Hermetica Superfood Encyclopedia
Legacy index-continuity record: the score and narrative are provisional and must not be represented as validated or human-approved.
Review flags: AWAITING_SEMANTIC_VALIDATION
Ban Lan Gen (Isatis indigotica root) contains indirubin and isatin as key bioactive compounds that exhibit antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. These compounds work by inhibiting viral replication and modulating immune responses, particularly interferon production.
Reported Benefits (Provisional)
Origin & History
Ban Lan Gen is derived from the root of the Isatis indigotica plant, native to China. It is typically dried and used in herbal preparations.
Research Narrative (Provisional)
Research indicates that Ban Lan Gen may have antiviral and antibacterial properties. Some studies have shown effectiveness in treating respiratory infections, but more research is needed.
Preparation & Dosage
Dosage guidance is withheld because the publication gate has not recorded adequate support for this profile.
Nutritional Profile
Ban Lan Gen (Isatis indigotica root) is a medicinal herb rather than a dietary staple, so macronutrient content is minimal in typical therapeutic doses (3-15g dried root or 10-15ml liquid extract). Key bioactive compounds include: Indigo and indirubin (alkaloid pigments, approximately 0.1-0.8% of dry weight), which contribute to antiviral and anti-inflammatory activity; Isatin (oxindole alkaloid, ~0.05-0.2% dry weight) with demonstrated antiviral properties; Epigoitrin (L-epigoitrin, a thiocyanate compound, ~0.3-1.2% dry weight), considered a primary antiviral biomarker used for quality standardization; Sinigrin (glucosinolate precursor, ~0.5-1.0% dry weight), which hydrolyzes to allyl isothiocyanate. Polysaccharides (approximately 8-15% dry weight) contribute significantly to immunostimulatory effects, including arabinogalactans. Amino acids present include arginine, proline, and glutamic acid at trace levels (~1-3% total protein equivalent). Mineral content includes iron (~12-18 mg/100g dried), calcium (~200-300 mg/100g dried), potassium (~400-600 mg/100g dried), and magnesium (~80-120 mg/100g dried). Flavonoids including clemastanin B and lariciresinol are present at ~0.1-0.5% dry weight. Vitamin C is present in small amounts (~5-15 mg/100g dried root). Bioavailability note: Water decoction (boiling 20-30 min) extracts polysaccharides and water-soluble alkaloids efficiently (~60-80% extraction); indirubin and indigo have low oral bioavailability (~10-20%) due to poor water solubility, though absorption is enhanced in traditional decoction formulas. Epigoitrin is readily bioavailable in aqueous preparations.
Reported Mechanism (Provisional)
Ban Lan Gen's primary compounds indirubin and isatin inhibit viral neuraminidase and RNA polymerase, preventing viral replication. These alkaloids also stimulate interferon-alpha and interferon-gamma production through activation of toll-like receptors. Additional flavonoids like quercetin provide anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathways.
Clinical Narrative (Provisional)
Small-scale studies involving 60-120 participants have shown Ban Lan Gen extracts may reduce upper respiratory infection duration by 1-2 days compared to placebo. In vitro studies demonstrate antiviral activity against influenza A and B viruses, with IC50 values of 15-25 μg/mL for standardized extracts. However, large-scale randomized controlled trials are limited, and most evidence comes from traditional use and preliminary research.
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