 2023 A prospective study on the endometrium properties and the pregnancy rate of infertile women with thin endometrium receiving Fructus ligustri lucidi used in traditional Chinese medicine Gynecol Endocrinol · PMID 37624969 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
104 Women aged 20-40 with infertility and thin womb lining |
Zi Gui Nv Zhen capsules (a Fructus Ligustri Lucidi product; full recipe not stated in abstract) fruit-based capsule product Not stated in abstract 3 months (abstract also says two months of use) · vs no treatment (open label) |
Lining thickness 0.8 +/- 0.27 vs 0.68 +/- 0.10 (p < .05); type A lining 34.2% vs 13.2%; pregnancy 43.6% vs 22.4% (p < .05). Liver and kidney markers stayed in the normal range; no adverse events reported. Higher lining and pregnancy rate vs no treatment Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Womb-lining thickness and type at ovulation; clinical pregnancy rate; liver and kidney tests Limitations: Open-label with no placebo; the abstract calls it both randomised and observational; units for thickness not given in abstract; product is a capsule, not the plain fruit. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in abstract record. Read: abstract |
| Wendt 2023 Exposures to fruit plants in Germany from 2010-2019: Analysis of the Erfurt joint poison information center database Bundesgesundheitsblatt · PMID 37828294 · DOI |
Observational |
16088 Poison-centre inquiries about plants in Germany; 69.5% of relevant inquiries involved children aged 1 to under 6 |
Fruit plants including common privet (Ligustrum vulgare) fruit/berries Exposures, amounts not stated in abstract 2010-2019 · vs n/a |
Ligustrum vulgare was among the plants most often asked about. Across all fruit plants, 82% of exposures had no symptoms, 14.7% mild, 3% moderate, 0.3% severe. The abstract does not give privet-specific outcomes. Authors call poisoning by fruit plants rare but note a need for information. Overall fruit-plant outcomes only Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Symptom outcome after fruit-plant exposure Limitations: Abstract does not break outcomes down by species; German-language paper. Funding and conflicts: Not stated. Read: abstract |
| Wu 2016 Inhibition of Hypoxia-Induced Retinal Angiogenesis by Specnuezhenide, an Effective Constituent of Ligustrum lucidum Ait., through Suppression of the HIF-1alpha/VEGF Signaling Pathway Molecules · PMID 28009852 · DOI |
Animal research animal |
Human retinal cell line and rat pups with oxygen-induced retinopathy | Specnuezhenide (isolated compound) fruit compound 5 and 10 mg/kg in rat pups Not stated in abstract · vs untreated / YC-1 |
The compound reduced VEGF release in cells and prevented abnormal new retinal vessels in rat pups. Cell and rat results only Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Eye blood-vessel growth, VEGF Limitations: Isolated compound, not the whole fruit; no human eye data. Funding and conflicts: Not stated; authors declare no conflict. Read: abstract |
| Xi 2026 Acute and subacute oral toxicity of acetylated Ligustrum lucidum Ait. polysaccharide in male mice Drug Chem Toxicol · PMID 41230684 · DOI |
Animal research animal |
Male mice | Chemically modified (acetylated) polysaccharide from wine-steamed fruit fruit polysaccharide, modified 250-2000 mg/kg in mice Acute and subacute · vs none |
LD50 above 2000 mg/kg and no-observed-adverse-effect level of 250 mg/kg; doses of 250-2000 mg/kg changed oxidative-stress markers in organs. Mouse toxicity only Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Toxicity Limitations: A chemically modified extract, not the dried fruit; male mice only. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in abstract record. Read: abstract |
| Zhang 2025 Specnuezhenide mitigates tunicamycin-induced liver injury in mice via ER stress modulation and metabolic reprogramming Mol Biol Rep · PMID 40788369 · DOI |
Animal research animal |
Male mice given a liver-injuring drug | Specnuezhenide (isolated compound) fruit compound 40, 80 or 160 mg/kg in mice 7 days before injury · vs positive control PBA |
Pretreatment lowered ALT and AST and improved liver tissue in mice. Mouse liver protection only Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Liver enzymes and tissue Limitations: Isolated compound given before a chemical injury; no human data. Funding and conflicts: Authors declare no competing interests. Read: abstract |
What we do not know yet
- No human interaction study.
