Herbs & Botanicals · Traditional Chinese cough herb

Fritillaria

Q: What is fritillaria?

Fritillaria, or chuan bei mu, is the dried bulb of mountain Fritillaria plants used in Chinese medicine for cough with phlegm.

Q: Does fritillaria help a cough?

It is a traditional cough herb, and animal studies show cough-easing effects, but no trial of the bulb alone was found. A nine-herb cough mix that included it showed no overall difference from placebo in adults.

Q: Does fritillaria help asthma?

Not shown. A five-herb capsule that included the bulb did no better than placebo in 85 children with asthma. Asthma needs medical care.

Q: What is the difference between chuan bei mu and zhe bei mu?

Chuan bei mu comes from F. cirrhosa and related mountain species. Zhe bei mu is F. thunbergii, a different bulb with its own uses and chemistry. Zhe bei mu was one of the cheaper species found mixed into chuan bei mu capsules.

Q: Why can the product be fake or mixed?

Real chuan bei mu is costly, and cheaper Fritillaria species are mixed in. A DNA test found four of eight capsules of one type adulterated at 9 to 15% of the weight.

Q: Is fritillaria endangered?

Reviews say overharvesting has reduced wild stock and call F. unibracteata endangered. One paper lists F. cirrhosa as vulnerable. Cultivated bulbs matched wild bulbs in one cough syrup.

Q: Why is fritillaria not combined with aconite?

Chinese medicine lists the two as an incompatible pair. In rats the bulb let more of a toxic aconite compound cross the gut, and in a test tube it reduced breakdown of aconite alkaloids. No human study exists.

Q: Can fritillaria affect the heart?

In cells, peimine and two related alkaloids blocked a heart-rhythm channel (hERG). It has not been shown to cause harm in people. Tell your doctor if you have a heart-rhythm condition.

Q: Is fritillaria safe in pregnancy or breastfeeding?

No safety data were found. Avoid medicinal use unless a clinician who knows the herb agrees.

Q: Is fritillaria safe for the liver or stomach?

Rats given a high-dose extract for 90 days showed liver, spleen and kidney effects that reversed. No human liver injury report was found. In a stomach trial, adverse events were similar between groups and none were serious.

Fritillaria cirrhosa · also called Chuan bei mu, Sichuan fritillary, fritillary bulb, beimu

Fritillaria (chuan bei mu) is the dried bulb of a mountain lily, used in Chinese medicine for cough with phlegm. No trial of the bulb on its own was found; the human trials test mixed formulas and show no clear benefit, and most findings come from lab and animal work. The main cautions: it is traditionally never combined with aconite (wu tou), several look-alike species are sold under the name, and lab studies show its alkaloids can block a heart-rhythm channel. Pregnancy and breastfeeding safety are unknown.

General information, not medical advice. Last substantive update October 25, 2026 · Not medically reviewed. A named clinician has not signed off on this page. How this page is made

About Fritillaria

Fritillaria (chuan bei mu) is the dried bulb of several Fritillaria species, used in Chinese medicine for cough with phlegm. Isosteroidal alkaloids such as imperialine and peimine are thought to be its active compounds. No trial of the bulb alone was found; mixed-formula trials were null or cannot isolate it. Key cautions: aconite incompatibility, species substitution (4 of 8 capsules adulterated in one test), a lab heart-channel signal, and no pregnancy or breastfeeding data. Ask a doctor or pharmacist about amounts.

What it is

Chuan bei mu is the dried bulb of mountain Fritillaria plants in the lily family. Chinese regulations allow several species as sources, including Fritillaria cirrhosa, F. przewalskii and F. unibracteata.

It is not the same as zhe bei mu (F. thunbergii), a different bulb. Garden fritillaries are not interchangeable with either.

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What makes it distinctive

The bulb is rich in isosteroidal alkaloids, including imperialine, peimine (also called verticine), peimisine and verticinone. They are the main suspected active compounds, but reviewers say the active compounds and how they work are not clearly identified.

In one cough syrup, bulbs from cultivated plants matched wild bulbs in chemistry and in a mouse test. That matters because wild stock is scarce.

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Historical and current uses

It has been used for thousands of years in China to relieve cough and clear phlegm, and it is a main ingredient of many Chinese cough syrups. It is usually combined with other herbs.

Chinese medicine lists it as one of an incompatible pair with prepared aconite.

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What the research shows

We found no randomised trial of the bulb alone. A five-herb capsule that includes it did no better than placebo in 85 children with asthma, and a nine-herb cough mix showed no overall difference from placebo in 82 adults. A meta-analysis of herbal formulas in pneumonia named Fritillaria thunbergii as a frequently used herb but cannot show it works.

Lab and animal studies, often with purified alkaloids or other species, show anti-inflammatory and lung-protective effects and effects on cancer cells. These do not show benefit in people. Several of these lab papers have authors from a herbal cough-medicine company.

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At a glance

Traditional uses history, not proof

Cough with phlegm and breathlessness (traditional Chinese medicine)
Ingredient in Chinese cough syrups and patent medicines
Traditional use for swellings and lumps (zhe bei mu, per classical texts)

Studied for research

Cough and phlegm: insufficient, no trial of the bulb alone
Asthma in children: one trial of a five-herb capsule found no benefit over placebo
Lung inflammation and scarring: lab and rat work only
Lung, gastric and breast cancer: cell, mouse and computer work only
Stomach lining inflammation: one trial, no added benefit from the bulb

Main compounds

Imperialine
Peimine (verticine)
Peimisine
Verticinone (peiminine)

Common forms

Dried sliced bulb or powder
Decoction (usually with other herbs)
Cough syrups and pastes with other herbs
Capsules and pills (adulteration found in one capsule type)

Research links: Aconite incompatibility study (P-glycoprotein, rats and cells) · Heart-channel (hERG) study of three alkaloids · Adulteration test of chuan bei mu capsules · Safety review of chuan bei mu (Evid Based Complement Altern Med 2020) · Research Library · Genes & Biomarkers Library

The plant and its history

Accepted scientific name: Fritillaria cirrhosa D.Don
Naming authority: D.Don
Common names: Chuan bei mu (Chinese (pinyin)); Sichuan fritillary (English); Fritillary bulb (English); Beimu (Chinese (pinyin)); Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus (Latin pharmacy name)
Botanical family: Liliaceae (lily family)
Classification: Plantae > Tracheophyta > not verified > not verified > Liliaceae > Fritillaria > Fritillaria cirrhosa
Native range: Not verified here. The sources call Fritillaria a genus of the northern temperate zone, and name Qinghai, Tibet-plateau, Xinjiang and Sichuan areas for various beimu species.
Habitat: Not verified.
What the plant looks like: Roots: Not verified.; Stems: Not verified.; Leaves: Not verified.; Flowers: Not verified.; Fruit: Not verified.
Cultivation: Reviews say wild plants grow very slowly, cultivation is limited and costly, seed propagation is poor and tissue culture is promising but hard at the rooting and transplanting stages.
Harvest and processing: The dried bulb is the medicinal part; usually ground to powder. Details not verified.
Look-alikes and adulterants: Name: Zhe bei mu (Fritillaria thunbergii); Note: A different bulb with its own traditional uses. Found as an adulterant in chuan bei mu capsules. It also reduced a P-glycoprotein pump more strongly than F. cirrhosa in rats.; Name: F. ussuriensis; Note: A cheaper species found as an adulterant in chuan bei mu capsules.; Name: Other beimu species (F. unibracteata, F. przewalskii and others); Note: Several are legal sources of chuan bei mu in China. F. unibracteata is described as endangered from overharvesting. F. pallidiflora (yi beimu) and F. walujewii (Xinjiang beimu) are separate beimu drugs.; Name: Crown imperial (Fritillaria imperialis) and other garden fritillaries; Note: Ornamental relatives; not medicinal chuan bei mu. Not to be swapped.
Sustainability and conservation: One paper states F. cirrhosa is IUCN Vulnerable (not checked on IUCN directly); reviews say overharvesting has made F. unibracteata endangered and wild supply is short.

