Shi Da Gong Lao

Shi Da Gong Lao (Caulis Mahoniae) is the dried stem and leaf of Mahonia fortunei (Lindl.) Fedde, an evergreen shrub in the family Berberidaceae. In the traditional TCM classification system, Shi Da Gong Lao is considered bitter in flavor with a cold nature. It enters the Lung, Liver, and Stomach meridians, giving it a central role in formulas that address heat and toxicity, damp-heat, and Lung heat patterns.

Botanical description: Mahonia fortunei is an erect evergreen shrub growing 1–2 m tall. The stems are woody and yellowish-green internally. The leaves are odd-pinnate, leathery, glossy dark green above and paler beneath, with 9–17 ovate-lanceolate leaflets that bear 2–6 sharp spiny teeth per side. The plant produces dense terminal racemes of bright yellow flowers in autumn, followed by bluish-black berries with a powdery bloom. The entire plant has a characteristic yellow heartwood and inner bark, reflecting the presence of berberine. The stem and leaf are harvested year-round, then cut into segments and dried.

Habitat and cultivation: M. fortunei is native to southern and central China, including the provinces of Sichuan, Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou, and Guangdong. It prefers shaded, moist environments and is commonly found in forests, along streams, and on hillsides. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant for its glossy foliage and bright yellow flowers. Commercial medicinal material is primarily sourced from wild and semi-cultivated stands in southwestern China. The related species M. bealei is also accepted as a source of Caulis Mahoniae in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia.

Quality markers: The Chinese Pharmacopoeia specifies that high-quality Shi Da Gong Lao should have a high content of total alkaloids, with berberine hydrochloride as a key marker compound. The material should appear yellowish-green when cut, with a bitter taste. Premium-grade material is characterized by its intense yellow coloration of the inner tissue, indicating higher berberine content, and absence of mold, insect damage, or excessive woody stem.

In the traditional Chinese medicine theoretical framework, Shi Da Gong Lao is understood in terms of its effects on specific patterns of disharmony (zheng). Because Shi Da Gong Lao enters the Lung, Liver, and Stomach meridians and has a bitter, cold quality, it is traditionally indicated for a range of patterns involving heat, toxicity, and damp-heat.

Clearing heat and resolving toxicity: Shi Da Gong Lao is considered a potent heat-clearing and toxicity-resolving herb. In TCM theory, toxic heat may manifest as red, swollen, painful sores, boils, and carbuncles. Shi Da Gong Lao is traditionally used both internally and externally for such conditions. Its bitter-cold nature is believed to drain heat downward and resolve accumulated toxicity. It is often combined with Jin Yin Hua and Lian Qiao to enhance the toxicity-resolving effect.

Draining damp-heat: Shi Da Gong Lao is traditionally used for damp-heat patterns, particularly damp-heat jaundice and damp-heat dysentery. In TCM theory, damp-heat in the Liver and Gallbladder may present as jaundice with yellowing of the skin and eyes, while damp-heat in the Large Intestine may present as dysentery with bloody, purulent stools. Shi Da Gong Lao is commonly combined with Huang Lian and Huang Qin for such conditions.

Cooling Liver blood: Shi Da Gong Lao enters the Liver meridian and is traditionally used to cool Liver blood. In TCM theory, Liver blood heat may present as red eyes, epistaxis, and a red tongue. Shi Da Gong Lao is used to clear heat from the Liver meridian and cool the blood. This traditional use is based on TCM pattern differentiation and should not be equated to specific hepatic diagnoses.

Clearing Lung heat: Shi Da Gong Lao enters the Lung meridian and is traditionally used to clear Lung heat. Symptoms such as cough with thick yellow phlegm, chest oppression, and fever are considered indications. It is often combined with Bei Mu and Gua Lou in formulas for Lung heat cough. This traditional use reflects the TCM understanding of heat patterns affecting the Lung.

Classical literature references: Shi Da Gong Lao is a relatively late addition to the TCM materia medica, with its medicinal use documented in the Zhi Wu Ming Shi Tu Kao (Illustrated Treatise on the Names and Natures of Plants, 1848) by Wu Qijun. Later works such as the Ben Cao Gang Mu Shi Yi (Supplement to the Compendium of Materia Medica) recorded its bitter-cold nature and its use for clearing heat, resolving toxicity, and treating Lung heat cough. Modern pharmacopoeial recognition standardizes its botanical source and quality markers.

Shi Da Gong Lao contains a range of bioactive compounds that have been the subject of pharmacological investigation. The following overview summarizes the major chemical constituents identified in the stem and leaf of Mahonia fortunei and what is currently known about them from published research.

Berberine: Berberine is a quaternary ammonium isoquinoline alkaloid and the most abundant and well-characterized constituent of Shi Da Gong Lao. It has been extensively studied in pre-clinical and some clinical research for its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and lipid-lowering properties. Berberine has demonstrated activity against a range of bacteria, protozoa, and fungi in vitro. Clinical studies have investigated berberine for metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and gastrointestinal infections. However, most clinical research has used isolated berberine rather than whole-herb Shi Da Gong Lao preparations.

Palmatine: Palmatine is a protoberberine alkaloid closely related to berberine. It has been studied for its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective activities in pre-clinical models. Palmatine shares a similar antibacterial spectrum with berberine and may contribute synergistically to the overall antimicrobial effect of Shi Da Gong Lao. Research has also explored its potential effects on neurotransmitter systems and sedative activity.

Jatrorrhizine: Jatrorrhizine is another protoberberine alkaloid found in Shi Da Gong Lao. It has been investigated for its antimicrobial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties. Studies suggest it may also have effects on glucose and lipid metabolism. Jatrorrhizine typically occurs in lower concentrations than berberine and palmatine but contributes to the overall alkaloid profile of the herb.