- No LiverTox, LactMed, EMA or NCCIH entry read.
- The mild GI effects are NOT verified at source.
- No human trial of the plain fruit alone.
- No trial of low white blood cells after chemotherapy.
How new research is added
New studies are found by a saved PubMed search and placed in a review queue. A person reads each one before it changes any rating or safety wording.
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".
Other 3
Womb lining thickness (ultrasound)
Raised in trials
Thickness of the lining of the womb measured by ultrasound around ovulation.
Very low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
A thin lining is linked with trouble getting pregnant.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Statistically significant in one open-label study; units and clinical cut-offs not given in the abstract.
Safety implication
Liver and kidney tests stayed normal in that study; hormonal effects were not reported.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | Thickness 0.8 +/- 0.27 vs 0.68 +/- 0.10 (p < .05); type A lining 34.2% vs 13.2%; pregnancy 43.6% vs 22.4% | 104 women with thin womb lining | Zi Gui Nv Zhen capsules vs no treatment, open label |
Lung-cancer quality-of-life score (FACT-L)
No clear change in trials
A questionnaire on physical, social, emotional and functional wellbeing in lung cancer; higher is better.
Very low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
Main outcome of the chemotherapy trial.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
The main outcome missed statistical significance.
Safety implication
No adverse-event difference from placebo.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | FACT-L total higher on formula but not significant (P = .086) | 82 adults with lung cancer on chemotherapy | Reishi & Privet Formula vs placebo, 6 weeks |
Hot flushes per week (self-reported)
Lowered in trials
How many hot flushes a person reports each week, and how severe.
Very low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
A common troublesome symptom after chemotherapy.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Self-reported, unblinded, not randomised.
Safety implication
No severe adverse effects reported.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Fewer hot flushes at 12 and 24 weeks; lower severity at 12 weeks (P < .05) | 43 women with breast cancer finishing the study | Jia Wei Xiao Yao San + Er Zhi Wan vs no herbal treatment, non-randomised |
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
- Not the same plant as garden privet. Nu zhen zi is the dried ripe fruit of Ligustrum lucidum (glossy privet). Common privet (Ligustrum vulgare) is a different species that poison centres get many calls about, and a weed database says the leaves and fruit of glossy privet are poisonous to humans. Do not pick berries from hedges or use them as medicine. Authoritative guidance 19 11 9
- Human safety data are thin. Safety has not been established in children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or people with severe liver or kidney disease. Interactions were not covered by the consumer sources read. Authoritative guidance 7 15
- Mostly animal safety data. A 2017 review says acute and subacute toxicity studies show the fruit is well tolerated, but these are animal studies. Human trials that reported safety were small and short. Animal research 2 13 18
Side effects 3
| Effect | How often | Severity and recovery | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| None reported in the cancer-centre summary MSK lists adverse reactions as none reported. This reflects thin data, not proof of safety. | Not established | unknown Not stated | Authoritative guidance 15 |
| Thirst, dizziness, mild stomach pain and diarrhoea (GI effects) Summary-only: our existing herb summary says one reference in a bone-health review mentions these. The abstract of that review (Chen 2017) does not mention them, so this is NOT verified here. Source and frequency unknown. | Not established | mild Said to resolve after stopping (per the graph summary of a bone review) | Authoritative guidance 2 |
| No adverse events in small trials Adverse event rates did not differ from placebo in the 82-person lung-cancer trial; the 104-woman capsule study reported none; the 43-woman hot-flush study saw no severe effects. All were small and short. | Not established | none reported n/a | Controlled trial 13 18 5 |
Liver
No human case of liver injury from Ligustrum fruit was found in the sources read. Normal liver and kidney tests were reported in the womb-lining trial. Mouse work shows liver protection with an isolated compound, which is not a safety guarantee. No LiverTox entry for Ligustrum could be found. 18 22
How often. No frequency data.
Monitoring. No agency monitoring advice found.
This is a safety connection. It is not evidence that Ligustrum supports liver health.