Traditional use and history history, not clinical proof

Tradition or era	Documented use	Source
Traditional Chinese medicine	Used for thousands of years to relieve cough and clear phlegm; described as clearing heat and moistening the lung. The bulb is a main ingredient of many Chinese cough syrups and patent medicines.	p33273948
Chinese Pharmacopoeia	Six Fritillaria species are listed as sources of chuan bei mu (2015 edition, per the review). Yi beimu (F. pallidiflora) is listed separately for cough and wheeze.	p41470653
Classical Chinese texts (zhe bei mu)	Texts named in a 2026 paper (Shennong Bencao Jing and Bencao Zheng) record zhe bei mu for resolving phlegm, cough and swellings, including breast conditions.	p40953776
'Eighteen incompatible medicaments' (Chinese medicine rule)	Fritillaria bulb and prepared aconite root are listed as an incompatible pair that should not be used together.	p34650616

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
Imperialine PubChem 442977	isosteroidal (cevanine-type) alkaloid	bulb not stated in the sources read	Main compound reaching the blood after a related-species extract in rats; anti-inflammatory and anti-scarring in cells; blocks the P-glycoprotein pump in rat gut and cell tests. ^{13 9 1 14}	In vitro / animal
Peimine (verticine) PubChem 131900	isosteroidal (cevanine-type) alkaloid	bulb not stated in the sources read	Blocks the P-glycoprotein pump and, in cells, the hERG heart-rhythm channel (IC50 26.1 +/- 3.5 micromolar). ^{12 9 14}	In vitro / animal
Peimisine PubChem 161294	isosteroidal alkaloid	bulb not stated in the sources read	Anti-inflammatory in cells and rat lung injury; blocks the P-glycoprotein pump. ^{1 9 14}	In vitro / animal
Verticinone (peiminine) PubChem 167691	isosteroidal alkaloid	bulb not stated in the sources read	Reduced lung cancer cell survival in dishes; peiminine blocked hERG in cells (IC50 36.8 +/- 2.5 micromolar). That peiminine and verticinone are the same compound was not verified here. ^{17 12 14}	In vitro
Other compounds	saponins, nucleosides, organic acids, terpenoids, sterols	bulb not stated	Listed in the 2020 review; alkaloids are described as the main active group. ⁴	Composition only

Mechanisms, receptors and pathways

Target or pathway	Gene or receptor	What was found	Level
MyD88/TRIF, NF-kB and MAPK inflammation pathways	MYD88, TRIF, NFKB, MAPK	Four alkaloids lowered nitric oxide and inflammatory signals in mouse cells; two eased rat lung injury. ¹	In vitro / animal
P-glycoprotein (drug pump)	ABCB1 (MDR1)	Peimine, peimisine and imperialine blocked P-glycoprotein; this may explain greater gut uptake of an aconite toxin in rats. ⁹	In vitro / animal
hERG potassium channel	KCNH2 (hERG)	Peimine, peiminine and sipeimine blocked hERG current in cells. ¹²	In vitro
Rap1/ERK signalling in lung scarring (F. pallidiflora extract)	not applicable	Proposed route by which the extract reduced inflammation and collagen in rats. ¹³	In vitro / animal
Cell death and autophagy in lung cancer cells	LC3-II (autophagy marker)	Verticinone and ebeiedinone reduced lung cancer cell survival and increased apoptosis and autophagy. ¹⁷	In vitro
Human evidence on mechanism	not applicable	None. All mechanism findings are lab or animal. ²¹	None in humans

Absorption, metabolism and elimination

Absorption: Oral absorption of beimu alkaloids was low to moderate and variable in a review of F. pallidiflora, shaped by the P-glycoprotein pump and CYP enzymes. No human data for chuan bei mu found.
Distribution: Imperialine was the main alkaloid found in rat blood after a related-species extract.
Metabolism: CYP-mediated, per the F. pallidiflora review; not studied in people.
Elimination: No data found.
Bioavailability: Low to moderate and variable (animal data, related species).

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Isolated compounds versus whole extracts

Most pharmacology uses purified alkaloids at lab concentrations, or extracts of related species, not the powdered bulb or syrups people use. Cultivated and wild bulbs matched in chemistry in one multi-herb syrup. Alkaloids can partly cancel each other's hERG block, which shows a whole bulb may behave differently from one isolated compound.

Nutritional composition

No nutrient data were gathered for this profile.

9benefits and uses looked at

26studies and sources checked

Not enough evidencebest evidence rating found

8lab markers tracked in trials

8 not enough evidence1 evidence against

What is Fritillaria good for?

What Fritillaria has been studied for and how strong the human evidence is. For this herb, no trial of the bulb on its own was found, so most ratings are low and the safety points matter.

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.

Cough with phlegm (traditional use)

Not enough evidence

In Chinese medicine the dried bulb is a classic cough-and-phlegm herb. No trial of the bulb on its own was found; the human trials we found tested mixed formulas and did not show a clear benefit.

3 studiesNothing here compares products or gives amounts. Ask a doctor or phar…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

No human trial of the bulb alone. Two small trials of multi-herb formulas that contain it (chuanbei in a nine-herb cough mix; the bulb in a five-herb asthma capsule) are described under the uses below.

Results

Reviews describe cough-easing and phlegm-loosening effects in mouse and guinea pig experiments. Human results for the bulb alone: none found.

Effect sizes as reported

No pooled numbers exist for the bulb.

Why this rating

Tradition and animal work, with no human trial of the single herb. The only human trials mix it with other herbs.

Form and dose studied

Nothing here compares products or gives amounts. Ask a doctor or pharmacist about amounts.

Who was studied

Adults and children in the formula trials; no bulb-only trial.

Limits

Reviews are narrative, not systematic, and the main ones read here cover mostly lab and animal work. Acute coughs often improve on their own, which makes small trials hard to read.

Why researchers looked

Used for thousands of years in China for cough and phlegm; the Chinese pharmacopoeia lists several Fritillaria species as sources of chuan bei mu.

Traditional use

Bulb ground to powder and taken in water, or used in decoctions, cough syrups and patent medicines, usually with other herbs (review).

Proposed mechanism Lab and animal

Alkaloids such as imperialine and peimine are thought to be the active compounds, but reviewers say the active compounds and how they work are not clearly identified.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Real chuan bei mu is costly and often mixed with cheaper species. Do not combine with aconite (wu tou, fuzi). See the safety tab.

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Asthma and airway relaxation

Evidence against

Alkaloids relax airway muscle and calm airway inflammation in animal and lab work. In the one human trial that included the bulb (a five-herb capsule in children with asthma), the formula did no better than placebo.

3 studiesNothing here compares products or gives amounts. Ask a doctor or phar…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

One randomised, double-blind trial of children aged 7-15 using inhaled steroids: 85 completed 6 months of a five-herb capsule (including F. cirrhosa bulb) or placebo.

Results

No difference from placebo: steroid dose change -2.3 vs -3.1 mg (p = 0.915), severity score -2.3 vs -3.1 (p = 0.215), FEV1/FVC 0.1 vs 0.6% (p = 0.809), peak flow -7.3 vs -0.6 l/min (p = 0.118).

Effect sizes as reported

The formula's effect was smaller than the placebo effect, according to the authors.

Why this rating

One small trial of a five-herb formula found no benefit over placebo; it cannot say anything about the bulb alone, but it gives no support for a use in childhood asthma.

Form and dose studied

Nothing here compares products or gives amounts. Ask a doctor or pharmacist about amounts.

Who was studied

Children aged 7-15 with asthma.

Limits

Combination product; one trial; the bulb is one of five herbs. The animal work used related species or isolated alkaloids.

Why researchers looked

Chuan bei mu is traditionally used for wheeze and breathlessness with phlegm.

Traditional use

Decoctions and patent medicines with other herbs.

Proposed mechanism Lab and animal

Preclinical work shows alkaloids from related species relaxed airway smooth muscle and suppressed inflammatory mediators.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Asthma needs medical care. Do not replace prescribed inhalers with herbs.

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Lung inflammation and acute lung injury (lab and rats)

Not enough evidence

Four purified bulb alkaloids calmed inflammation signals in mouse cells, and two reduced lung swelling in rats. This is lab and animal work only.

2 studiesNothing here compares products or gives amounts. Ask a doctor or phar…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

No human study.

Results

Four alkaloids (ebeiedinone, imperialine, chuanbeinone, peimisine) cut inflammatory signals in LPS-stimulated mouse cells (P<0.05 or P<0.01); ebeiedinone and peimisine improved lung swelling and inflammation in rats with induced lung injury.

Effect sizes as reported

Statistical significance reported; no effect sizes in the abstract.

Why this rating

Isolated alkaloids in cells and rats; no human data.

Form and dose studied

Nothing here compares products or gives amounts. Ask a doctor or pharmacist about amounts.

Who was studied

Mouse cells; rats.

Limits

Isolated compounds, not the whole bulb or any product. Two authors are from a herbal cough-medicine company (declared; no conflict stated).

Why researchers looked

Alkaloids are the main suspected active compounds of the bulb.

Traditional use

Not applicable (isolated compounds).

Proposed mechanism In vitro and animal

The alkaloids lowered nitric oxide and inflammatory signals through MyD88/TRIF, NF-kB and MAPK pathways in cells and rat lungs.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

None specific from this study; it did not test safety in people.

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Lung scarring (pulmonary fibrosis, rats)

Not enough evidence

An alkaloid extract from a related species (F. pallidiflora) reduced lung inflammation and collagen build-up in rats. This is not chuan bei mu and not human evidence.

1 studiesNothing here compares products or gives amounts. Ask a doctor or phar…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

No human study.

Results

In rats with bleomycin-induced fibrosis, the alkaloid extract reduced inflammatory factors and collagen deposition; imperialine showed anti-fibrosis effects in cells.

Effect sizes as reported

No numbers extracted from the abstract.

Why this rating

One rat study of a different species; no human data.

Form and dose studied

Nothing here compares products or gives amounts. Ask a doctor or pharmacist about amounts.

Who was studied

Rats; a human lung cell line.

Limits

Different species from chuan bei mu. Authors include employees of a herbal cough-medicine maker (declared).

