Plantago asiatica. P. depressa.  车 前 Chē qián   Asian plantain  Family: Plantaginaceae   
Plantago major is very similar, however has wider leaves.
The seeds of P. depressa are smaller than those of P. asiatica.
车 前 子 Chē qián zǐ   Seed- harvested in Summer and Autumn when seeds have ripened   
Nature: Cold, cool     FLAVOR:  Pleasant, sweet    CHANNEL: Lung, Urinary bladder, Small intestine, Kidney, Liver
FUNCTIONS
GROUP: Diuretic
1. Promote urination and clear Heat.[5] Clear away fever and detoxifies.[1] Promote urination to solidity the stool.[5]
2. Clears the eye problems associated with either Liver or Kidney deficiency.[5] Clear away Heat to improve visual acuity. Nourish eyes by nourishing Yin.[4]
3. Eliminate sputum and relieve cough.[5]
INDICATIONS
1. Damp Heat in the lower Heater- Dysuria of Heat type,[5] or of urinary stone origin. Edema and diarrhea of Damp Heat or Summer Heat and Damp type.  Nephrotic edema.[1] Urinary tract infections.[1] Prostatitis.[1] Yellowish and scanty urine, urinary infections. Pain on urination.[1] Ureteral stones.[1] Hot gonorrhea, cystitis, acute urethritis.[4] Urinary diseases.[6]
2. Liver Heat causing vision problems- Conjunctivitis of Liver Heat origin,[1] for dim eyesight due to Liver deficiency, used together with Liver nourishing herbs. Red eyes. Eye diseases- tonifies Kidney and Liver.[4] Eye problems associated with either Liver and Kidney deficiency, eg dry eyes or cataracts, or Heat in the Liver channel, eg red painful, swollen eyes and sensitivity to light.[5] Hepatitis.[6]
3. Cough of Lung Heat type, with copious sputum.[5] Cough. Abundant sputum. Tuberculosis ulcers.[6]
4. Diarrhea associated with Damp Heat.[5] Bacillary dysentery.[6]
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Pregnancy.[5] Use with caution in cases of exhuasted Yang qi, or spermatorrhea due to Kidney deficiency or exhaustion from overwork.[5]
PATENT COMBINATIONS
COMBINATIONS
PREPARATIONS: Dried ripe seed or whole plant. Decoction- Whole plant 10-30 g.  - Seeds 9-15 g.[1,2] 3-15 g.[4] 4.5-9 g- wrapped in cheescloth during deccoction; often dry fried when used to promote urination, and fried in wine when used for Kidney deficiency.[5] Good quality is large, black, round, and full.
Decoction 3-15 g (wrapped with cloth for boiling).[3]

NOTE: The whole plant and seed have very similar properties, though the seed effects vision more, the whole plant cools blood more.[2]

车 前 草   Chē qián cǎo Whole plant    
Nature: Cold FLAVOR:  Sweet 
Functions and indications similar to seed
PREPARATIONS: Decoction- Whole plant 10-30 g.
 
HABITAT: Grows in wild places such as roadsides.
DESCRIPTION: Perennial herb. Rhizome short. Leaves; radical, clustered in a basal rossette, broadly ovate or oval, apexes acute or obtuse, margins intact to irregularly undulate-dentate, veins 3 to 7 , the central 3 particularly noticeable, with long petioles. Flowers; in summer, flower stem growing from leaf cluster, in a spike inflorescence up to 50 cm high, flowers small and greenish-yellowish-white. Fruit; a capsule. Seeds blackish-brown. 
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.
Constituents
Research
The mucilage of P. asiatica is hypoglycaemic in mice.[1] The seeds show a liver protective effect on carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity in mice, this is due to the acubin content.[2]
References
[1] Tomoda, M. et al. (1987) Planta Med. 53 (1), 8
[2] Advance in Chinese Medicinal Materials Research, Ed. H.M. Chang et al. Pub. World Scientific Pub. Co. (1985) Singapore

In vitro cytotoxic, antiviral and immunomodulatory effects of Plantago major and Plantago asiatica.
Chiang LC, Chiang W, Chang MY, Lin CC.
Abstract
Plantago major linn. and P. asiatica Linn. (Plantaginaceae) are commonly used as folk medicine in Taiwan for treating infectious diseases related to the respiratory, urinary and digestive tracts. In this study, we investigated the antiviral, cytotoxic and immunomodulatory activities of hot water extracts of these two species in vitro on a series of viruses, namely herpesviruses (HSV-1 and HSV-2), adenoviruses (ADV-3, ADV-8 and ADV-11), and on various human leukemia, lymphoma and carcinoma cells with XTT, BrdU and IFN-gamma kits. Results showed that hot water extract of P. asiatica possessed significant inhibitory activity on the proliferation of lymphoma (U937) and carcinoma (bladder, bone, cervix, kidney, lung and stomach) cells and on viral infection (HSV-2 and ADV-11). P. major and P. asiatica both exhibited dual effects of immunodulatory activity, enhancing lymphocyte proliferation and secretion of interferon-gamma at low concentrations (< 50 microg/ml), but inhibiting this effect at high concentration (> 50 microg/ml). The present study concludes that hot water extracts of P. major and P. asiatica possess abroad-spectrum of antileukemia, anticarcinoma and antiviral activities, as well as activities which modulate cell-mediated immunity. Further investigations to elucidate the active component(s) of P. asiatica and P. major and to evaluate their clinical application are warranted. Am J Chin Med. 2003;31(2):225-34. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Polysaccharide from seeds of Plantago asiatica L. increases short-chain fatty acid production and fecal moisture along with lowering pH in mouse colon.
Hu JL, Nie SP, Min FF, Xie MY.
Abstract
Mice (20.0 ± 2.0 g, n = 48 per group) were given 30 days oral administration of polysaccharide from Plantago asiatica L. seeds at the dose of 0.4 g/kg body weight by gavage to investigate the effects of the polysaccharide on mouse colon. Results showed that the concentrations of total short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), acetic, propionic, and n-butyric acids in mouse colonic content of polysaccharide treated group were all significantly higher than that of control group (water) (p < 0.05). In addition, moisture of mouse colonic content of polysaccharide treated group was also notably higher than that of the control group (p < 0.05) indicating the intake of polysaccharide from P. asiatica L. resulted in a stronger water-holding capacity for colonic content throughout the experimental period. Furthermore, a decreased pH (from 7.5 ± 0.1 to 7.2 ± 0.1) was observed in mouse colon of the polysaccharide treated group compared with the control group (pH from 7.5 ± 0.1 to 7.5 ± 0.1). These results suggested that the intake of the polysaccharide from P. asiatica L. might be beneficial for the colon health. J Agric Food Chem. 2012 Nov 21;60(46):11525-32. doi: 10.1021/jf302169u. Epub 2012 Nov 12. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov