Chinese Ligustrum berry

Botanical

What is it

Chinese ligustrum berry (Ligustrum lucidum), known as nu zhen zi in traditional Chinese medicine, is the dried fruit of a Chinese privet tree, used as a kidney-liver tonic for fatigue, dizziness, and immune support.

Evidence for 1 use

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Traditional tonic

Mixed Evidence

Long traditional use within TCM formulas; modern single-herb clinical evidence is minimal.

How it works

The fruit contains triterpenoids (oleanolic acid, ursolic acid), iridoid glycosides, and polysaccharides. Animal and in vitro studies show immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, and modest anti-osteoporotic effects, sometimes attributed to oleanolic acid. Human clinical trials are mostly small, conducted in China, and use multi-herb formulas; isolated nu zhen zi clinical evidence is limited.

Dosage

No RDA. Traditional doses are 6-15 g of dried fruit in decoction per day.

When and how to take it

No timing baseline established.

2 commercial forms

Compare the main delivery options and what they’re best suited for.

Dried fruit/decoction

Used in TCM.

Traditional preparation.

Standardized extract

Modern supplement form.

Often standardized to oleanolic acid.

Safety

Generally well tolerated in traditional use. Long-term modern safety data are limited.

Who should be cautious

Pregnancy: limited data, avoid. People on immunosuppressive therapy should consult a clinician.

Interactions

Theoretical interactions with immunosuppressants. Not characterized in modern trials.

Frequently asked questions

What is nu zhen zi used for in TCM?⌄

It is considered a kidney-liver yin tonic for fatigue, dizziness, and early gray hair.

Is it safe?⌄

Generally well tolerated in traditional doses; high-quality modern safety data are sparse.

References

Chinese Ligustrum berry on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link

Research on Chinese Ligustrum berry (PubMed search) — PubMed link

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.