Why researchers looked

Pulmonary fibrosis has few good treatments, so bulb alkaloids are being explored.

Traditional use

Not applicable.

Proposed mechanism In vitro and animal

The extract may act through the Rap1/ERK pathway; imperialine was the main compound entering the blood.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

None specific.

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Cough and chest infections in multi-herb formulas

Not enough evidence

Chuanbei appears in many cough and chest-infection formulas. A trial of a nine-herb mix for acute coughs showed no clear difference from placebo, and a meta-analysis found formulas plus antibiotics helped in drug-resistant pneumonia, but neither isolates the bulb.

2 studiesNothing here compares products or gives amounts. Ask a doctor or phar…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Randomised trial (82 adults, acute cough from an upper respiratory infection, 5 days): 62 completed; cough scores and Leicester Cough Questionnaire improved in both groups with no overall significant difference. Meta-analysis of 38 studies (2890 patients) of herbal formulas plus antibiotics in drug-resistant bacterial pneumonia, which names Fritillaria thunbergii among four frequently used herbs.

Results

Cough trial: no adverse effects reported; sub-group signals (women: less sputum, p = 0.03; over-35s: less hoarseness, p = 0.05). Pneumonia meta-analysis: response rate RR 1.24 (95% CI 1.19-1.28) and bacterial clearance RR 1.41 (95% CI 1.27-1.57) for formulas plus antibiotics over antibiotics alone.

Effect sizes as reported

See results.

Why this rating

Formulas, not the herb, were tested; the cough trial was null overall and the pneumonia meta-analysis cannot show that Fritillaria is the active part.

Form and dose studied

Nothing here compares products or gives amounts. Ask a doctor or pharmacist about amounts.

Who was studied

Adults with acute cough; patients with drug-resistant bacterial pneumonia.

Limits

Combination products. Small trials. The meta-analysis's herb ranking shows frequency of use, not benefit. Pneumonia needs medical treatment.

Why researchers looked

Real-world use of chuan bei mu is nearly always inside mixtures.

Traditional use

Cough syrups, pills and decoctions with several herbs.

Proposed mechanism Not established

Not separable: the bulb is one of many ingredients.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Chest infections can be serious; see a doctor.

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Lung cancer cells (lab and mice)

Not enough evidence

Purified Fritillaria alkaloids reduced survival of lung cancer cells in dishes and slowed tumours in mice. No human evidence exists, and this is not a reason to use the herb.

2 studiesNothing here compares products or gives amounts. Ask a doctor or phar…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

No human study.

Results

At 15 micromolar, verticinone cut cell survival to 75.57% (H1299) and 68.9% (A549); ebeiedinone to 65.75% and 67%. At 30 micromolar, ebeiedinone made 26.44% of cells die by apoptosis. Imperialine suppressed lung tumours and inflammation in mice without clear organ damage in healthy mice.

Effect sizes as reported

As reported; cell-dish figures only.

Why this rating

Cell and mouse work with purified compounds; no human trials.

Form and dose studied

Nothing here compares products or gives amounts. Ask a doctor or pharmacist about amounts.

Who was studied

Human lung cancer cell lines; mice.

Limits

Isolated compounds at lab concentrations, not tea or powder. Two authors are from a herbal cough-medicine company (declared).

Why researchers looked

Alkaloids from the bulb are being screened as possible cancer-drug leads.

Traditional use

Not applicable.

Proposed mechanism In vitro and animal

Alkaloids increased cell death (apoptosis) and autophagy in lung cancer cells; imperialine blocked NF-kB in tumour-bearing mice.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

The herb must not replace cancer treatment. See the safety tab.

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Gastric and breast cancer (lab, mice and computer)

Not enough evidence

Peiminine boosted a chemotherapy drug in gastric cancer cells and mice. A computer study of zhe bei mu proposed breast cancer targets. None of it has been tested in people.

2 studiesNothing here compares products or gives amounts. Ask a doctor or phar…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

No human study.

Results

Gastric cancer mouse models: tumour growth inhibition above 80.8% with peiminine plus oxaliplatin vs 20.4% with oxaliplatin alone, with no added general toxicity reported. Breast cancer work was computer-only: 42 compounds and 148 targets predicted.

Effect sizes as reported

As reported in abstracts.

Why this rating

A purified alkaloid in cells and mice, and a computer model; no human data.

Form and dose studied

Nothing here compares products or gives amounts. Ask a doctor or pharmacist about amounts.

Who was studied

Human gastric cancer cells; mice; computer model.

Limits

Peiminine here came from a different species (F. walujewii). The computer study also predicted possible liver and kidney toxicity.

Why researchers looked

Classical texts reportedly describe zhe bei mu for breast lumps (per the 2026 paper).

Traditional use

Not applicable.

Proposed mechanism In vitro and animal

Peiminine plus oxaliplatin activated the mitochondrial cell-death pathway and lowered RAS/PI3K/AKT survival signals; the computer model predicted binding to the CXCR4 protein.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Do not combine herbs with chemotherapy without the oncology team.

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Stomach lining inflammation (chronic gastritis)

Not enough evidence

In one trial a zhe bei mu (F. thunbergii) powder was one part of a large herbal regimen for gastritis with erosion. Adding it did not improve results over the other groups.

1 studiesNothing here compares products or gives amounts. Ask a doctor or phar…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Randomised multi-centre trial, 216 enrolled (202 analysed) for 4 weeks: antacid vs herbal prescriptions plus Sanqi powder vs the same plus Zhebeimu powder.

Results

Erosion improved in all groups; efficacy 69.12% (antacid), 73.24% (herbs plus Sanqi), 69.01% (herbs plus Sanqi and Zhebeimu); no significant difference between groups. Adverse events 4.23% vs 4.41% in herbs-plus-Sanqi and antacid groups; none serious.

Effect sizes as reported

No benefit from adding Zhebeimu shown.

Why this rating

One trial; Fritillaria was not tested alone, and the arm that included it did no better.

Form and dose studied

Nothing here compares products or gives amounts. Ask a doctor or pharmacist about amounts.

Who was studied

Adults with chronic atrophic gastritis with erosion.

Limits

F. thunbergii, not chuan bei mu. Adverse events for the Zhebeimu arm were not given in the abstract.

Why researchers looked

Zhebeimu is a traditional ingredient in stomach formulas in China.

Traditional use

Powder added to a prescription (trial).

Proposed mechanism Not established

Not established.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

See the safety tab on stomach and gut effects.

²²

Other claims (blood pressure, antioxidant, antibacterial)

Not enough evidence

Reviews list blood-pressure-lowering, antioxidant and antibacterial effects of bulb alkaloids from experiments. We found no human trials for any of them.

2 studiesNothing here compares products or gives amounts. Ask a doctor or phar…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

No human study.

Results

Reviews report these effects qualitatively; no numbers were extracted from the abstracts.

Effect sizes as reported

None.

Why this rating

Narrative review statements based on lab and animal work.

Form and dose studied

Nothing here compares products or gives amounts. Ask a doctor or pharmacist about amounts.

Who was studied

Not applicable.

Limits

Abstract-level evidence only.

Why researchers looked

Listed in reviews of the bulb's pharmacology.

Traditional use

Not applicable.

Proposed mechanism Lab and animal

Reported in cell and animal studies; mechanisms not established.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

None specific.

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Connections to the rest of health

How Fritillaria 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

Kind of connection Connected to Search

A. Wellness goals

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Lung Support	Traditional use	Not enough evidence	Cough with phlegm (traditional use): In Chinese medicine the dried bulb is a classic cough-and-phlegm herb. No trial of the bulb on its own was found; the human trials we found tested mixed formulas and did not show a clear benefit.	^{4 21 23}
Breathing Support	Traditional use	Not enough evidence	Cough with phlegm (traditional use): In Chinese medicine the dried bulb is a classic cough-and-phlegm herb. No trial of the bulb on its own was found; the human trials we found tested mixed formulas and did not show a clear benefit.	^{4 21 23}
Breathing Support		Evidence against	Asthma and airway relaxation: Alkaloids relax airway muscle and calm airway inflammation in animal and lab work. In the one human trial that included the bulb (a five-herb capsule in children with asthma), the formula did no better than placebo.	^{19 2 21}
Lung Support		Evidence against	Asthma and airway relaxation: Alkaloids relax airway muscle and calm airway inflammation in animal and lab work. In the one human trial that included the bulb (a five-herb capsule in children with asthma), the formula did no better than placebo.	^{19 2 21}
Lung Support		Not enough evidence	Lung inflammation and acute lung injury (lab and rats): Four purified bulb alkaloids calmed inflammation signals in mouse cells, and two reduced lung swelling in rats. This is lab and animal work only. Lung scarring (pulmonary fibrosis, rats): An alkaloid extract from a related species (F. pallidiflora) reduced lung inflammation and collagen build-up in rats. This is not chuan bei mu and not human evidence.	^{1 21 13}
Lung Support		Not enough evidence	Cough and chest infections in multi-herb formulas: Chuanbei appears in many cough and chest-infection formulas. A trial of a nine-herb mix for acute coughs showed no clear difference from placebo, and a meta-analysis found formulas plus antibiotics helped in drug-resistant pneumonia, but neither isolates the bulb.	^{18 25}
Breathing Support		Not enough evidence	Cough and chest infections in multi-herb formulas: Chuanbei appears in many cough and chest-infection formulas. A trial of a nine-herb mix for acute coughs showed no clear difference from placebo, and a meta-analysis found formulas plus antibiotics helped in drug-resistant pneumonia, but neither isolates the bulb.	^{18 25}
Cellular Protection		Not enough evidence	Lung cancer cells (lab and mice): Purified Fritillaria alkaloids reduced survival of lung cancer cells in dishes and slowed tumours in mice. No human evidence exists, and this is not a reason to use the herb. Gastric and breast cancer (lab, mice and computer): Peiminine boosted a chemotherapy drug in gastric cancer cells and mice. A computer study of zhe bei mu proposed breast cancer targets. None of it has been tested in people.	^{17 8 24 26}
Digestive Support		Not enough evidence	Stomach lining inflammation (chronic gastritis): In one trial a zhe bei mu (F. thunbergii) powder was one part of a large herbal regimen for gastritis with erosion. Adding it did not improve results over the other groups.	²²
Healthy Aging		Not enough evidence	Other claims (blood pressure, antioxidant, antibacterial): Reviews list blood-pressure-lowering, antioxidant and antibacterial effects of bulb alkaloids from experiments. We found no human trials for any of them.	^{21 23}

B. Body systems

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Respiratory System	Biological association	Not enough evidence	Studied for: Cough with phlegm (traditional use) Studied for: Asthma and airway relaxation	^{4 21 23 19 2 1 13 18 25 17 8}
Digestive System	Biological association	Not enough evidence	Studied for: Gastric and breast cancer (lab, mice and computer) Studied for: Stomach lining inflammation (chronic gastritis)	^{24 26 22}
Cardiovascular System	Biological association	Not enough evidence	Studied for: Other claims (blood pressure, antioxidant, antibacterial)	^{21 23}

E. Health conditions

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Heart-rhythm problems		In vitro	hERG block in cells. Preparation or compound: Peimine and related alkaloids	¹²
Cough	Traditional use	Not enough evidence	Traditional use; trials only of multi-herb formulas. Preparation or compound: Dried bulb, in formulas	^{4 18}

I. Biomarkers

Connected to	Kind of connection	Context
Inhaled steroid dose in asthma	Biological association	Measured in trials: decrease. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.
FEV1/FVC (lung function)	Biological association	Measured in trials: increase. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.
Cough score and Leicester Cough Questionnaire	Biological association	Measured in trials: improve. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.
Treatment response in drug-resistant pneumonia	Biological association	Measured in trials: increase. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.
Nitric oxide and inflammatory factors (lab)	Biological association	Measured in trials: decrease. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.
Lung cancer cell survival (lab)	Biological association	Measured in trials: decrease. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.
Tumour growth inhibition in mice	Biological association	Measured in trials: increase. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.
Gastric erosion improvement rate	Biological association	Measured in trials: increase. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.

K. Biological pathways

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
	Preliminary mechanism	In vitro / animal		^{9 12}

L. Active compounds

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Imperialine	Biological association	In vitro / animal	Main compound reaching the blood after a related-species extract in rats; anti-inflammatory and anti-scarring in cells; blocks the P-glycoprotein pump in rat gut and cell tests. Preparation or compound: bulb	^{13 9 1 14}
Peimine (verticine)	Biological association	In vitro / animal	Blocks the P-glycoprotein pump and, in cells, the hERG heart-rhythm channel (IC50 26.1 +/- 3.5 micromolar). Preparation or compound: bulb	^{12 9 14}
Peimisine	Biological association	In vitro / animal	Anti-inflammatory in cells and rat lung injury; blocks the P-glycoprotein pump. Preparation or compound: bulb	^{1 9 14}
Verticinone (peiminine)	Biological association	In vitro	Reduced lung cancer cell survival in dishes; peiminine blocked hERG in cells (IC50 36.8 +/- 2.5 micromolar). That peiminine and verticinone are the same compound was not verified here. Preparation or compound: bulb	^{17 12 14}
Other compounds	Biological association	Composition only	Listed in the 2020 review; alkaloids are described as the main active group. Preparation or compound: bulb	⁴

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).

The evidence

The research centre for Fritillaria. 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 searched PubMed and checked GBIF and PubChem for Fritillaria. Most sources were abstracts only. No study is cited that we could not verify.

