Identity & origin
BOTANICAL IDENTITY
The right name is the first step.
A moonseed-family species placed by Kew in Botryodiscia tetrandra. The trade name fang ji may cover different plants. Confusion with Aristolochia fangchi is a major identification problem, not a property of genuine Stephania.
Also known as: Botryodiscia tetrandra
The trade name fang ji may cover different plants. Confusion with Aristolochia fangchi is a major identification problem, not a property of genuine Stephania. A photograph alone cannot validate identification for consumption.
An illustration is not enough to identify a plant for consumption. Do not forage for a species based solely on this profile.
Uses & evidence
UNDERSTANDING THE USES
Properties & uses.
Why this plant appears in the guide
ANSM lists Stephania tetrandra for the following part: root. List B covers plants whose potential adverse effects outweigh the expected therapeutic benefit. Listing documents a tradition and a warning, not an indication to try.
The references do not establish a benefit. Lack of evidence is not assurance of safety.
Read the sourceAuthentication: the name Fang Ji is insufficient
Joshi, Avula and Khan compared roots of four species sold under similar Fang Ji names, including Stephania tetrandra and Aristolochia fangchi, using microscopy and chromatography.
This entry describes a risk or interaction, not a beneficial property.
Read the sourceThe traditional uses described are not clinical proof of effectiveness. Evidence for one preparation cannot automatically be applied to another.
Precautions before use
BEFORE ANY USE
Precautions & contraindications.
This guidance does not cover every individual situation. Missing information is not a guarantee of safety.
The following warnings do not constitute a complete review of interactions or contraindications. An unstudied combination cannot be considered compatible.
Contraindications & precautions
- Do not self-medicate with this List B herbal material. A historical indication is not equivalent to a medically assessed contraindication profile for every preparation.
Medicine interactions
- The reviewed references do not define a complete interaction profile. Do not add this plant to treatment on the assumption of compatibility; a pharmacist must assess it.
“Reported” does not prove causality; “possible” may reflect indirect evidence. “None reported” means none in the cited source, not that all combinations have been studied. Do not stop a prescribed treatment based on this profile.
Adverse effects
- The report highlights potentially dangerous species substitution. It does not provide a complete adverse-effect profile for authentic Stephania tetrandra.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
No self-directed use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. The sources in this entry do not establish a safe formulation or dose for these situations.
Children & adolescents
No paediatric use is proposed. Keep this plant material and related products out of children’s reach; never taste the plant to identify it.
If symptoms persist, worsen or are unusual, consult a healthcare professional. In an emergency, contact the emergency services.
Available evidence
EXPLORE THE EVIDENCE
The available evidence.
Joshi, Avula and Khan compared roots of four species sold under similar Fang Ji names, including Stephania tetrandra and Aristolochia fangchi, using microscopy and chromatography.
Authentication: the name Fang Ji is insufficient
The useful result concerns plant-material identification. It does not demonstrate therapeutic efficacy or enable the public to authenticate a powder from its appearance.
This entry describes a risk or interaction, not a beneficial property.
Read the referenceLimitations to keep in mind.
When reading a source, record the complete botanical name and studied part; a shared trade name cannot identify a plant.
Studies, findings & limitations
THE RESEARCH
What the research shows.
A laboratory or animal result alone does not demonstrate a benefit in humans. Each result must be read alongside the preparation studied and its limitations.
Joshi, Avula & Khan, 2008 — analytical authentication
This entry describes a risk or interaction, not a beneficial property.
- Type of research
- Macroscopic, microscopic and chromatographic comparison of four herbal materials; not a clinical study.
- Preparation concerned
- Roots and powdered samples examined in a laboratory.
- Observed results
- Joshi, Avula and Khan compared roots of four species sold under similar Fang Ji names, including Stephania tetrandra and Aristolochia fangchi, using microscopy and chromatography.
- Limitations to consider
- This research concerns species differentiation; it evaluates neither treatment efficacy nor the safety of an individual preparation.
What can we take from this?
This research concerns species differentiation; it evaluates neither treatment efficacy nor the safety of an individual preparation.
Documentary review dated 09/10/2026. The references remain available to check the context.
Sources & last review
CHECKING REFERENCES
Sources for this profile.
- ANSM — French Pharmacopoeia, List B, January 2026, page 13Accessed on 09/10/2026
- Kew POWO — Stephania tetrandra S.MooreAccessed on 09/10/2026
- Joshi, Avula & Khan, 2008 — Authentication of Stephania tetrandra and differentiation of its adulterantsAccessed on 09/10/2026
Image: 黃美滿 · CC BY 4.0. View the original image and its licence. Image resized and converted to WebP.