✵The article records the herb Dyers Woad Leaf—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavors, and botanical source—namely, the plant species Isatis indigotica Fort., with a detailed introduction to its botanical features, growth characteristics, ecological environment, macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the herb, pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Folium Isatidis (Dyers Woad Leaf)
Pinyin Name: Dà Qīnɡ Yè
English Name: Dyers Woad Leaf
Latin Name:Folium Isatidis Properties and Flavor: Cold; bitter
Brief Introduction:Folium Isatidis is the dried leaf of Isatis indigotica Fort. It is used to clear heat, resolve toxins, and cool the blood—indicated for warm diseases at the nutrient and blood stages accompanied by eruption, mumps, painful and swollen throat, and erysipelas. It is commonly known as Folium Isatidis, Dyers Woad Leaf, or Dà Qīnɡ Yè.
Botanical Source:Folium Isatidis (Dyers Woad Leaf) is the dried leaf of Isatis indigotica Fort., a biennial herb belonging to the genus Isatis, family Brassicaceae (Cruciferae, mustard family), order Brassicales. This commonly used species is described below:
(1) Isatis indigotica Fort.
Botanical Description:Isatis indigotica Fort. (also known as Isatis indigotica Fortune) is a member of the Brassicaceae family and genus Isatis, commonly called Song Lan. It is a biennial herb reaching 50–100 cm in height. The stem is erect, smooth, glabrous, and often covered with a waxy bloom (pruina). The root is hypertrophied and subconical, 20–30 cm long and 2–3 cm in diameter, with a khaki-colored surface bearing short transverse striations and few fibrous roots. Basal leaves form a rosette, are petiolate, and have oblong to broadly oblanceolate blades, 5–15 cm long and 1.5–4 cm wide; the apex is obtuse or bluntly pointed, margins are entire or slightly undulate, with circular auricles or inconspicuous ones; upper cauline leaves are narrowly lanceolate, entire, and sessile.
Inflorescences are terminal or axillary racemes, forming conical clusters at branch tips. Each flower has four broadly ovate or lanceolate bracts, 2–3 cm long; four yellow, broadly cuneate petals, 3–4 mm long, with truncate apices and inconspicuous short claws at the base; six stamens—four longer (3–3.2 mm) and two shorter (2–2.2 mm); and one pistil with a subcylindrical ovary, an inconspicuous style boundary, and a truncate stigma.
Silicules are nearly oblong or oblate, glabrous, with membranous marginal wings—wider at both ends—and mericarps bearing a prominent midrib. Each silicule contains one oblong, hazel-colored (pale brown) seed. Flowering occurs from April to May; fruiting, from May to June.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows naturally along field margins and water edges but is predominantly cultivated.
Growth Characteristics:Isatis indigotica Fort. prefers a warm, moist environment; it is cold-tolerant but intolerant of waterlogging. Optimal cultivation conditions include well-drained, loose, fertile sandy loam soil.
Characteristics of the Herb: The leaves are wrinkled, curled, and fragmented. When flattened, intact leaves are oblong-ovate to oblong-oblanceolate, 4–16 cm (or 5–20 cm) long and 1–4 cm (or 2–6 cm) wide; the apex is obtuse or blunt, the base tapers and decurrent into an aliform petiole; margins are entire or slightly undulate. Both upper and lower surfaces are celadon (sage green) or brownish-green, sometimes bearing dark, slightly raised spots; surfaces are glabrous, with pinnate reticulate venation—the main veins prominently raised on the underside. The herb is brittle in texture. It has a faint odor and a slightly bitter taste—or slightly sour, bitter, and astringent.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) Antibacterial activity: aqueous decoctions exhibit bactericidal effects against various Shigella species in vitro, as well as against Neisseria meningitidis. The herb also shows activity against Leptospira strains—including the bemona, jaundice hemorrhagic (Waldenström type), and seven-day fever groups. Tryptamine ketone isolated from the herb demonstrates potent antifungal activity against Trichophyton mentagrophytes, particularly effective against bacilli and dermatophytes. (2) Anticancer activity; (3) Antipyretic activity; (4) Choleretic activity; (5) Anti-inflammatory activity; etc.
Medicinal Efficacy: Clears heat, resolves toxins, cools the blood, stops bleeding, and eliminates maculopapular eruptions. Indicated for warm pathogens invading the Ying level; warm diseases with excessive heat and polydipsia; hyperpyrexia with coma; maculae and papules; exanthems; jaundice; diarrhea and dysentery—including heat-type dysentery and bacillary dysentery; mumps; pharyngitis; erysipelas; carbuncles; influenza; acute infectious hepatitis; acute gastroenteritis; acute pneumonia; hematemesis; epistaxis; oral ulcers; and carbuncular swellings.
Administration of Folium Isatidis (Dà Qīnɡ Yè):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Folium Isatidis (Dà Qīnɡ Yè)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 9–15 grams; (2) Internally: water decoction, 3–5 qián (≈9–15 grams) dried herb; fresh herb, 1–2 liǎng (≈30–60 grams); or juice extract. External use: mashed fresh herb applied topically, or wash affected area with decoction. (3) Internally: water decoction, 10–15 grams dried herb; fresh herb, 30–60 g; or juice extract taken orally. External use: mashed herb applied topically, or decoction used for washing.
✵The article records the herb Dyers Woad Leaf—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavors, and botanical source—namely, the plant species Isatis indigotica Fort., with a detailed introduction to its botanical features, growth characteristics, ecological environment, macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the herb, pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Dà Qīnɡ Yè
Botanical Description: Isatis indigotica Fort. (also known as Isatis indigotica Fortune) is a member of the Brassicaceae family and genus Isatis, commonly called Song Lan. It is a biennial herb reaching 50–100 cm in height. The stem is erect, smooth, glabrous, and often covered with a waxy bloom (pruina). The root is hypertrophied and subconical, 20–30 cm long and 2–3 cm in diameter, with a khaki-colored surface bearing short transverse striations and few fibrous roots. Basal leaves form a rosette, are petiolate, and have oblong to broadly oblanceolate blades, 5–15 cm long and 1.5–4 cm wide; the apex is obtuse or bluntly pointed, margins are entire or slightly undulate, with circular auricles or inconspicuous ones; upper cauline leaves are narrowly lanceolate, entire, and sessile.
Inflorescences are terminal or axillary racemes, forming conical clusters at branch tips. Each flower has four broadly ovate or lanceolate bracts, 2–3 cm long; four yellow, broadly cuneate petals, 3–4 mm long, with truncate apices and inconspicuous short claws at the base; six stamens—four longer (3–3.2 mm) and two shorter (2–2.2 mm); and one pistil with a subcylindrical ovary, an inconspicuous style boundary, and a truncate stigma.
Characteristics of the Herb: The leaves are wrinkled, curled, and fragmented. When flattened, intact leaves are oblong-ovate to oblong-oblanceolate, 4–16 cm (or 5–20 cm) long and 1–4 cm (or 2–6 cm) wide; the apex is obtuse or blunt, the base tapers and decurrent into an aliform petiole; margins are entire or slightly undulate. Both upper and lower surfaces are celadon (sage green) or brownish-green, sometimes bearing dark, slightly raised spots; surfaces are glabrous, with pinnate reticulate venation—the main veins prominently raised on the underside. The herb is brittle in texture. It has a faint odor and a slightly bitter taste—or slightly sour, bitter, and astringent.
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