Study library: every study we checked 26

Design Research type Plant part Year from Search

Study	Design	People	Product, dose, length	Result
Aga 2026 Four Isosteroidal Alkaloids from Fritillaria Alleviate Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation in vitro and in vivo through MyD88- and TRIF-Dependent Signaling Pathways Chin J Integr Med · PMID 41252117 · DOI	Cell and animal study cell and rat; isolated Fritillaria alkaloids	Mouse macrophage cells and a rat acute lung injury model	Ebeiedinone, imperialine, chuanbeinone and peimisine (isolated alkaloids) isolated alkaloids not extracted not extracted · vs see results	All four alkaloids lowered nitric oxide release and inflammatory signals in LPS-stimulated mouse cells. Two (ebeiedinone and peimisine) improved lung swelling and inflammation in rats with acute lung injury. not extracted (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Nitric oxide, inflammatory factors, lung injury Limitations: Isolated alkaloids, not the whole bulb; cells and rats only. Two authors are from Nin Jiom Medicine Manufactory (a herbal cough-medicine maker); the paper declares no competing interests. Funding and conflicts: industry-linked authors (Nin Jiom Medicine Manufactory) though no conflict declared Read: abstract
Aierken 2025 Fritillaria pallidiflora Schrenk ex Fisch. & C.A.Mey. (Yi Beimu): Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, Pharmacological Insights, and Future Prospects Plants (Basel) · PMID 41470653 · DOI	Narrative review review; Fritillaria pallidiflora (a different species)	Published literature on Fritillaria pallidiflora (a different beimu species)	Fritillaria pallidiflora (Yi Beimu), not chuan bei mu dried bulb not extracted not extracted · vs see results	Alkaloids including imperialine and peimine relaxed airway muscle and suppressed inflammatory signals in preclinical studies. Oral absorption was low to moderate and variable, shaped by the P-glycoprotein pump and liver enzymes (CYP). The review flags possible hERG (heart-rhythm channel) blockade by peimine as a cardiac safety concern. Overharvesting and habitat loss have reduced wild stocks. not extracted (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, cardiac concern Limitations: A different species from chuan bei mu, though it shares alkaloids. Narrative review. Abstract read only. Funding and conflicts: declared none (per abstract) Read: abstract
Cai 2026 Traditional Chinese medicine-induced cardiac adverse reactions: a critical review of current evidence, knowledge gaps, and pharmacovigilance strategies Front Pharmacol · PMID 42568515 · DOI	Narrative review review of human reports and lab data	Published literature on TCM and cardiac side effects	Traditional Chinese medicine in general (Fritillaria not named in the abstract) not applicable not extracted not extracted · vs see results	Finds the evidence on heart side effects of Chinese herbal medicines surprisingly thin: it relies on case reports and spontaneous reports, drug-interaction data are scarce, and no biomarkers exist for early detection. not extracted (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Gaps in TCM cardiac safety evidence Limitations: General review; the abstract does not mention Fritillaria. Used only to show that cardiac safety data for Chinese herbs are generally weak. Funding and conflicts: declared none Read: abstract
Chen 2020 A Systematic Review on Traditional Uses, Sources, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Pharmacokinetics, and Toxicity of Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus Evid Based Complement Alternat Med · PMID 33273948 · DOI	Narrative review review of mostly lab and animal work	Published literature on chuan bei mu (Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus)	Chuan bei mu bulb (six Fritillaria species) dried bulb not extracted not extracted · vs see results	Says the bulb has been used for thousands of years for cough and phlegm and that alkaloids are the main active compounds. Toxicity section: the bulb is generally assumed to be low in toxicity but few studies exist. In mice, no deaths at the highest feasible oral dose over 14 days, but the liver showed pathological changes. In human colon cells, an extract caused abnormal cell division. Notes wild harvest cannot meet demand and overharvesting threatens wild species; cultivation is limited. not extracted (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Traditional uses, pharmacology, toxicity Limitations: Narrative review, not a systematic search despite the title. Its toxicity data are animal and cell work. Abstract plus the toxicity and conclusion sections read (via PubMed Central); the whole paper was not read line by line. Funding and conflicts: declared none (per abstract) Read: abstract + toxicity section
GBIF 2026 GBIF species match: Fritillaria cirrhosa D.Don GBIF API · Source	Database record Fritillaria cirrhosa	not applicable	taxonomy not applicable not extracted not extracted · vs see results	ACCEPTED, GBIF key 5300358, family Liliaceae (exact match, checked 2026-10-25). not extracted (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Accepted name and family Limitations: Database record. NCBI taxonomy not checked. Funding and conflicts: not applicable Read: API response
GBIF 2026 GBIF species match: Fritillaria thunbergii Miq. GBIF API · Source	Database record Fritillaria thunbergii	not applicable	taxonomy not applicable not extracted not extracted · vs see results	ACCEPTED, GBIF key 5300784, family Liliaceae (exact match, checked 2026-10-25). not extracted (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Accepted name and family Limitations: Database record. NCBI taxonomy not checked. Funding and conflicts: not applicable Read: API response
GBIF 2026 GBIF species match: Fritillaria unibracteata P.K.Hsiao & K.C.Hsia GBIF API · Source	Database record Fritillaria unibracteata	not applicable	taxonomy not applicable not extracted not extracted · vs see results	ACCEPTED, GBIF key 5300797, family Liliaceae (exact match, checked 2026-10-25). not extracted (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Accepted name and family Limitations: Database record. NCBI taxonomy not checked. Funding and conflicts: not applicable Read: API response
Lin 2020 Mechanistic and therapeutic study of novel anti-tumor function of natural compound imperialine for treating non-small cell lung cancer J Ethnopharmacol · PMID 31605736 · DOI	Cell and animal study cell and mouse; isolated alkaloid	A549 lung cancer cells and tumour-bearing mice	Imperialine (isolated alkaloid), including a liposome form isolated alkaloid not extracted not extracted · vs see results	Imperialine suppressed lung tumour growth and inflammation in mice by blocking NF-kB activity. In healthy mice it did not significantly change blood counts or damage the main organs. A liposome delivery form improved tumour targeting. not extracted (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Tumour growth in mice, organ toxicity in mice Limitations: Mice and cells; isolated compound given as a drug, not a herbal product. Funding and conflicts: not stated in abstract Read: abstract
Liu 2021 Studies on the Incompatibility between Bulbus fritillariae and Radix aconiti praeparata Based on the P-gp Evid Based Complement Alternat Med · PMID 34650616 · DOI	Animal and cell study rat and cell; not human	Rats (gut perfusion model) and cell lines	Fritillaria bulb (cirrhosae and thunbergii) with processed aconite root dried bulb; processed aconite root not extracted not extracted · vs see results	Traditional Chinese medicine lists the two as an incompatible pair that should not be used together. When combined with the bulb, a toxic aconite compound (benzoylmesaconine) crossed the rat gut more easily. F. thunbergii reduced both the function and the amount of the P-glycoprotein pump; F. cirrhosa reduced its function only. Peimine, peimisine and imperialine were the alkaloids that blocked the pump. Benzoylmesaconine was a P-glycoprotein substrate. not extracted (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Gut permeability of aconite toxin, P-gp function Limitations: Rats and cells only; toxicity itself was not measured and no people were studied. Funding and conflicts: declared none (per abstract) Read: abstract
Liu 2023 Research on 90-day subchronic toxicities of the ethanol extract from the cultivated Fritillaria Cirrhosa bulbs by oral administration in Sprague-Dawley rats Regul Toxicol Pharmacol · PMID 36731760 · DOI	Animal toxicity study rat; Fritillaria cirrhosa extract	Sprague-Dawley rats, 90 days with a 4-week recovery group	Ethanol extract of cultivated Fritillaria cirrhosa bulb dried bulb extract not extracted not extracted · vs see results	No deaths and no change in behaviour, weight or food intake. At the highest and middle doses the extract was toxic to the spleen and liver, and at the highest dose to the kidney; effects were reversible and similar in both sexes. No-effect level 0.34 g/kg/day; lowest-effect level 0.68 g/kg/day in rats. not extracted (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Organ toxicity, NOAEL/LOAEL Limitations: Rats given a lab ethanol extract, not a tea or product people buy. The authors' claim that long-term human use is safe goes beyond what a rat study can show. Abstract read only. Two authors' affiliations were not read; possible company link not checked. Funding and conflicts: declared none Read: abstract
Liu 2024 Molecular quantification of fritillariae cirrhosae bulbus and its adulterants Chin Med · PMID 39380014 · DOI	Laboratory method study product test; Fritillaria spp.	8 Eight commercial Shedan Chuanbei capsules plus reference samples	Chuan bei mu bulb and five closely related adulterant species (DNA test) bulb powder / capsules not extracted not extracted · vs see results	A DNA test could tell chuan bei mu from five related species. Four of eight commercial capsules were adulterated with F. ussuriensis or F. thunbergii, at 9 to 15% of the weight. The authors say adulteration changes what the product contains and may reduce its quality. 4 of 8 capsules adulterated (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Adulteration rate Limitations: Only eight products of one capsule type; not a market survey. Abstract read only. Funding and conflicts: declared none (per abstract) Read: abstract
Lu 2025 hERG Channel Blockade and Antagonistic Interactions of Three Steroidal Alkaloids from Fritillaria Species Molecules · PMID 41097303 · DOI	Cell study in vitro, isolated alkaloids from Fritillaria species	Cells expressing the human hERG heart-rhythm channel	Peimine, peiminine and sipeimine (isolated alkaloids) isolated alkaloids not extracted not extracted · vs see results	All three alkaloids blocked hERG currents in cells: peimine 26.1 +/- 3.5 micromolar, peiminine 36.8 +/- 2.5, sipeimine 47.6 +/- 9.8 (IC50). Effects were stronger with more frequent or longer depolarisation. The three alkaloids partly cancelled each other's blocking effect, which the authors say might reduce cardiac risk. not extracted (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: hERG block IC50 Limitations: Isolated cells and computer models; no animals or people. Whether bulb products reach blocking levels in the body was not tested. Funding and conflicts: declared none Read: abstract
Pai 2026 The effect and mechanism of total alkaloids of Fritillariae Pallidiflorae Bulbus in alleviating pulmonary fibrosis Front Pharmacol · PMID 42488566 · DOI	Animal and cell study rat and cell; Fritillaria pallidiflora	Rats with bleomycin-induced lung scarring; lung cell line	Total alkaloids of Fritillaria pallidiflora bulb (a different species) bulb alkaloid extract not extracted not extracted · vs see results	The alkaloid extract reduced inflammation and collagen build-up in the rats' lungs. The main compound reaching the blood was imperialine, which also showed anti-scarring effects in cells. not extracted (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Lung scarring and inflammation in rats Limitations: A different species from chuan bei mu. Rats and cells only. Two authors work for Nin Jiom Medicine Manufactory (declared). Funding and conflicts: industry-linked (Nin Jiom Medicine Manufactory employees; declared) Read: abstract
PubChem 2026 PubChem records: imperialine, peimine (verticine), peimisine, verticinone PubChem PUG REST · Source	Database record not applicable	not applicable	chemistry not applicable not extracted not extracted · vs see results	Imperialine CID 442977 (C27H43NO3); peimine CID 131900 (C27H45NO3; the name verticine resolved to the same record); peimisine CID 161294 (C27H41NO3); verticinone CID 167691 (C27H43NO3). not extracted (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Compound identity Limitations: Database lookup by name on 2026-10-25; structures not compared. Funding and conflicts: not applicable Read: API response
