Herbs (Global Traditional) · Traditional Chinese Medicine
Fritillaria thunbergii
Moderate Evidencebotanical2 PubMed Studies
Hermetica Superfood Encyclopedia
Fritillaria thunbergii is a traditional Chinese medicinal bulb containing alkaloids like peimine and peiminine that target inflammatory pathways. Research shows it may inhibit lung tumor growth and reduce inflammatory cytokines through PIK3CG and Bcl-2 pathway modulation.
Fritillaria thunbergii Miq. (Zhe Beimu or Thunberg fritillary) is a perennial herbaceous plant in the Liliaceae family native to China, with its dried bulbs (Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus, FTB) used medicinally. The bulbs are harvested from major producing regions in China and processed into extracts via ethanol extraction or hydroethanolic methods for pharmacological preparations.
Current evidence is limited to preclinical studies with no human clinical trials identified. Key animal studies include lung cancer research in mice (PMID: 32805357) showing tumor proliferation inhibition and extended survival, and pulmonary fibrosis research (PMID: 39938765) demonstrating improved lung function in bleomycin-induced mice models.
No clinically studied human dosages available. Animal studies used 1 g/kg oral administration in rats for pharmacokinetic assessment. Standardization protocols for alkaloid content (peimine, peimisine, peiminine, sipeimine) are not established. Consult a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement.
Fritillaria thunbergii (Zhe Bei Mu) is a medicinal bulb with limited conventional nutritional characterization, but key constituents have been identified: PRIMARY BIOACTIVE ALKALOIDS (dominant compounds): Isosteroidal alkaloids are the principal active constituents — peimine (verticine) at approximately 0.1–0.5% dry weight and peiminine (verticinone) at approximately 0.05–0.3% dry weight are the most pharmacologically studied; these are responsible for the majority of reported biological effects. Additional alkaloids include zhebeinine, zhebeinone, and isoverticine at trace concentrations (<0.05% dry weight). STEROIDAL SAPONINS: Present in modest quantities; total saponin content estimated at 0.2–0.8% dry weight, contributing to expectorant and anti-inflammatory properties. POLYSACCHARIDES: Crude polysaccharide fraction constitutes approximately 3–8% of dry weight, with beta-glucans and fructans identified; these contribute to immunomodulatory activity noted in preliminary studies. NUCLEOSIDES: Adenosine and uridine detected at trace levels (micrograms per gram dry weight). CONVENTIONAL MACRONUTRIENTS (limited data from bulb composition): Carbohydrates constitute the majority of dry mass (approximately 60–70%), primarily as starch and polysaccharides; crude protein approximately 8–12% dry weight, with glutamic acid and aspartic acid as predominant amino acids; crude fat content low at approximately 1–3% dry weight. MINERALS: Potassium, calcium, and magnesium are present in measurable quantities based on general Fritillaria bulb analyses, though precise concentrations for F. thunbergii specifically are not well-documented in standardized databases. FIBER: Dietary fiber estimated at 5–10% dry weight. BIOAVAILABILITY NOTES: Alkaloid bioavailability is considered moderate; peimine and peiminine are absorbed via gastrointestinal tract but undergo significant first-pass hepatic metabolism; traditional preparation as decoction (boiling in water) extracts water-soluble alkaloids and polysaccharides preferentially; typical therapeutic dose in TCM is 3–9 grams of dried bulb per day, yielding an estimated alkaloid intake of 3–45 mg total isosteroidal alkaloids per dose. Raw consumption is not standard due to potential toxicity of alkaloid concentration.
Fritillaria thunbergii's alkaloids peimine and peiminine downregulate cancer-related genes including PIK3CG, Bcl-2, and VEGF in lung tissue. The compounds also suppress pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 by inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathways. These mechanisms contribute to both anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory effects in pulmonary tissues.
Current evidence for Fritillaria thunbergii is limited to preliminary animal and cell studies. Mouse studies demonstrated tumor growth inhibition through gene expression changes, while cell culture experiments showed significant cytokine reduction. No human clinical trials have been conducted to establish safety profiles or therapeutic dosing. The evidence quality remains low due to the lack of controlled human studies and small sample sizes in existing research.
Fritillaria thunbergii safety data in humans is extremely limited due to lack of clinical trials. Traditional use suggests generally low toxicity, but specific side effects and optimal dosages remain undefined. The herb may interact with immunosuppressive medications due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid use due to insufficient safety data and potential alkaloid toxicity.
