Desmodium

BotanicalBest with a meal

What is it

Desmodium is a genus of leguminous plants. Desmodium adscendens and related species have been used in West African and South American traditional medicine for liver complaints, asthma, and smooth muscle spasm.

Evidence for 1 use

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

Liver support (traditional)

Mixed Evidence

Animal and traditional use data support hepatoprotective claims; robust human trials are not available.

How it works

Constituents include flavonoids, alkaloids, and triterpenoid saponins. Preclinical work, mostly in animal liver-injury models, suggests hepatoprotective activity and smooth muscle relaxant effects, but the molecular mechanisms are not fully defined. Human clinical evidence is limited, with most modern marketing of 'desmodium liver support' based on traditional use and a small number of small studies.

Dosage

There is no established RDA. Traditional preparations vary widely; commercial extracts typically dose at the gram level of dried herb equivalent. DSLD does not provide a median dose for this entry.

When and how to take it

Often taken with meals to support tolerability. No strong evidence for a specific time of day.

1 commercial form

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

Desmodium leaf / herb extract

Liquid and dry extracts of Desmodium adscendens and related species are most common.

Composition varies by species and extraction method.

Safety

Generally well tolerated short-term at traditional doses. Long-term and high-dose safety data are limited. Mild GI upset is the most commonly reported issue.

Who should be cautious

Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding due to insufficient safety data. Discuss with a clinician if taking medications for liver disease, asthma, or chronic conditions.

Interactions

Theoretical interactions with hepatically metabolized drugs and bronchodilators. No major clinically documented interactions are widely reported.

Frequently asked questions

Does desmodium repair the liver?⌄

There is preclinical support for hepatoprotective activity, but no high-quality human evidence that it reverses liver disease.

Is it safe in pregnancy?⌄

No reliable safety data exist; avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

References

Desmodium on Wikidata — Wikidata link

Desmodium on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link

Research on Desmodium (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.