Fringed Pink

The Fringed Pink (Dianthus superbus), also known as feathered pink or superb pink, is a perennial herbaceous plant from the family of the pink plants (Caryophyllaceae). It is distributed in Europe, Asia and parts of North America and prefers sunny, moderately dry to fresh locations such as meadows, forest edges or embankments. Characteristic are its delicate, fringed petals, which shine in shades of pink to purple and give off an intense, sweet and spicy fragrance.

The Fringed Pink not only has a high ornamental value, but also plays a role in the traditional medicine of East Asia. In China it is known under the name “Qumai” and has for centuries been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for various health purposes.

What health benefits does the Fringed Pink offer?

Although the Fringed Pink is credited in traditional medicine with a whole series of positive effects on health, far more research is necessary in order to also substantiate these conclusively through studies. Previous studies likewise point to medicinal potential, however the results are not readily transferable and the study situation is so far not meaningful enough. Here are some of the previous results of scientific investigations

  • Anti-inflammatory: Plant extracts showed an inhibiting effect on certain inflammatory markers in laboratory investigations (1,2).
  • Kidney-protecting effects: Results suggest that the Fringed Pink could have a protective effect against kidney inflammation and fibrosis (3).
  • Positive effect on the urinary tract: In TCM, the Fringed Pink is traditionally used to promote urinary excretion, to relieve urinary tract complaints and to drain off “heat”. Studies likewise link the plant with a positive effect on the urinary tract (4,5).
  • Neuroprotective effect: Extract from D. superbus and the compounds isolated from it showed neuroprotective properties, which could indicate a therapeutic potential for applications in neurotoxic conditions (6).

How does the Fringed Pink work in the body?

The Fringed Pink contains a whole series of bioactive substances, among them dianthosaponins, dianthramides, flavonoids, coumarin, triterpenoids, pyran glycosides and cyclic peptides (7). In TCM it is assumed that the plant has both a cooling and a relieving effect on the organism, which is why it is used for “inner heat” and stagnating body fluids.

Are there risks or side effects?

  • Not during pregnancy: In TCM, use during pregnancy is advised against, since a menstruation-promoting effect is assumed.
  • Stomach irritation: High dosages can lead to mild gastrointestinal complaints.
  • Insufficient clinical studies: Most findings come from traditional use and animal experiments; clinical studies in humans are still limited, which is why intake should take place exclusively under medical supervision.

Conclusion

The Fringed Pink (Dianthus superbus) combines aesthetic beauty with a long tradition in Asian herbal medicine. In TCM, its supposedly diuretic, anti-inflammatory and menstruation-regulating properties make it a versatile medicinal plant. For this, however, modern clinical evidence is currently still lacking, which is why more research is necessary in order to be able to make conclusive statements.

References:

  1. Shin, I. S., Lee, M. Y., Ha, H., Jeon, W. Y., Seo, C. S., & Shin, H. K. (2012). Dianthus superbus fructus suppresses airway inflammation by downregulating of inducible nitric oxide synthase in an ovalbumin-induced murine model of asthma. Journal of inflammation (London, England), 9(1), 41. https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-9255-9-41
  2. Liu, Y.-H., Zhang, Q., Zhang, D.-Z., Fu, X.-Y., Liu, W.-Y., & Tian, J.-M. (2025). Two undescribed phytoecdysteroids from Dianthus superbus L. Phytochemistry Letters, 69, 103015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytol.2025.103015
  3. Yoon, J. J., Park, J. H., Kim, H. J., Jin, H. G., Kim, H. Y., Ahn, Y. M., Kim, Y. C., Lee, H. S., Lee, Y. J., & Kang, D. G. (2019). Dianthus superbus Improves Glomerular Fibrosis and Renal Dysfunction in Diabetic Nephropathy Model. Nutrients, 11(3), 553. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11030553
  4. Flower, A., Wang, L. Q., Lewith, G., Liu, J. P., & Li, Q. (2015). Chinese herbal medicine for treating recurrent urinary tract infections in women. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2015(6), CD010446. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD010446.pub2
  5. Liu, Q., Zang, E. H., Wang, C. C., Liu, Y. C., Niu, H., Gao, Y., & Li, M. H. (2022). Dianthi herba: a comprehensive review of its botany, traditional use, phytochemistry, and pharmacology. Chinese medicine, 17(1), 15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13020-022-00570-2
  6. Yun, B. R., Yang, H. J., Weon, J. B., Lee, J., Eom, M. R., & Ma, C. J. (2016). Neuroprotective Properties of Compounds Extracted from Dianthus superbus L. against Glutamate-induced Cell Death in HT22 Cells. Pharmacognosy magazine, 12(46), 109–113. https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-1296.177905
  7. Yoon, J. J., Park, J. H., Kim, H. J., Jin, H. G., Kim, H. Y., Ahn, Y. M., Kim, Y. C., Lee, H. S., Lee, Y. J., & Kang, D. G. (2019). Dianthus superbus Improves Glomerular Fibrosis and Renal Dysfunction in Diabetic Nephropathy Model. Nutrients, 11(3), 553. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11030553