Chinese violet

Chinese Name: Zi hua di ding
Medical Name: Herba Violae
Latin Name: Viola yedoensis Makino
Origin: Whole herb with roots, sundried.
Taste: Bitter and pungent

Quotes from Chinese historical sources

COMPENDIUM OF MATERIA MEDICA: "Useful in the treatment of ulcers on the back (lumbodorsal cellulites), furuncles, malignant boils and swellings of all kinds."

CORRECT MEANING OF THE MATERIA MEDICA: "This herb is common herb is ueful in the treatment of carbuncles and boils. With its pungent and cooling properties it can disperse swellings and control fevers. It is most useful in treating diseases of the skin such as carbuncles and boils caused by excess heat in the blood and obstructions of the internal organs."

Western Research

Antiviral Res 1988 Nov;10(1-3):107-16
Isolation, purification and partial characterization of an active anti-HIV compound from the Chinese medicinal herb viola yedoensis.
Ngan F, Chang RS, Tabba HD, Smith KM.
Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis 95616.
The dimethylsulfoxide extract of the Chinese medicinal herb Viola yedoensis demonstrates high inhibitory activity toward HIV-1 in vitro.

Antiviral Res 1988 Apr;9(3):163-75
Inhibition of growth of human immunodeficiency virus in vitro by crude extracts of Chinese medicinal herbs.
Chang RS, Yeung HW.
Department of Microbiology, Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Twenty-seven medicinal herbs reputed in ancient Chinese folklore to have anti-infective properties were extracted by boiling under reflux. The extracts were tested for inhibitory activity against the human immunodeficiency virus in the H9 cell line at concentrations nontoxic to growth of the H9 cells. One of the extracts (Viola yedoensis) was studied in greater depth. At a subtoxic concentration, this extract shut off completely the growth of HIV in virtually all experiments.