Ardisia japonica. 矮地茶 Ǎi dì chá, 紫金牛 Zǐ jīn niú    Short land tea   Family: Myrsinaceae  
PART USED: Whole plant
Nature: Neutral   FLAVOR: Bitter, pungent
FUNCTIONS
1. Stimulates Blood circulation, detoxifies.[1] Activate Blood.[2]
2. Transform sputum.[2] Resolve phlegm.[1] Relieve cough, benefit Dampness.[2]
INDICATIONS
1. Acute or chronic cough. Tuberculous, hemoptysis.[1] Hemoptysis. Chronic bronchitis. Pulmonary tuberculosis,[1] pneumonia,[1] various respiratory tract infections.[1]
2. Traumatic injuries.[1,2]
3. Conjunctivitis.[1] Jaundice.
PREPARATIONS: Decoction. Whole plant 15-30 g.[1,2]

HABITAT: Found growing wild beneath woodland shade or in shrub thickets. 
DESCRIPTION: Small evergreen shrub. Whole plant somewhat short and small. Subterranean stem stoloniferous, dull red. Above ground stem erect. Leaves: alternate, clustered at stem terminal, oval, apexes acute, bases cuneate, margins finely serrated. Flowers: in summer, small white or pink flowers appear terminally or at leaf axils. Fruit: a globose drupe, red when ripe.
References
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Research

Constituents of Ardisia japonica and their in vitro anti-HIV activity.
Piacente S, Pizza C, De Tommasi N, Mahmood N.
Abstract
As part of our screening of anti-AIDS agents from medicinal plants, the MeOH extract of the aerial parts of Ardisia japonica was tested, and it showed moderate in vitro anti-HIV activity. Reexamination to identify the compounds responsible for the anti-HIV activity revealed several known compounds and a new triterpenoid saponin (4) whose structure elucidation was accomplished by 1H-1H correlation spectroscopy (COSY, HOHAHA, ROESY) and 1H-13C heteronuclear correlation (HETCOR) NMR experiments. All of the isolated compounds were tested and, although none of the triterpenoid saponins was active, bergenin and norbergenin showed weak anti-HIV activity.
PMID: 8786362 DOI: 10.1021/np960074h J Nat Prod. 1996 Jun;59(6):565-9. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Biologically active triterpenoid saponins from Ardisia japonica.
Chang X, Li W, Jia Z, Satou T, Fushiya S, Koike K.
Abstract
Eleven new triterpenoid saponins, ardisianosides A (1), B (2), C (4), D (5), E (6), F (7), G (15), H (16), I (17), J (18), and K (19), together with 10 known saponins, were isolated from the whole plants of Ardisia japonica. The structures of the new saponins were established on the basis of extensive 1D and 2D NMR and MS studies coupled with chemical degradations. The cytotoxic activities of saponins 1-21 are reported against three human cancer cell lines, namely, HL-60 myeloid leukemia, KATO-III stomach adenocarcinoma, and A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells.
PMID: 17243725 DOI: 10.1021/np0604681  J Nat Prod. 2007 Feb;70(2):179-87. Epub 2007 Jan 23. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

13,28-Epoxy triterpenoid saponins from Ardisia japonica selectively inhibit proliferation of liver cancer cells without affecting normal liver cells.
Li Q, Li W, Hui LP, Zhao CY, He L, Koike K.
Abstract
Twenty 13,28-epoxy and related triterpenoid saponins from Ardisia japonica were evaluated for their anti-proliferative activity on human liver cancer cells and normal liver cells. Eight saponins selectively inhibited the growth of liver cancer Bel-7402 and HepG-2 cells without affecting the survival of normal liver HL-7702 cells. The structure-activity relationship analyses indicated that the 13,28-epoxy, 16α-hydroxy, and C-30 methyl moieties in the sapogenin parts and the glycosyl moiety consisting from tetra- to hepta-saccharide units are important for this activity. Among the active saponins, ardisianoside B (2) and 3β-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)]-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-13β,28-epoxy-16α-hydroxyoleanane (3) showed the most potent anti-proliferative activity against Bel-7402 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The selective anti-proliferative activity is attributed to the different cellular responses (CDKs and cyclins levels, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis) between tumor and normal liver cells. Exposure to 2 and 3 selectively led to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in Bel-7402 cells together with the increased pro-apoptotic caspase-8 and the decreased anti-apoptotic Cdc25A levels.
PMID: 22940450 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2012.08.027  Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2012 Oct 1;22(19):6120-5. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2012.08.027. Epub 2012 Aug 14. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Study on inhibitory effect of triterpenoid saponin from Ardisia japonica TSP02 on proliferation and metastasis of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells and its mechanism.
Zhao CY , Hui LP , He L , Li Q
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of TSP02, a triterpenoid saponin compound from Ardisia japonica, on proliferation and metastasis of in vitro induced human hepatoma HepG2 cells and its molecular mechanism.
METHOD
MTT assay was performed to detect the inhibitory effect of TSP02 of different concentrations on proliferation of human hepatoma HepG2 and normal human hepatic cell HL-7702 cells. The changes in cell cycle and apoptotic of processed HepG2 and HL-7702 cells were detected by using flow cytometry. The effect of TSP02 on expression levels of CDK1, 2, 4, apoptosis-related protein Caspase-8, metastasis-related TGF-beta 1 and E-cadherin was measured by western blot. Wound-healing assay and transwell assay were performed to detect the changes in the metastasis of TSPO2-processed HepG2.
RESULT
TSP02 significantly inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells, with notable time dependence and concentration dependence, but without remarkable effect on normal human liver HL-7702 cells. Compared with the control group, TSP02 processed for 24 h could eliminate HepG2 cells in S stage, significantly increase the cell apoptotic rate. Furthermore, TSP02 was capable of down-regulating the expression of multiple CDK1, 2, 4, and TGF-beta1, and up-regulating the expression and activity of Caspase-8, without significant effect on cycle and apoptotic rate of normal human liver HL-7702 cells. Additionally, TSP02 caused metastasis and invasiveness HepG2 cells, while down-regulating liver cancer invasiveness-related TGF-beta 1 and E-cadherin.
CONCLUSION
TSP02 selectively promotes apoptosis of liver cancer cell HepG2, and inhibits its metastasis and invasiveness. TSP02's in vitro antineoplastic activity is related to the changes in cycle and apoptosis proteins, and the regulation in the expression of invasiveness-related TGF-beta 1 and E-cadherin.
Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi. Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi. China journal of Chinese materia medica 38:6 2013 Mar pg 861-5 PubMed ID
23717968 unboundmedicine.com