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Dietary supplement

Codonopsis Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Indiana Botanic Gardens

Liquid Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Codonopsis is a dietary supplement by Indiana Botanic Gardens with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for fatigue and low energy, digestive support and poor appetite, immune support.Based on those ingredients, 211 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Codonopsis Root (1:1) Extract. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Codonopsis by Indiana Botanic Gardens

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This product contains one active ingredient: Codonopsis Root (1:1) Extract, a liquid concentrate of the codonopsis plant root. The extract is prepared in a 1:1 ratio, meaning one part plant material is concentrated into one part finished liquid.

The inactive ingredients are vegetable glycerin and purified water, which serve as the carrier and preservative base for the extract.

Does it work?

Couldn't assess
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Not assessable

This is a single-ingredient Codonopsis product and its label doesn't state a use — see Codonopsis's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.

The evidence supporting codonopsis for its traditional uses isn't well established in the data we hold. For asthma, respiratory tract infections, indigestion (dyspepsia), and high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia), the research is insufficient to rate whether it works.

The same goes for cancer—there's simply not enough reliable evidence yet to say whether codonopsis is effective for these conditions.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Codonopsis

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Codonopsis is generally well tolerated in traditional food-like amounts, but high-quality safety data are limited. Very large doses (30–60 grams) may cause chest pain, irregular heartbeat, throat pain, or voice loss.

Allergic reactions are possible, including serious ones; one case report documented anaphylaxis in an 18-year-old after consuming 20 grams of codonopsis root. The safety data advises against use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

If you're pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking this product.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Codonopsis

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Codonopsis.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs; diabetes medications.
  • For scale: 211 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Check before taking codonopsis if you use blood thinners or antiplatelet drugs (warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel, etc.)—it may increase bleeding risk. Also double-check if you take diabetes medications, since codonopsis may lower blood sugar further, or if you take the cancer drug abiraterone, which this extract may make less effective.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no assessable stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Codonopsis is a traditional herbal extract with limited modern safety and effectiveness data. If you take blood thinners, diabetes medications, or abiraterone, you'll want to check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting it.

Those who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid it unless their healthcare provider advises otherwise. Run through your exact medications with the search tool on this page to be sure.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Feb 25, 2013.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Codonopsis, straight from the product label.

Brand Indiana Botanic Gardens
Barcode (UPC) 703308200706
Net contents 1 fl. Oz.; 30 mL
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Feb 25, 2013
DSLD ID 18444
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Liquid
Dietary claims / uses All Other
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years)
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Codonopsis by Indiana Botanic Gardens, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
1 mL
Maximum serving Sizes:
2 mL
Servings per container
15
UPC/BARCODE
703308200706
IngredientAmount% DV
Codonopsis Root (1:1) Extract2000 mg--

Other ingredients: Vegetable Glycerin, purified Water

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested Use: Mix 1-2 mL (28-56 drops) in a little water. Use three times daily, as a dietary supplement or as directed by a physician.

SHAKE WELL.

Precautions

Warning: If you are taking any medications or are pregnant or nursing do not use prior to consulting a physician.

USE ONLY IF SEAL IS UNBROKEN

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN

General Statements

Best if used by date on bottle.

Storage

Store in a dry, cool place.

Formulation

Alcohol Free Liquid Extract

FDA Statement of Identity

Herbal Supplement

Seals/Symbols

IBG INDIANA BOTANICAL GARDENS(R)

See for yourself

Codonopsis by Indiana Botanic Gardens label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Codonopsis by Indiana Botanic Gardens

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 mL Dosage formLiquid Servings per container15 Amounts shown are per serving.

Codonopsis Root (1:1) Extract

Interacts with
211 drugs
2000 mg per serving

Codonopsis (often called 'dang shen') is a root long used in Traditional Chinese Medicine as a gentle energy and digestive tonic, frequently as a mild...

Codonopsis Root (1:1) Extract monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Vegetable Glycerin, Purified Water. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Codonopsis by Indiana Botanic Gardens Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Codonopsis?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
211Drugs
211 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Codonopsis with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Codonopsis Root (1:1) Extract3 drug types · 211 drugs

Abiraterone (Zytiga)

Theoretically, taking codonopsis root with abiraterone might reduce the levels and therapeutic effects of abiraterone.
Animal research in rats shows that intragastric administration of codonopsis root along with abiraterone every 2 days for 2 weeks seems to increase the clearance of abiraterone and reduce the overall exposure and time to maximum concentration. This interaction has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

Theoretically, codonopsis liquor might increase the risk of bleeding when used with antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs.
A small clinical study in adults with coronary heart disease shows that consuming Codonopsis pilosula liquor for 4 weeks inhibits platelet aggregation but does not affect tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) or plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI).

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, codonopsis might increase the risk of hypoglycemia when taken with antidiabetes drugs.
Laboratory and animal research suggest that codonopsis has antidiabetic effects.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Codonopsis, from the product label.

Indiana Botanic Gardens

See all Indiana Botanic Gardens products
Name
Indiana Botanic Gardens, Inc.
Street Address
3401 W. 37th Ave.
City
Hobart
State
IN
ZipCode
46342
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Codonopsis by Indiana Botanic Gardens: Common Questions

Does Codonopsis by Indiana Botanic Gardens interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Codonopsis has a known interaction with 211 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Codonopsis contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Can I take this if I'm on a blood thinner like warfarin?
No—codonopsis may increase bleeding risk when combined with blood thinners or antiplatelet drugs. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before adding it.
What dose is in this liquid?
The product facts don't list a dose per serving, so check the label on the bottle for the amount per dose and any instructions from the manufacturer.
Is codonopsis safe during pregnancy?
No, the safety data advises against it during pregnancy. If you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking it.
What side effects might I notice?
At normal doses, codonopsis is generally well tolerated. Very large doses (30–60 grams) may cause chest pain, irregular heartbeat, throat pain, or voice loss. Allergic reactions are possible, including rare serious ones like anaphylaxis.
Does codonopsis actually work for asthma or respiratory infections?
The evidence isn't established in the data we hold. For asthma, respiratory infections, and the other traditional uses listed, the research is insufficient to say whether codonopsis is effective.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Codonopsis is safe with your meds?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Codonopsis label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Codonopsis's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 5 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Codonopsis 5 references
  1. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
  2. Xu, X., Wang, S. R., and Lin, Q. [Clinical and experimental study on codonopsis pilosula oral liquor in treating coronary heart disease with blood stasis]. Zhongguo Zhong.Xi.Yi.Jie.He.Za Zhi. 1995;15(7):398-400.
  3. Hur GY, Choi GS, Park HJ, Ye YM, Park HS. Anaphylactic shock induced by Codonopsis lanceolata, traditional Chinese medicine in a patient with allergic rhinitis. Allergy. 2008;63(10):1406-7.
  4. Zhang ZB, Ip SP, Cho WCS, et al. Herb-drug interactions between androgenic Chinese herbal medicines and androgen receptor antagonist on tumor growth: Studies on two xenograft prostate cancer animal models. Phytother Res. 2021.
  5. Jia W, Bi Q, Jiang S, et al. Hypoglycemic activity of Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf. in vitro and in vivo and its chemical composition identification by UPLC-Triple-TOF-MS/MS. Food Funct 2022;13(5):2456-2464.

See these in context on the Codonopsis monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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