Isatis radix

Officinal drug (Ph.Eur.8) made from the dried root of woad, which is mainly used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Glucosinolates like epigoitrin, epiprogoitrin, gluconapine. The mustard oil glycoside glucobrassicin can also be obtained from woad. The root extracts still contain different organ. acids such as benzoic acid and salicylic acid. The colourless glycoside indican, which oxidises in air to indigo (indirubin), the blue dye.

Antibacterial, antiviral, antiphlogistic,

Internal: Crushed drugs for tea preparation.

Externally, extracts of woad are used for dry skin, skin irritation and atopic eczema.

Little is known about this. Reference should be made to the package leaflet for the finished products.

Isatidis Radix is a traditional Chinese remedy with antiviral action: used for flu, measles and mumps.

A topical finished preparation (Dermasence Vitop forte®) with extracts of woad, green tea and aloe vera is recommended for inflammatory skin (e.g. atopic eczema).

Isatidis Radix is used to produce the Waidbittierlikör.

1. Brattström A et al (2010) The plantextract Isatis tinctoria L. extract (ITE) inhibits allergen-induced airway inflammation and hyperreactivity in mice. Phytomedicine 17(8-9):551-556.
2. Wang Y et al (2009) Synergistic effects of Isatis tinctoria L. and tacrolimus in the prevention of acute heart rejection in mice. Transpl Immunol 22(1-2):5-11.
3. Recio MC et al (2006) Anti-arthritic activity of a lipophilic woad (Isatis tinctoria) extract. Planta Med 72:715-720.
4. Recio MC et al.(2006) Anti-inflammatory and antiallergic activity in vivo of lipophilic Isatis tinctoria extracts andtryptanthrin. Planta Med 72:539-546.
5. Zhou J et al (2011)Analysis of the extracts of Isatis tinctoria by new analytical approaches of HPLC, MS and NMR. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med 8(5 Suppl):33-45.