Song 2026 Cultivated Fritillaria cirrhosa bulbs shows comparable chemistry and efficacy to wild-type in Chuanbei Pipa Tangjiang: a metabolomics study Sci Rep · PMID 42135429 · DOI	Animal and chemistry study mouse and rat; Fritillaria cirrhosa	Rats and mice; LC-MS chemistry of a cough syrup	Chuanbei Pipa Tangjiang (cough syrup) made with tissue-cultured, regenerated or wild F. cirrhosa bulbs dried bulb inside a multi-herb syrup not extracted not extracted · vs see results	Syrups made from cultivated or wild bulbs had 89.9% and 91.0% chemical similarity to the wild-bulb syrup and showed no difference in a mouse cough-and-phlegm model. The authors call regenerated-plantlet bulbs a bioequivalent substitute for wild bulbs. The paper's statement lists F. cirrhosa as IUCN Vulnerable. 89.9% and 91.0% chemical similarity (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Chemical similarity, mouse cough model Limitations: Tests whether bulbs are interchangeable in a multi-herb syrup, not whether the syrup helps people. The syrup's other herbs cannot be separated from the bulb's effect. Funding and conflicts: declared no competing interests Read: abstract
Tan 2013 [Valuation on analgesic, expectorant and antitussive effects of compatible use of Aconiti radix cocta and Fritillaria cirrhosa or Fritillaria thunbergii] Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi · PMID 24228591	Animal study mouse and rat	Mice and rats	Prepared aconite root combined with Fritillaria cirrhosa or F. thunbergii decoction dried bulb; prepared aconite root not extracted not extracted · vs see results	Combining prepared aconite with F. cirrhosa enhanced the aconite's pain-easing effect and reduced the bulb's cough-easing and phlegm-easing effects, depending on ratio. With F. thunbergii there was no effect on its cough-easing action. No toxicity outcome was reported in the abstract. not extracted (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Effects of the pair on pain, phlegm and cough in animals Limitations: Animal study; Chinese-language paper; abstract read only. The abstract mentions mice and rats inconsistently. Funding and conflicts: not stated in abstract Read: abstract
Teng 2026 Mechanism of action of alkaloids in Fritillaria-induced autophagy and apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer Oncol Lett · PMID 42057885 · DOI	Cell study human cancer cell lines	Human lung cancer cell lines (A549, H1299)	Verticinone and ebeiedinone (isolated Fritillaria alkaloids) isolated alkaloids not extracted not extracted · vs see results	At 15 micromolar, verticinone cut cell survival to 75.57% (H1299) and 68.9% (A549); ebeiedinone to 65.75% and 67%. At 30 micromolar ebeiedinone made 26.44% of cells die by apoptosis. not extracted (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Cancer cell survival Limitations: Cells in dishes only. Two authors are from Nin Jiom Medicine Manufactory (declared; no competing interests stated). Funding and conflicts: industry-linked authors (Nin Jiom) though no conflict declared Read: abstract
Wong 2006 Effectiveness of a Chinese herbal medicine preparation in the treatment of cough in uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infection: a randomised double-blinded placebo-control trial Cough · PMID 16790070 · DOI	Randomised controlled trial human (adults); combination product	82 Adults with acute cough from an uncomplicated upper respiratory infection (Hong Kong)	A nine-herb preparation that includes chuanbei (Fritillaria bulb), fangfeng, jiegeng, gancao and baibu bulb within a nine-herb mix not extracted not extracted · vs see results	62 of 82 completed. Both groups improved in cough score and the Leicester Cough Questionnaire, with no overall significant difference between them. No adverse effects were reported. Women on the herbs had fewer sputum problems (p = 0.03) and older adults reported less hoarseness (p = 0.05), but these were sub-group findings. not extracted (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Cough score, cough questionnaire Limitations: Combination product, so it says nothing about the bulb alone. Small, with 24% drop-out. Acute coughs improve on their own. Sub-group results are weak evidence. Funding and conflicts: not stated in abstract Read: abstract
Wong 2009 Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of herbal therapy for children with asthma J Altern Complement Med · PMID 19821718 · DOI	Randomised controlled trial human (children); combination product	85 Children aged 7-15 with asthma using inhaled steroids	CUF2: a five-herb capsule (Astragalus, Cordyceps, Stemona root, Fritillaria cirrhosa bulb, Scutellaria root) bulb within a five-herb extract not extracted not extracted · vs see results	After 6 months, the herbal capsule and placebo groups improved similarly. Difference in steroid dose change: -2.3 vs -3.1 mg (p = 0.915); severity score -2.3 vs -3.1 (p = 0.215); FEV1/FVC 0.1 vs 0.6% (p = 0.809); peak flow -7.3 vs -0.6 l/min (p = 0.118). The authors found no evidence to support the formula. not extracted (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Steroid dose, severity score, lung function Limitations: Combination product, so it says nothing about the bulb alone. Small trial. The effect of the formula was smaller than the placebo effect. Funding and conflicts: not stated in abstract Read: abstract
Xin 2015 [Study on Effects of Incompatible Herbal Medicine on Intestinal Bacterial Metabolism of Wu-Tou-Tang by ESI-MS] Zhong Yao Cai · PMID 26983249	Lab study in vitro	Test-tube study of a decoction with gut bacteria	Wu-Tou-Tang (aconite formula) co-decocted with Fritillaria thunbergii or F. cirrhosa bulb dried bulb not extracted not extracted · vs see results	F. thunbergii, F. cirrhosa and pinellia each reduced gut-bacteria breakdown of the aconite diester alkaloids in the lab; the authors read this as raising the formula's toxicity. not extracted (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Gut-bacteria breakdown of aconite alkaloids Limitations: Chinese-language paper; abstract read only. Test-tube study; the toxicity conclusion is the authors' interpretation. Funding and conflicts: not stated in abstract Read: abstract
Xinyu 2026 Alkaloids from Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus - progress on their pharmacological activities Front Pharmacol · PMID 42244863 · DOI	Narrative review review of mostly lab and animal work	Published literature on bulb alkaloids	Isosteroidal and steroidal alkaloids of chuan bei mu dried bulb not extracted not extracted · vs see results	Says alkaloids, the main compounds of the bulb, have cough-easing, expectorant, asthma-easing, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anticancer and blood-pressure-lowering effects in experiments. States that the active compounds are not clearly identified and the mechanisms are not worked out. not extracted (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Alkaloid pharmacology Limitations: Narrative review. Abstract read only. Mostly lab and animal evidence. Funding and conflicts: One author employed by Sichuan Baihe Pasture Co., Ltd (declared; authors state no influence) Read: abstract
Zhang 2022 Chinese herbal compound prescriptions combined with Chinese medicine powder based on traditional Chinese medicine syndrome differentiation for treatment of chronic atrophic gastritis with erosion: a multi-center, randomized, positive-controlled clinical trial Chin Med · PMID 36550503 · DOI	Randomised controlled trial human; Fritillaria thunbergii in a combination	216 Adults with chronic atrophic gastritis with erosion (202 analysed)	Herbal prescriptions plus Sanqi powder, with or without Zhebeimu (Fritillaria thunbergii) powder, vs an antacid F. thunbergii bulb powder (one arm) not extracted not extracted · vs see results	Erosion improved in all groups, with no significant difference between them (efficacy 69.12% antacid, 73.24% herbs plus Sanqi, 69.01% herbs plus Sanqi and Zhebeimu). Adverse events were 4.23% (herbs plus Sanqi) vs 4.41% (antacid); none serious. The abstract gives adverse-event figures only for the first herb group and the antacid group. not extracted (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Gastric erosion, pathology scores, adverse events Limitations: The Zhebeimu arm was not better than the other arms, so the trial shows no added benefit from the bulb. It is a different species (zhe bei mu) used in a big multi-herb regimen. Funding and conflicts: not stated in abstract Read: abstract
Zhang 2024 Botanical characterization, phytochemistry, biosynthesis, pharmacology clinical application, and breeding techniques of the Chinese herbal medicine Fritillaria unibracteata Front Pharmacol · PMID 39135808 · DOI	Narrative review review; Fritillaria unibracteata	Published literature on Fritillaria unibracteata, one source species of chuan bei mu	Fritillaria unibracteata dried bulb not extracted not extracted · vs see results	Says F. unibracteata is one of the original plants of chuan bei mu, and that over-exploitation has made it a key endangered, scarcely cultivated species in China. Lists cough-easing, expectorant, anti-asthma, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, lung-injury, anti-fibrosis and antitumour effects as experimental findings. Says research on it is rare. not extracted (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Species, supply, pharmacology Limitations: Narrative review of a single species. Abstract read only. Funding and conflicts: declared none (per abstract) Read: abstract
Zhang 2025 The Fritillaria alkaloid peiminine acts as a chemosensitizer to potentiate oxaliplatin efficacy against gastric cancer Pathol Res Pract · PMID 40912051 · DOI	Cell and animal study cell and mouse; isolated alkaloid	Gastric cancer cells and mouse xenografts	Peiminine (isolated alkaloid of Fritillaria walujewii) with oxaliplatin isolated alkaloid not extracted not extracted · vs see results	Peiminine plus oxaliplatin killed gastric cancer cells more than the chemotherapy alone. In mouse tumour models the combination slowed tumour growth by more than 80.8% against 20.4% for oxaliplatin alone, with no extra general toxicity reported. not extracted (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Tumour growth inhibition Limitations: Cells and mice only. A different species (F. walujewii) and a purified compound. Not evidence for taking the herb during chemotherapy. Funding and conflicts: declared none Read: abstract
Zhao 2023 Chinese herbal compound for multidrug-resistant or extensively drug-resistant bacterial pneumonia: a meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis with association rule mining to identify core herb combinations Front Pharmacol · PMID 38174222 · DOI	Meta-analysis human; multi-herb formulas	2890 Patients with drug-resistant bacterial pneumonia (38 studies)	Chinese herbal compound formulas plus antibiotics; Fritillaria thunbergii named as a frequently used herb herb formulas (various) not extracted not extracted · vs see results	Formulas plus antibiotics beat antibiotics alone on response rate (RR 1.24, 95% CI 1.19-1.28) and bacterial clearance (RR 1.41, 1.27-1.57). Fritillaria thunbergii was one of four 'core' herbs found by pattern mining of the formulas. The authors say large clinical studies are still needed. RR 1.24 (formulas plus antibiotics vs antibiotics) (95% CI 1.19-1.28) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Response rate, bacterial clearance Limitations: Tests whole formulas, not Fritillaria. Pattern mining shows which herbs are used often, not which ones work. Many included trials are likely small and open to bias (not assessed here). Abstract read only. Funding and conflicts: declared none Read: abstract
Zhu 2026 Elucidating anti-triple-negative breast cancer mechanisms and mitigating toxicity of Fritillaria thunbergii Miq.: A multi-omics and network pharmacology approach J Ethnopharmacol · PMID 40953776 · DOI	Computer study computer model; Fritillaria thunbergii	Computer modelling only	Fritillaria thunbergii (zhe bei mu) compounds not applicable not extracted not extracted · vs see results	Computer analysis predicted 42 bioactive compounds and 148 targets in triple-negative breast cancer, and strong binding of one compound (hapepunine) to a protein called CXCR4. The same modelling predicted possible liver and kidney toxicity risks. not extracted (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Predicted targets and toxicity Limitations: Entirely in silico (computer) with no lab or human testing. Toxicity risks are predictions. Funding and conflicts: declared none Read: abstract

