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Herb Profile
Lithospermum Erythrorhizon
Lithospermum erythrorhizon
Lithospermum Erythrorhizon (Lithospermum erythrorhizon) carries a Grade C rating — limited evidence.
Last reviewed: •3 sources citedReport a correctionProfile-wide ·C Limited
Use extra caution — Immune modulating activity is plausible; use caution with autoimmune disease, transplant medicines, or immunosuppressants. Details
- Evidence
- Limited Evidence
- Typical onset
- Varies by prep
- Safety rating
- High caution
- Best for
- Skin Support, Anti Inflammatory, Inflammatory signaling
- Avoid / review if
- Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Without Clinician Supervision, Known Allergy To The Plant/Family, Potential Interaction Concern With Immunosuppressants
At a glance
From this profile's structured data- Evidence
- Grade C
- Safety
- Immune-modulating activity is plausible; use caution with autoimmune disease, transplant medicines, or immunosuppressants.
- Profile context
- skin-support, anti-inflammatory
Next stepsWhere to go next — guides & comparisons
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Safety
Safety & Cautions
Immune modulating activity is plausible; use caution with autoimmune disease, transplant medicines, or immunosuppressants.
High caution
Caution level: High. Multiple caution categories apply, or the record uses avoid/contraindication language.
- Interaction-AwareMedication or interaction context is explicitly noted.
- Pregnancy/Breastfeeding CautionPregnancy or breastfeeding caution language is present.
Detailed safety fields
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and contraindications
- Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Without Clinician Supervision
- Known Allergy To The Plant/Family
- Potential Interaction Concern With Immunosuppressants
- Use Clinician Review For High Dose Extracts Or Chronic Use.
Safety classifications
- Interaction-Aware: Medication or interaction context is explicitly noted.
- Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Caution: Pregnancy or breastfeeding caution language is present.
Full safety note
- Immune modulating activity is plausible; use caution with autoimmune disease, transplant medicines, or immunosuppressants.
Safety labels
- Interaction-Aware
- Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Caution
Evidence
Evidence Summary
Evidence lens
Read as directional context, not settled clinical proof.
LimitedLimited Evidence
Human clinical evidence: Present in source signals
Mechanistic / preclinical: Mechanism mapped — Inflammatory Signaling Modulation · NF KB Modulation
Research maturity: Emerging research — Long Term Human Evidence May Be Limited.
Safety boundary: Safety note available — Immune modulating activity is plausible; use caution with autoimmune disease, transplant medicines, or immunosuppressants.
This profile cites 3 human studies.
Study design details
Evidence Grade
Grade C: Limited Evidence
Evaluation of methodological rigor, population reach, and evidence alignment.
- Design Match
- Systematic review
- Risk of Bias
- Low
- Consistency
- Not assessed
Strongest recorded design is a systematic review, drawn from 4 recorded studies, 1 in people.
How evidence grades work
Each grade reflects the strength and consistency of published human evidence — not marketing claims. Grades are based on study count, design quality, effect size, consistency, and recency.
- Strong
- Multiple RCTs, consistent direction, adequate effect size
- Moderate
- Some RCTs or consistent observational data in humans
- Preliminary / Mixed
- Animal or in-vitro only, or conflicting human data
- Traditional / Theoretical
- Traditional use only; no controlled human trials
Clinical Study Summaries (4)1 human evidence source · 0 human trials · ~1,024 participants across 1 human evidence source with reported N · Consistency not yet classifiable
Filter by study class
Showing 4 of 4 studies.
What the evidence actually shows
This table contains 4 structured sources, including 1 human evidence source; 0 are human trials. Across 1 human evidence source with a reported sample size, the approximate participant total is 1,024; overlapping publications may include some of the same people.
| Study | Design | N | Dose | Duration | Population | Outcome | Result & magnitude | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wang J et al. · Front Pharmacol · 2022 Background | Systematic review Uses a predefined method to find and evaluate relevant studies, but may or may not pool their results statistically. | n=1024 | — | — | — | — | — | PubMed → |
Anti-Aging Potential of Phytoextract Loaded-Pharmaceutical Creams for Human Skin Cell Longetivity Jadoon S et al. · Oxid Med Cell Longev · 2015 Background | Narrative review Summarizes selected literature without the full prespecified search and selection methods of a systematic review. | — | — | — | — | — | — | PubMed → |
Lithospermum erythrorhizon cell cultures: Present and future aspects Yazaki K et al. · Plant Biotechnol (Tokyo) · 2017 Background | Narrative review Summarizes selected literature without the full prespecified search and selection methods of a systematic review. | — | — | — | — | — | — | PubMed → |
Background | Narrative review Summarizes selected literature without the full prespecified search and selection methods of a systematic review. | — | — | — | — | — | A review of shikonin highlights extensive preclinical pharmacology but unfavorable oral bioavailability and unresolved toxicology/clinical translation. This supports a strong boundary against converting mechanistic shikonin findings into human oral-efficacy claims. | PubMed → |
Dosing & Timing
- No standardized dose
- Preparation specific; use standardized product label for Preparation varies by tradition and product form and require source backed dosage review before therapeutic claims.
How Lithospermum Erythrorhizon works
Simplified mechanism pathway based on preclinical and pharmacological evidence. Does not confirm clinical efficacy.
Mechanism Pathway — How Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Works
CompoundTarget / ReceptorMechanismEffect / Outcome
Mechanisms & biological pathways (preclinical)
- Inflammatory Signaling Modulation
- NF KB Modulation
Active Compounds
Key constituents studied in Lithospermum Erythrorhizon, with full pharmacology and safety profiles.
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Review available sources for Lithospermum Erythrorhizon
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Safety first · Harm reduction
This information is educational and not medical advice. Start low, avoid risky combinations, and consult a licensed clinician before making health decisions—especially if you use medications, have diagnosed conditions, or are pregnant/breastfeeding.
Learn how we evaluate confidence, safety, and intensity on the methodology page.
Editorial Review
Checked against primary sources, cited evidence, and contraindication language before publication. Evidence claims, safety language, and affiliate modules are reviewed independently. Not personal medical advice.
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