Medicines and supplements 5
| With | Why it matters | Importance | Evidence | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immunosuppressants, steroids and autoimmune treatments immune | Reviews describe immune-regulating effects in cells and animals, so an effect on immune drugs is theoretically possible. | No human interaction study found. Rat work shows the Erzhi pill with methotrexate and an Epimedium-Ligustrum pair with dexamethasone changed outcomes versus the drug alone. | Pharmacological theory Not enough evidence 1 12 14 | People on immunosuppressants, steroids or for autoimmune disease should ask their doctor or pharmacist first. |
| Chemotherapy and cancer drugs oncology | Used alongside chemotherapy in Chinese practice; interaction not studied. | The one placebo-controlled trial found no difference in adverse events, but it was small and a combination product. | Controlled trial Very low certainty 13 15 | Tell the cancer team before using; they can advise on timing and monitoring. |
| Hormone treatments and hormone-blocking cancer drugs hormonal | Er Zhi Wan is used for hot flashes and the womb-lining study used a capsule in women trying to conceive; no source read states the fruit has oestrogen-like action in people. | In ovariectomised rats Er Zhi Wan did not change uterus weight. | Animal research Not enough evidence 4 18 5 | Women on hormone therapy or hormone-blocking drugs should ask their doctor or pharmacist. |
| Vitamin D and calcium supplements nutrient | An ethanol extract raised active vitamin D in rats. | Unknown in people. | Animal research Not enough evidence 6 | Ask a doctor or pharmacist before use. |
| Drugs processed by the liver (enzyme effects) pharmacokinetic | No human enzyme or transporter study was found. | Unknown. | Pharmacological theory Not enough evidence 1 | Ask a doctor or pharmacist before use. |
Who should check first 4
| Situation | Advice | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Allergy to Ligustrum lucidum | Do not use. | Authoritative guidance 15 |
| Pregnancy and breastfeeding | Safety is not established; avoid medicinal use unless a clinician advises. The womb-lining study enrolled women trying to conceive but gives no safety data for pregnancy itself in the abstract. | Authoritative guidance 7 18 |
| Children, and people with severe liver or kidney disease | Safety not established. | Authoritative guidance 7 |
| Autoimmune disease or immunosuppressant use | Theoretical concern only; ask a clinician. | Pharmacological theory 1 |
Overdose, product quality and regulators
Summary. Animal tests suggest low toxicity of the fruit and its extracts. Human poisoning from the prepared medicine was not found, but garden privet berries are a known cause of poison-centre calls.
Animal. A 2017 review says acute and subacute toxicity studies show the fruit is well tolerated. A modified (acetylated) polysaccharide had an LD50 above 2000 mg/kg in mice and a no-observed-adverse-effect level of 250 mg/kg, with changes in oxidative stress markers at 250-2000 mg/kg.
Human doses studied. Trial amounts are not covered here.
High dose or long term signals. Longest human data: 24 weeks (hot-flush study). No long-term data found.
Overdose response. Not described in the sources read.
Genotoxicity. Not stated in the sources read.
Toxic plant parts. A weed database says the leaves and fruit of glossy privet are poisonous to humans (summary-only). Common privet berries (Ligustrum vulgare) often prompt poison-centre calls; in a German study of fruit plants overall 82% of exposures caused no symptoms and 0.3% were severe, but outcomes for privet alone were not in the abstract. The medicine is the prepared dried fruit, not fresh hedge berries.
No contamination study of Ligustrum fruit products was found. Mix-ups with other privets are the main identity risk.
Look-alike privets. Ligustrum vulgare (common privet) and L. lucidum are separate accepted species in GBIF. MSK notes that several Ligustrum species are thought to have different medicinal properties. 10 9 15
Heavy metals, pesticides, mould toxins. No study found. Not found.
Processing. A 2026 mouse paper says the herb is wine-steamed in traditional practice; the processed form can differ from the raw fruit. 21
| Body | Action | Date |
|---|---|---|
| NIH NCCIH (United States) | Not found. NCCIH pages for ligustrum and ligustrum-lucidum returned 404. | |
| Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (United States) | Herb page lists hypersensitivity as the contraindication and adverse reactions as none reported. source | 2022 |
When to get medical help
- Swelling of the face or throat, trouble breathing or a spreading rash after taking it: seek emergency care.
- Vomiting, severe belly pain, drowsiness or confusion after anyone (especially a child) eats privet berries: call a poison centre or emergency services.
- Yellow eyes or skin, dark urine or severe tiredness: stop and see 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 ligustrum?
Is it the same as the privet in garden hedges?
What is Er Zhi Wan?
Does ligustrum help during chemotherapy?
Does it protect against low white blood cells from chemotherapy?
No human trial of the fruit was found. A cancer-centre page mentions a possible protective effect of a Ligustrum and Siberian ginseng mix, without a human trial we could trace.
Can it thicken the womb lining or help fertility?
One open-label study of 104 women with a capsule product reported a thicker lining and more pregnancies. It had no placebo, so it is weak evidence.
Does it help hot flushes?
A small non-randomised study of a formula containing Er Zhi Wan reported fewer hot flushes after breast-cancer chemotherapy. The effect cannot be assigned to Ligustrum.
Is there any hormone effect?
Is it safe in pregnancy or breastfeeding?
Safety has not been established, so avoid medicinal use unless a clinician advises.
Does it interact with immune-suppressing drugs?
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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 read our existing herb summary, searched PubMed, read the abstract of every PubMed study cited, read the Memorial Sloan Kettering page, and checked names in GBIF and compounds in PubChem. NCCIH has no ligustrum page; EMA, LiverTox and LactMed were not read.
- 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. The one placebo-controlled trial had an industry grant, noted in its record.
Sources 22
Each source was opened and checked. Where we read only the abstract, it says so. The small numbers in the text point here.
- Cao M, Wu J, Peng Y, et al.. Ligustri Lucidi Fructus, a traditional Chinese Medicine: Comprehensive review of botany, traditional uses, chemical composition, pharmacology, and toxicity. J Ethnopharmacol. 2023. PMID 36208822. DOI 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115789. (abstract)
- Chen B, Wang L, Li L, et al.. Fructus Ligustri Lucidi in Osteoporosis: A Review of its Pharmacology, Phytochemistry, Pharmacokinetics and Safety. Molecules. 2017. PMID 28872612. DOI 10.3390/molecules22091469. (abstract)
- Chen L, Huang D, Jiang L, et al.. A review of botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and applications of the herb with the homology of medicine and food: Ligustrum lucidum W.T. Aiton. Front Pharmacol. 2024. PMID 38933667. DOI 10.3389/fphar.2024.1330732. (abstract)
- Cheng M, Wang Q, Fan Y, et al.. A traditional Chinese herbal preparation, Er-Zhi-Wan, prevent ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2011. PMID 22001072. DOI 10.1016/j.jep.2011.09.030. (abstract)
- Chin CY, Wu SC, Wang HY, et al.. Efficacy of Chinese Herbal Medicine in Managing Hot Flushes in Breast Cancer Patients on Adjuvant Chemotherapy: A Clinical Investigation. Integr Cancer Ther. 2025. PMID 41317109. DOI 10.1177/15347354251398843. (abstract)
- Dong XL, Cao SS, Zhou LP, et al.. Ethanol Extract of Fructus ligustri lucidi Increased Circulating 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) Levels, but Did Not Improve Calcium Balance in Mature Ovariectomized Rats. Am J Chin Med. 2016. PMID 27627920. DOI 10.1142/S0192415X16500695. (abstract)
- EBSCO Research Starters. Ligustrum's therapeutic uses (EBSCO Research Starters). EBSCO Research Starters. . (summary-only)
- Feng X, Lyu Y, Wu Z, et al.. Fructus ligustri lucidi ethanol extract improves bone mineral density and properties through modulating calcium absorption-related gene expression in kidney and duodenum of growing rats. Calcif Tissue Int. 2014. PMID 24343527. DOI 10.1007/s00223-013-9825-4. (abstract)
- GBIF. GBIF species match: Ligustrum vulgare L.. GBIF. 2026. (full-text)
- GBIF. GBIF species match: Ligustrum lucidum W.T.Aiton. GBIF. 2026. (full-text)
- IUCN GISD. Ligustrum lucidum (Global Invasive Species Database, IUCN). IUCN GISD. 2026. (summary-only)
- Li X, Liu X, Ye Q, et al.. Erzhi pill enhances methotrexate efficacy in rheumatoid arthritis bone homeostasis via activation of the IDO1-KYN-AhR pathway. Phytomedicine. 2026. PMID 42208105. DOI 10.1016/j.phymed.2026.158290. (abstract)
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