What we do not know yet

No trial of chuan bei mu on its own was found for cough or asthma.
No human toxicity study, drug-interaction study or LiverTox record was found.
No pregnancy, breastfeeding or children's safety data were found.
EMA, NCCIH and Memorial Sloan Kettering pages were not found.
Most pharmacology uses purified alkaloids or other Fritillaria species.

How new research is added

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Primary outcome of the gastritis trial.

Study	Result	People	Product
²²	69.12% antacid, 73.24% herbs plus Sanqi, 69.01% herbs plus Sanqi and Zhebeimu; no significant difference	202 adults analysed	Herbal prescription with or without F. thunbergii powder vs antacid, 4 weeks

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 5

You may not get the species the label says. Real chuan bei mu is costly and is often mixed with cheaper Fritillaria species. A DNA test found four of eight capsules of one product type were adulterated with F. ussuriensis or F. thunbergii at 9 to 15% of the weight. Chuan bei mu and zhe bei mu (F. thunbergii) are different bulbs with different chemistry. Other observational ^{11 4}
Traditionally never combined with aconite (wu tou, fuzi). Chinese medicine lists Fritillaria bulb and prepared aconite root as an incompatible pair. In rats and lab studies the bulb's alkaloids blocked the P-glycoprotein pump and let a toxic aconite compound cross the gut more easily; in a gut-bacteria test the bulb reduced breakdown of aconite alkaloids. No human study exists. Aconite is itself a dangerous herb. Ask a pharmacist before any combination. In vitro and animal ^{9 20 16}
Heart-rhythm channel block in the lab. Peimine, peiminine and sipeimine blocked the hERG heart-rhythm channel in cells at micromolar levels, and one review flags this as a possible cardiac concern. This has not been shown to cause harm in people, and no human case reports were found. The three alkaloids partly cancelled each other in the same test. Laboratory research ^{12 2 3}
Human safety is not established. The bulb is generally considered low in toxicity, but few studies exist. In rats a 90-day extract study found spleen and liver effects at higher doses and kidney effects at the highest, reversible after stopping. We found no human toxicity study of the bulb on its own. Animal research ^{4 10}
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: no data. No pregnancy or breastfeeding safety data for chuan bei mu were found in the sources read. Avoid medicinal use unless a clinician who knows the herb agrees. No data ⁴

Side effects 4

Effect	How often	Severity and recovery	Evidence
No adverse effects reported in a small trial of a nine-herb mix containing chuanbei (62 completers) Small, short, and a mixed formula.	None reported.	not applicable not applicable	Controlled trial ¹⁸
Adverse events in a gastritis trial that included Zhebeimu powder in one arm Stomach and gut effects of the bulb alone were not reported.	4.23% in the herbs-plus-Sanqi group and 4.41% in the antacid group; none serious. Not given for the Zhebeimu arm.	mild to unspecified Unknown	Controlled trial ²²
Spleen, liver and kidney changes (rats, long exposure to high extract doses) Rat findings are not proof of harm in people.	Not applicable (animal study).	not stated Reversible after a 4-week recovery in the rats	Animal research ¹⁰
Heart-rhythm channel (hERG) block, cell level No human case found. Respiratory effects at high exposure were not described in the sources read.	Not applicable.	unknown in people Unknown	Laboratory research ¹²

Liver

No LiverTox record was found for Fritillaria (the NCBI book search returned nothing; the LiverTox page itself was not readable). In animals, liver changes appeared in a mouse study and in a 90-day rat extract study at higher doses. A computer model predicted possible liver and kidney toxicity for F. thunbergii. No human liver injury report was found. ^{4 10 26}

How often. Unknown.

Monitoring. No agency monitoring advice was found.

This is a safety connection. It is not evidence that Fritillaria supports liver health.

Medicines and supplements 4

With	Why it matters	Importance	Evidence	What to do
Prepared aconite root (wu tou, fuzi, caowu) and formulas containing it herb	Traditional incompatibility. Rats: more gut uptake of a toxic aconite compound with the bulb; test tube: less gut-bacteria breakdown of aconite alkaloids. Alkaloids peimine, peimisine and imperialine blocked P-glycoprotein.	Unknown in people; traditionally avoided.	In vitro and animal Very low certainty ^{9 20 16}	Do not combine unless a qualified clinician directs it. Ask a pharmacist.
Medicines moved by the P-glycoprotein pump or cleared by liver CYP enzymes prescription	Bulb alkaloids inhibited P-glycoprotein in rat and cell work, and a review notes P-glycoprotein and CYP shape alkaloid absorption. No drug interaction study in people was found.	Unknown.	In vitro and animal Not enough evidence ^{9 2}	Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you take medicines with narrow safety margins.
Heart-rhythm medicines or other drugs that affect the QT interval prescription	Peimine and related alkaloids block hERG channels in cells. No human QT data were found.	Unknown; theoretical.	Laboratory research Not enough evidence ^{12 2}	Mention any heart-rhythm condition or medicine to your clinician before using a Fritillaria product.
Chemotherapy (for example oxaliplatin) prescription	A purified Fritillaria alkaloid made oxaliplatin work better in cells and mice. Whether the herb does the same, or adds toxicity, in people is unknown.	Unknown.	In vitro and animal Not enough evidence ²⁴	Tell the cancer team about any herb you use.

Who should check first 6

Situation	Advice	Evidence
Taking prepared aconite or an aconite-containing formula	Avoid the combination unless directed by a qualified clinician.	In vitro and animal ^{9 20}
Pregnancy	No safety data found. Avoid medicinal use unless a clinician agrees.	No data ⁴
Breastfeeding	No data found, and no LactMed record was found. Avoid medicinal use unless a clinician agrees.	No data
Children	No safety data for the bulb alone were found; the one children's trial used a five-herb capsule.	Controlled trial ¹⁹
Heart-rhythm problems or medicines affecting heart rhythm	Ask a clinician first because of the lab heart-channel findings.	Laboratory research ¹²
Liver or kidney disease	Ask a clinician first; animal studies showed liver, spleen and kidney changes at higher extract doses.	Animal research ¹⁰

Overdose, product quality and regulators

Summary. The bulb is generally regarded as low in toxicity, but data are limited. Its alkaloids (imperialine, peimine, peimisine and others) are biologically active.

Animal. Mice: no deaths at the maximum feasible oral dose over 14 days, but the liver showed pathological change. Rats: a 90-day ethanol extract gave no deaths; spleen and liver toxicity at the middle and highest doses and kidney toxicity at the highest, reversible; no-effect level 0.34 g/kg/day, lowest-effect level 0.68 g/kg/day.

Human doses studied. Not given here. No safe upper amount has been established.

High dose or long term signals. Spleen, liver and kidney effects in rats; abnormal cell division in human colon cells in a dish; hERG channel block in cells. No human overdose report was found, and respiratory effects at high exposure were not described in the sources read.

Overdose response. If someone has palpitations, fainting, trouble breathing or severe vomiting after a herbal product, seek emergency care.

Genotoxicity. An extract caused mitotic abnormalities and chromosomal instability in human colon cells at high concentrations (cell culture only; reported in a review).

Toxic plant parts. The medicinal part is the dried bulb. Which parts carry the alkaloids that block hERG was not separated in the sources read.

Adulteration and substitution are the main quality problem. No pesticide, metal or sulphur-treatment testing of Fritillaria products was found.

Adulteration with cheaper species. A DNA test found F. ussuriensis or F. thunbergii in four of eight capsules of one product type, at 9 to 15% of the weight. ¹¹

Species mix-ups and endangered wild stock. Several species can legally be sold as chuan bei mu in China; supply from wild plants is short, and reviews call overharvesting a threat. One paper lists F. cirrhosa as IUCN Vulnerable (not checked on IUCN directly). ^{4 23 15}

Cultivated vs wild bulbs. In one cough syrup, bulbs from tissue-cultured or regenerated plants matched wild bulbs in chemistry (about 90% similarity) and in a mouse cough model. ¹⁵

Body	Action	Date

When to get medical help

Fainting, a racing or irregular heartbeat, or chest pain after taking a herbal product
Trouble breathing or swelling of the face or throat
Severe or repeated vomiting, or severe belly pain
Yellow skin or eyes, or dark urine
Any of these after taking aconite with another herb: seek emergency care and bring the product

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 fritillaria?

Fritillaria, or chuan bei mu, is the dried bulb of mountain Fritillaria plants used in Chinese medicine for cough with phlegm.

^{4 5}

Does fritillaria help a cough?

It is a traditional cough herb, and animal studies show cough-easing effects, but no trial of the bulb alone was found. A nine-herb cough mix that included it showed no overall difference from placebo in adults.

^{4 18}

Does fritillaria help asthma?

Not shown. A five-herb capsule that included the bulb did no better than placebo in 85 children with asthma. Asthma needs medical care.