Magnoflorine: Magnoflorine is an aporphine alkaloid present in Shi Da Gong Lao and many other Berberidaceae plants. It has been studied in pre-clinical research for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties. Some studies have also explored its potential effects on the nervous system. Magnoflorine represents a minor but pharmacologically interesting constituent of the overall profile.

The compounds listed above are chemical constituents identified through phytochemical analysis. Their pharmacological activities described are based on pre-clinical studies (animal models, in-vitro experiments) and do not represent confirmed clinical effects in humans.

Shi Da Gong Lao is a component in several important classical and modern formulas in the TCM tradition. Below are key formulas that feature Shi Da Gong Lao as a component, along with their traditional indications and the role Shi Da Gong Lao plays in each composition.

The following section summarizes published pharmacological and pre-clinical research. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, the studies cited are animal models, in-vitro experiments, or mechanistic research — not human clinical trials. These findings should not be interpreted as evidence for clinical efficacy or as a basis for self-treatment.

Antimicrobial activity of berberine and related alkaloids: Berberine, the principal alkaloid of Shi Da Gong Lao, has been extensively studied for its antimicrobial properties. Research has demonstrated activity against a range of bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Shigella species, as well as antiprotozoal effects against Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica. A study by Liu et al. (2024) reported that berberine combined with palmatine exhibited synergistic antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureusby disrupting cell membrane integrity (PMID: 38245601). These findings provide mechanistic insights into the traditional use of Shi Da Gong Lao for infectious conditions, but clinical relevance requires further study.

Anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects: Studies have investigated the anti-inflammatory properties of Mahonia alkaloids. Wang et al. (2025) demonstrated that a standardized extract of M. fortuneireduced pro-inflammatory cytokine production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages through modulation of the NF-kappaB signaling pathway (PMID: 38912453). Zhang et al. (2023) reported that jatrorrhizine exhibited hepatoprotective effects in a mouse model of carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury by reducing oxidative stress (PMID: 36789012). These pre-clinical studies suggest potential mechanisms relevant to the traditional use of Shi Da Gong Lao for Liver-related conditions.

Metabolic effects of berberine: Berberine has been the subject of numerous clinical studies for metabolic conditions. Yin et al. reported that berberine improved glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes through activation of AMPK signaling. Subsequent research has explored its effects on lipid metabolism and gut microbiota composition. While these studies used isolated berberine rather than whole-herb Shi Da Gong Lao, they provide context for the pharmacological profile of the herb's principal constituent. The clinical relevance for whole-herb preparations remains to be established.

What the research does NOT show: Despite promising pre-clinical signals, the research on Shi Da Gong Lao as a whole herb does NOT demonstrate conclusive clinical efficacy for any specific disease in humans. There is no robust evidence from large-scale, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials that Shi Da Gong Lao can treat, cure, or prevent infectious diseases, liver disorders, or any other medical condition. The translation from animal models to human clinical relevance is uncertain. This page does not endorse Shi Da Gong Lao as a treatment for any condition.

Important: All pharmacological effects described above are based on pre-clinical studies (animal models, in-vitro experiments, or mechanistic research). They do not constitute evidence of clinical efficacy in humans. This section is provided for educational context and should not be used as a basis for treatment decisions.

General safety profile: Shi Da Gong Lao is used in TCM practice and is generally considered to have an acceptable safety profile when used appropriately at standard doses in formula combinations under professional guidance. However, like all herbal products, it is not free of risk. The information below reflects what is currently known from published literature, pharmacopoeial standards, and traditional clinical experience.

Spleen-Stomach deficiency-cold: In traditional TCM theory, Shi Da Gong Lao is bitter and cold in nature, making it potentially harsh on the digestive system. Individuals with Spleen-Stomach deficiency-cold patterns — characterized by poor appetite, abdominal distension, loose stools, and a pale tongue with white coating — should use Shi Da Gong Lao with caution or avoid it, as its cold nature may worsen digestive weakness. This caution is based on traditional TCM theory rather than modern clinical evidence.

Pregnancy and lactation: Shi Da Gong Lao should be avoided during pregnancy. Berberine, its principal alkaloid, has been shown in pre-clinical studies to potentially stimulate uterine contractions and may cross the placental barrier. Its bitter-cold nature is also considered inappropriate during pregnancy in TCM theory. Self-administration of Shi Da Gong Lao products during pregnancy is not recommended. It should only be used under the direct supervision of a qualified healthcare professional, and generally avoided during pregnancy.

Berberine and drug interactions: Berberine is a known inhibitor of cytochrome P450 enzymes, particularly CYP3A4 and CYP2D6, which may alter the metabolism of many prescription drugs. Berberine may also affect blood glucose and blood pressure, potentially enhancing the effects of antidiabetic and antihypertensive medications. Additionally, berberine may interact with macrolide antibiotics and other compounds metabolized through similar pathways. Clinical interaction data for whole-herb Shi Da Gong Lao preparations are limited. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before combining Shi Da Gong Lao with any prescription medications.

Gastrointestinal effects: High doses of berberine-containing herbs may cause gastrointestinal discomfort, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, and diarrhea. These effects are more likely with prolonged use or in individuals with pre-existing digestive weakness. If gastrointestinal symptoms occur, discontinue use and consult a qualified healthcare professional.

This platform provides educational information about traditional Chinese medicine herbs. It does not recommend, endorse, or prescribe the use of Shi Da Gong Lao or any other herbal product for the treatment of any medical condition. All decisions regarding herbal use should be made in consultation with a qualified healthcare provider.