Herbs (Global Traditional) · Traditional Chinese Medicine
Schizonepeta tenuifolia
Moderate Evidencebotanical
Hermetica Superfood Encyclopedia
Schizonepeta tenuifolia is a Traditional Chinese Medicine herb containing pulegone and menthone that modulates immune responses through cytokine regulation. The herb demonstrates anti-inflammatory effects by balancing Th1/Th2 immune pathways and reducing IgE-mediated allergic responses.
Schizonepeta tenuifolia is a perennial herb from the Lamiaceae family native to East Asia, particularly China, Korea, and Japan, where its aerial parts (spike) are harvested as the medicinal source. It is typically processed into water extracts, ethanolic extracts, or decoctions via boiling or solvent extraction of the dried herb.
No human clinical trials, RCTs, or meta-analyses have been conducted on Schizonepeta tenuifolia. All available evidence comes from preclinical in vitro studies using IgE-stimulated RBL-2H3 mast cells (PMC5937521) and animal models including BALB/c mice with DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis (PMID: 22949410) and Nc/Nga mouse AD models (PMID: 32751987, PMC7465453).
No clinically studied human dosages available. Preclinical studies used: water extract at 200 mg/kg in mice for immunomodulation (PMID: 18549677), and 10-100 μg/mL water extract in cell cultures. Mouse models applied topical or oral preparations over 5 weeks (exact doses not specified). Consult a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement.
Schizonepeta tenuifolia (Jing Jie) is used as a dried aerial herb, not as a food source, so conventional macronutrient profiling (protein, fat, carbohydrate, fiber) is not clinically relevant at typical medicinal doses (3–10 g dried herb/day in decoction). Its pharmacological value derives from its bioactive volatile and non-volatile constituents: **Essential Oil (0.5–2.0% of dried herb):** • Pulegone: ~35–55% of essential oil; primary monoterpene ketone; responsible for diaphoretic and anti-inflammatory activity; hepatotoxic at high doses • Menthone: ~15–25% of essential oil • d-Limonene: ~5–10% of essential oil • Isomenthone: ~3–8% • Isopulegone: ~2–5% • 1,8-Cineole (eucalyptol): trace to ~3% • Piperitenone: trace amounts **Flavonoids:** • Luteolin: approximately 0.05–0.2% of dried herb; anti-inflammatory, antioxidant • Hesperidin: detected in moderate concentrations • Apigenin and diosmetin glycosides: present in small quantities **Phenolic Acids:** • Rosmarinic acid: ~0.1–0.5% of dried herb; well-characterized antioxidant and anti-allergic compound; oral bioavailability estimated at ~1–5% (rapidly metabolized and conjugated) • Caffeic acid: present in lower concentrations **Triterpenoids and Sterols:** • β-Sitosterol and ursolic acid: detected in trace amounts **Minerals (approximate, from whole dried herb):** • Potassium, calcium, magnesium, and iron present in small amounts typical of Lamiaceae family herbs; not clinically significant at medicinal doses **Bioavailability Notes:** • Pulegone and other monoterpenes are rapidly absorbed orally and undergo extensive hepatic Phase I metabolism (CYP-mediated oxidation), producing reactive metabolites (menthofuran); this limits systemic exposure but raises safety concerns at high doses • Rosmarinic acid has low oral bioavailability (~1–5%) due to esterase hydrolysis and first-pass conjugation (glucuronidation, sulfation) • Flavonoids such as luteolin undergo extensive glucuronidation; bioavailability of free aglycone is typically <5% without co-administration of absorption enhancers • The traditional decoction preparation (boiling 10–15 min) extracts water-soluble phenolics and flavonoids efficiently but volatilizes a significant fraction (30–50%) of the essential oil; brief boiling or late addition (后下, hou xia) is traditionally recommended to preserve volatile components • Charred Schizonepeta (Jing Jie Tan) has markedly reduced essential oil content but increased carbon-adsorptive hemostatic compounds
Schizonepeta tenuifolia's bioactive compounds pulegone and menthone modulate immune responses by enhancing Th1 cytokine interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) while suppressing Th2 cytokine interleukin-4 (IL-4). The herb reduces allergic inflammation through decreased immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels and inhibition of mast cell and eosinophil activation. These effects appear to involve regulation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways.
Research on Schizonepeta tenuifolia consists primarily of in vitro cell studies and animal models using mouse dermatitis models. Mouse studies demonstrated significant reductions in IgE levels, mast cell infiltration, and eosinophil counts in allergic skin inflammation models. Cell culture studies show measurable increases in IFN-γ production and decreases in IL-4 secretion. However, no human clinical trials have been conducted to validate these preliminary findings or establish therapeutic dosing protocols.
Safety data for Schizonepeta tenuifolia is limited, with most information derived from traditional use patterns rather than controlled studies. The herb contains pulegone, which may be hepatotoxic in high doses, similar to other mint family plants. Potential interactions with immunosuppressive medications are theoretically possible due to its immune-modulating effects. Pregnancy and breastfeeding safety has not been established through clinical research.