¹⁹

What is the difference between chuan bei mu and zhe bei mu?

Chuan bei mu comes from F. cirrhosa and related mountain species. Zhe bei mu is F. thunbergii, a different bulb with its own uses and chemistry. Zhe bei mu was one of the cheaper species found mixed into chuan bei mu capsules.

^{6 11}

Why can the product be fake or mixed?

Real chuan bei mu is costly, and cheaper Fritillaria species are mixed in. A DNA test found four of eight capsules of one type adulterated at 9 to 15% of the weight.

¹¹

Is fritillaria endangered?

Reviews say overharvesting has reduced wild stock and call F. unibracteata endangered. One paper lists F. cirrhosa as vulnerable. Cultivated bulbs matched wild bulbs in one cough syrup.

^{23 15 4}

Why is fritillaria not combined with aconite?

Chinese medicine lists the two as an incompatible pair. In rats the bulb let more of a toxic aconite compound cross the gut, and in a test tube it reduced breakdown of aconite alkaloids. No human study exists.

^{9 20}

Can fritillaria affect the heart?

In cells, peimine and two related alkaloids blocked a heart-rhythm channel (hERG). It has not been shown to cause harm in people. Tell your doctor if you have a heart-rhythm condition.

^{12 2}

Is fritillaria safe in pregnancy or breastfeeding?

No safety data were found. Avoid medicinal use unless a clinician who knows the herb agrees.

⁴

Is fritillaria safe for the liver or stomach?

Rats given a high-dose extract for 90 days showed liver, spleen and kidney effects that reversed. No human liver injury report was found. In a stomach trial, adverse events were similar between groups and none were serious.

^{10 22}

Does fritillaria fight cancer?

Purified alkaloids killed cancer cells in dishes and slowed tumours in mice, but no human evidence exists. It should never replace cancer treatment.

^{17 8 24}

What are imperialine and peimine?

They are isosteroidal alkaloids from the bulb and the main suspected active compounds. They also show lab effects on a drug pump and a heart channel.

^{14 9 12}

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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 searched PubMed and checked GBIF and PubChem for Fritillaria. Most sources were abstracts only. No study is cited that we could not verify.
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. If one is added later it will be labelled and kept apart from the evidence.

Sources 26

Each source was opened and checked. Where we read only the abstract, it says so. The small numbers in the text point here.

Aga EB, Pai MX, Zhang MR, et al.. Four Isosteroidal Alkaloids from Fritillaria Alleviate Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation in vitro and in vivo through MyD88- and TRIF-Dependent Signaling Pathways. Chin J Integr Med. 2026. PMID 41252117. DOI 10.1007/s11655-025-4025-4. (abstract)
Aierken K, Li J, Waheed A. Fritillaria pallidiflora Schrenk ex Fisch. & C.A.Mey. (Yi Beimu): Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, Pharmacological Insights, and Future Prospects. Plants (Basel). 2025. PMID 41470653. DOI 10.3390/plants14243771. (abstract)
Cai X, Yasien K, Gan R, et al.. Traditional Chinese medicine-induced cardiac adverse reactions: a critical review of current evidence, knowledge gaps, and pharmacovigilance strategies. Front Pharmacol. 2026. PMID 42568515. DOI 10.3389/fphar.2026.1856615. (abstract)
Chen T, Zhong F, Yao C, et al.. A Systematic Review on Traditional Uses, Sources, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Pharmacokinetics, and Toxicity of Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2020. PMID 33273948. DOI 10.1155/2020/1536534. (abstract + toxicity section)
GBIF. GBIF species match: Fritillaria cirrhosa D.Don. GBIF API. 2026. (API response)
GBIF. GBIF species match: Fritillaria thunbergii Miq.. GBIF API. 2026. (API response)
GBIF. GBIF species match: Fritillaria unibracteata P.K.Hsiao & K.C.Hsia. GBIF API. 2026. (API response)
Lin Q, Qu M, Patra HK, et al.. Mechanistic and therapeutic study of novel anti-tumor function of natural compound imperialine for treating non-small cell lung cancer. J Ethnopharmacol. 2020. PMID 31605736. DOI 10.1016/j.jep.2019.112283. (abstract)
Liu W, Wei L, Kanai Y, He X. Studies on the Incompatibility between Bulbus fritillariae and Radix aconiti praeparata Based on the P-gp. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021. PMID 34650616. DOI 10.1155/2021/8351717. (abstract)
Liu X, Ming TW, Gaun TKW, et al.. Research on 90-day subchronic toxicities of the ethanol extract from the cultivated Fritillaria Cirrhosa bulbs by oral administration in Sprague-Dawley rats. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2023. PMID 36731760. DOI 10.1016/j.yrtph.2023.105342. (abstract)
Liu Z, Pei Y, Chen T, et al.. Molecular quantification of fritillariae cirrhosae bulbus and its adulterants. Chin Med. 2024. PMID 39380014. DOI 10.1186/s13020-024-01010-z. (abstract)
Lu H, Hao T, Zhang Z, et al.. hERG Channel Blockade and Antagonistic Interactions of Three Steroidal Alkaloids from Fritillaria Species. Molecules. 2025. PMID 41097303. DOI 10.3390/molecules30193882. (abstract)
Pai M, Qi Z, Zhou X, et al.. The effect and mechanism of total alkaloids of Fritillariae Pallidiflorae Bulbus in alleviating pulmonary fibrosis. Front Pharmacol. 2026. PMID 42488566. DOI 10.3389/fphar.2026.1849543. (abstract)
PubChem. PubChem records: imperialine, peimine (verticine), peimisine, verticinone. PubChem PUG REST. 2026. (API response)
Song Z, Li W, Zhao C, et al.. Cultivated Fritillaria cirrhosa bulbs shows comparable chemistry and efficacy to wild-type in Chuanbei Pipa Tangjiang: a metabolomics study. Sci Rep. 2026. PMID 42135429. DOI 10.1038/s41598-026-52763-6. (abstract)
Tan SF, Liu CF, Wang CS, et al.. [Valuation on analgesic, expectorant and antitussive effects of compatible use of Aconiti radix cocta and Fritillaria cirrhosa or Fritillaria thunbergii]. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2013. PMID 24228591. (abstract)
Teng M, Zhang M, He J, et al.. Mechanism of action of alkaloids in Fritillaria-induced autophagy and apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer. Oncol Lett. 2026. PMID 42057885. DOI 10.3892/ol.2026.15598. (abstract)
Wong WC, Lee A, Lam AT, et al.. Effectiveness of a Chinese herbal medicine preparation in the treatment of cough in uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infection: a randomised double-blinded placebo-control trial. Cough. 2006. PMID 16790070. DOI 10.1186/1745-9974-2-5. (abstract)
Wong EL, Sung RY, Leung TF, et al.. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of herbal therapy for children with asthma. J Altern Complement Med. 2009. PMID 19821718. DOI 10.1089/acm.2008.0626. (abstract)
Xin Y, Liu ZQ, Liu SY. [Study on Effects of Incompatible Herbal Medicine on Intestinal Bacterial Metabolism of Wu-Tou-Tang by ESI-MS]. Zhong Yao Cai. 2015. PMID 26983249. (abstract)
Xinyu L, Qianxi Q, Soliman M, et al.. Alkaloids from Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus - progress on their pharmacological activities. Front Pharmacol. 2026. PMID 42244863. DOI 10.3389/fphar.2026.1826161. (abstract)
Zhang T, Zhang B, Xu J, et al.. Chinese herbal compound prescriptions combined with Chinese medicine powder based on traditional Chinese medicine syndrome differentiation for treatment of chronic atrophic gastritis with erosion: a multi-center, randomized, positive-controlled clinical trial. Chin Med. 2022. PMID 36550503. DOI 10.1186/s13020-022-00692-7. (abstract)
Zhang Y, Han H, Li D, et al.. Botanical characterization, phytochemistry, biosynthesis, pharmacology clinical application, and breeding techniques of the Chinese herbal medicine Fritillaria unibracteata. Front Pharmacol. 2024. PMID 39135808. DOI 10.3389/fphar.2024.1428037. (abstract)
Zhang J, Zhang L, Wang C, et al.. The Fritillaria alkaloid peiminine acts as a chemosensitizer to potentiate oxaliplatin efficacy against gastric cancer. Pathol Res Pract. 2025. PMID 40912051. DOI 10.1016/j.prp.2025.156208. (abstract)
Zhao S, Geng Y, Shi J, et al.. Chinese herbal compound for multidrug-resistant or extensively drug-resistant bacterial pneumonia: a meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis with association rule mining to identify core herb combinations. Front Pharmacol. 2023. PMID 38174222. DOI 10.3389/fphar.2023.1282538. (abstract)
Zhu Y, Zhang Y, Li X, et al.. Elucidating anti-triple-negative breast cancer mechanisms and mitigating toxicity of Fritillaria thunbergii Miq.: A multi-omics and network pharmacology approach. J Ethnopharmacol. 2026. PMID 40953776. DOI 10.1016/j.jep.2025.120600. (abstract)

Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.