Dipsacaceae

The Dipsacaceae have been recognized as a family of the order Dipsacales, containing 350 species of perennial or biennial herbs and shrubs in eleven genera. Dipsacus asper Wall. ex C.B. Clarke, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, has long been used in China for the therapy of bone diseases (e.g. bone fracture, osteoporosis, rheumatic arthritis), traumatic hematoma, uterine bleeding and those caused by the deficiency of liver and kidney. Until now, about one hundred components had been isolated from DA, which contains triterpenoids, iridoids, phenolic acids, essential oils, alkaloids, lignin and fatty acids.