The leaves contains pectolinarin;

The aerial part contains φ-taraxasterol acetate, β-amyrin acetate, dotriacontanol, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, pectolinarigenin^[1];

The roots contains triterpenes, saponin, volatile oil, flavonoids, alkaloid^[2]; aplotaxene, dihydroaplotaxene, tetrahydroaplotaxene, hexahydroaploataxene, 1-pentadecene）,cyperene, caryophyllene, thujopsene, α-himachalene, 8,9-epoxy-heptadeca-1-en-11,13-diyn-10-ol, syringing, chlorogenic acid, 1,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, uridine, tachioside, taraxasteryl acetate, inulin^[1], α-amyrin, β-amyrin^[3], aplotaxene, dihydroaplotaxene, tetrahydroaplotaxene, hexahydroaplotaxene, 1-pentadecene, cyperene, caryophyllene, thujopsene, α-himachalene^[4], tridec-1-ene-3,5,7,9,11-pentayne^[5], （8S,9R,10S）-heptadeca-1-ene-11,13-diyne-8,9,10-triol, ciryneol A, ciryneol B, （10S）-cis-8,9-epoxy-heptadeca-1-en-11,13-diyn-11-ol, ciryneol C^[6], ciryneol D, ciryneol E^[7], linarin^[8], hispidulin-7-neohesperidoside, pectolinarin^[9], ferulylaldehyde 4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside^[10].

·       1. antibacterial action: The water extract from Circium japonicum has the inhibiting effect on the growth of bacteria such as staphylococcus aureus, typhoid bacillus, Bacillus anthracis, tubercle bacillus, meningococcus and so on^[1].

2. cardiovascular system: The water extract from Circium japonicum could inhibit the heart rate, reduce the heart contraction range, lower blood pressure, shorten the clotting time, and reduce lipid peroxide formation^[1].

3. Anti-tumor effect: Circium japonicum have an inhibiting effect on human liver cancer cell line HepG₂, cervical carcinoma cell line Hela, leukemia cell line K₅₆₂, gastric cancer cell line BGC₈₂₃ and colon cancer cell line HT-29^[3].

4.other effects: the extract of Circium japonicum also could promote fat metabolism, improve urine output, kill nematodes and so on^[1].

1. Acute tonsillitis: fresh daji(Japanese Thistle Herb) root, fresh tuniuxi(Common Achyranthes Herb), fresh cujiangcao(oxalis corniculala) each 60g. Decocted with water, 1 agent daily, 2 agents daily.if serious illness. Results showed that In the 70 cases, 59 cases were cured, 6 cases improved, 5 cases were invalid ^[1].

2. Blood troubles: (1) 369 cases of hemorrhage of upper digestive tract and hemoptysis of pulmonary tuberculosis and other internal hemorrhage were treated with daji(Japanese Thistle Herb) root cream 2.6g, Jimuye (loropetalum chinense )cream1.3g, baiji(common bletilla pseudobulb)2.1g .it had significant effect, the curative rate was 84.3%, the average hemostatic time was 5 days ^[2] daji(Japanese Thistle Herb), baiji(common bletilla pseudobulb), dahuang(rhubarb), each 4g ,3 times a day, at the same time, combining with blood volume supplement and Correction of electrolyte disturbance, did not use any other hemostatic drugs. Results showed that In the 40 cases, it had obvious hemostatic effect on moderate and below moderate blood troubles .the curative effect was exact, the total efficiency was 95%^[3].

3.Hemorrhoid: 102 patients (including 49 cases of mixed hemorrhoids, 50 cases of external hemorrhoids in, 3 cases of anal fissure )were treated with daji(Japanese Thistle Herb)40g , huajiao(pepper) 40g , huangbo (cortex phellodendri)50g, lianqiao(forsythias )35g. Washed the affected area. Results showed that the shortest healing time was 10 days, the longest was 2 months. 100 cases were cured, 99 cases improved, l cases invalid, the total effective rate was 99%, most patients cured after 1～2 agent ^[4].

4.Scleroma: daji(Japanese Thistle Herb) and starch tuned into a paste and applied to affected area, 1～2 times daily. Results showed Clinical observation of 500 cases, no cases failed , induration softened and absorpted, apparent disappearance of pain at least 2 ~ 3 times, more than 6 ~ 8times, generally 3 ~ 5times. It did not affect the treatment ^[5].

1. Traumatic bleeding

2.Mastitis

3. Epistaxis

4. Hematemesis,hemoptysis

5. Booldy stranguria due to accumulation of heat

6. Metrorrhagia andincessant leucorrhea in female

Pharmacological actions:
[1] Zhi Fei, Kong Ling-yi, Peng Si-xun. Progress in chemical and pharmacological studies on Cirsium japonicum. Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs, 2001,32(7): 90-93.

[2] Chen Kai-yun,Luo Xiao-quan,Chen Hai-fang, et al. Research advance of Cirsium japonicum. Journal of Jiangxi University of TCM ,2007,19(4):80 -81.

[3] Wang Zhen-fei, Li Yu, Dai Bao-zhen, et al. Study on Inhibitory Effects of Cirsium Japonicum Fisch DC on Five Kinds of Human Carcinoma Cells. Chinese Archives of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2008,26(4):761 -762.

[4] Liu Su-jun, Zhou Ze-bin, Hu Xia, et al. The Effects of the Total Flavones on IL-1 and IL-2 in the Tumor-bearing Mice. Li Shizhen Medicine and Materia medica Research, 2008,19(2):335-337.
clinical test:

[5] Pan shumin，Chen yong. Scleroma treated with daji(Japanese Thistle Herb) paste forexternal application. Journal of Practical Medicine，1985；1(2)：40．