Dichroa

BotanicalBest with a meal

What is it

Dichroa (Dichroa febrifuga), also called Chang Shan, is a flowering shrub used in traditional Chinese medicine. Its root contains alkaloids including febrifugine, historically used as an antimalarial.

Evidence for 1 use

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

Malaria (historical use)

Limited Evidence

Dichroa root has a long history as an antimalarial in Chinese medicine, and febrifugine isolated from it shows in vitro activity against Plasmodium. Modern human trials of the whole herb are lacking. Safer drugs are standard of care.

How it works

Dichroa's most studied constituent is febrifugine, a quinazolinone alkaloid that inhibits a parasite enzyme (prolyl-tRNA synthetase) required for protein synthesis in Plasmodium species. This mechanism is also active in mammalian cells, which explains the herb's reputation for causing nausea and toxicity at antimalarial doses. Modern research has explored derivatives of febrifugine, such as halofuginone, for autoimmune and antifibrotic effects, but these are pharmaceutical agents rather than dietary supplements. As sold in supplement form, Dichroa is mainly a traditional Chinese herb, not a standardized drug.

Dosage

There is no established RDA, AI, or UL. Traditional Chinese medicine references list root doses of roughly 3-9 g per day in decoction, but modern supplement labels rarely state amounts. No reliable safety-tested supplement dose range exists.

When and how to take it

There is no evidence-based timing recommendation. Traditional decoctions are typically taken with meals to reduce stomach upset.

2 commercial forms

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

Dried root powder

Used in Chinese herbal decoctions, often combined with other herbs to reduce side effects.

Traditional form; alkaloid content varies by source.

Standardized extract

Some labels list root extract; standardization to alkaloid content is uncommon.

Rare in Western supplements.

Safety

Febrifugine is toxic at therapeutic antimalarial doses, causing severe nausea, vomiting, liver injury and gastrointestinal irritation. Dichroa is not generally recognized as safe for self-use. Quality and alkaloid content vary widely between products.

Who should be cautious

Avoid in pregnancy, breastfeeding, in children, and in anyone with liver disease, kidney disease, or chronic gastrointestinal conditions. Do not combine with antimalarial drugs or hepatotoxic medications without medical supervision.

Interactions

No significant interactions have been formally documented in supplement literature, but because of febrifugine's broad cellular effects, caution is warranted with any medication metabolized by the liver.

Frequently asked questions

Is Dichroa safe to take daily?⌄

There is no reliable safety data supporting long-term daily supplement use. Traditional use was acute and supervised by trained practitioners.

Does Dichroa help with malaria?⌄

Its alkaloid febrifugine has antimalarial activity in lab settings, but the whole herb is not a recognized treatment. Standard antimalarial drugs are far safer.

References

Dichroa on Wikidata — Wikidata link

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

Research on Dichroa (PubMed search) — PubMed link

Track Dichroa with Pilora

Set up dose reminders, check interactions, and join the community in the Pilora iPhone app.

Coming to App Store
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.