Search Results (46)

Bupleurum is a Chinese medicinal material widely used in clinical practice. Its medicinal component is the dried roots of either the Umbrella plant Bupleurum chinense DC or Bupleurum scorzonerifolium Willd. This review systematically searched major scientific databases such as Web of Science, PubMed, and ScienceDirect, and found that it contains various bioactive substances including saikosaponins, polysaccharides, flavonoids, and volatile oils. These components have demonstrated significant efficacy in anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective activities. Research has confirmed that this medicinal herb can exert its pharmacological effects by promoting tumor cell apoptosis, inhibiting cell proliferation, regulating inflammatory signaling pathways, and alleviating neuroinflammation. Additionally, its antipyretic and antiviral properties have also garnered widespread attention. However, clinical data regarding its optimal dosage, administration routes, and safety are still insufficient, necessitating further trials for validation. Investigating the synergistic effects of Bupleurum with other drugs and the safety of its use in different populations are also key directions of current research. Given the urgent need for efficient and sustainable healthcare in modern society, a deep understanding of the mechanisms and safety of Bupleurum is of significant importance for its validation as a foundation for new drug development. In summary, Bupleurum, as a multifunctional natural product, has broad application prospects and is expected to play a greater role in future medical research and clinical practice. Full article

Background and Objectives: Mental health and healthy eating are inextricably linked by bi-directional interaction. As pharmacological interventions for eating disorders and mental illness have limited efficacy and are associated with significant side effects, natural compounds traditionally used in these fields represent an extremely rich source for potential future drugs. This review aims to summarise complex and/or specific pharmacological and clinical effects of mixed compositions and individual compounds derived from Rosmarinus officinalis, Ginkgo biloba, and Bupleurum chinense as well as from Berberis vulgaris and other berberine (BBR)-containing plants, which have been traditionally used for eating and mental health purposes. Results and Conclusions: The data on favoured natural compounds and main ingredients of compound mixtures presented here could provide new impetus for preventive or targeted supplementary treatment, potential drug development, and the design of new compound congeners with improved target spectrum and potency in mental health disorders and eating-related issues. Contemporary methodological development steps in this direction are then proposed. Full article

Bupleurum scorzonerifolium Willd. is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Bupleurum in the Apiaceae family. Also known as red Bupleurum, it is mainly distributed in Northeast China, North China and other regions and is a commonly used medicinal plant. It is difficult for the wild plant resources of Bupleurum scorzonerifolium Willd. to meet the market demand. In artificial cultivation, there are problems such as a low yield per plant, low quality, weakened stress resistance and variety degradation. The contents of bioactive components and metabolites in traditional Chinese medicinal materials vary significantly across different growth years. The growth duration directly impacts their quality and clinical efficacy. Therefore, determining the optimal growth period is one of the crucial factors in ensuring the quality of traditional Chinese medicinal materials. In this study, Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were comprehensively applied to analyze the metabolically differential substances in different parts of Bupleurum scorzonerifolium Willd. By comparing the compositions and content differences of chemical components in different growth years and different parts, the chemical components with significant differences were accurately screened out. In order to further explore the dynamic change characteristics and internal laws of metabolites, a metabolic network was constructed for a visual analysis and, finally, to see the optimal growth years of Bupleurum scorzonerifolium Willd. This result showed that with the accumulation of the growth cycle, the height, root width, fresh mass and saikosaponins content of Bupleurum scorzonerifolium Willd. increased year by year. Except for sodium and calcium elements in the main shoot, the other elements were significantly reduced. In addition, 59 primary metabolites were identified by GC-MS, with the accumulation of the growth cycle, the contents of organic acids, sugars, alcohols and amino acids gradually decreased, while the contents of alkyl, glycosides and other substances gradually increased. There were 53 positive correlations and 18 negative correlations in the triennial Bupleurum scorzonerifolium Willd. grid, all of which were positively correlated with saikosaponins. Therefore, the triennial Bupleurum scorzonerifolium Willd. was considered to be the suitable growth year. It not only provided a new idea and method for the quality evaluation of Bupleurum scorzonerifolium Willd., but also provided a scientific basis for the quality control of Chinese herbs. Full article

Bupleurum falcatum (Apiaceae) sensu lato includes multiple infraspecific taxa with longstanding taxonomic ambiguities, often resulting from incomplete morphological and chemical characterizations. Herein, diethyl ether extracts were analyzed from four Balkan populations that were tentatively identified as B. falcatum subsp. falcatum (syn. B. falcatum) and B. falcatum subsp. cernuum (syn. B. sibthorpianum). Comprehensive chromatography and spectroscopic techniques (GC-MS and 1D/2D NMR) enabled the isolation of several newly identified aliphatic polyunsaturated esters, including compounds bearing uncommon conjugated tetraene and triyne backbones. These novel structures differ from canonical falcarinol derivatives by lacking the usual 3-hydroxylation, suggesting a divergent branch in the crepenynate pathway. The chemical profiles of each sample correlated closely with leaf morphology and infraspecific designations: for example, the Galičica Mt. population of B. falcatum featured a unique newly detected heptadecadientriyne, while the populations from Šar Planina and Suva Planina displayed distinct polyunsaturated repertoires. Extracts from B. sibthorpianum likewise contained stereoisomeric compounds that highlight metabolic divergence. Collectively, these findings demonstrate significant chemotypic variation within the Bupleurum falcatum complex and provide the first account of less-polar secondary metabolites, including newly discovered polyunsaturated metabolites. Future research integrating molecular markers and bioactivity assays may elucidate how these specialized metabolites contribute to both the taxonomy and pharmacological potential of these understudied taxa. Full article

Bupleurum scorzonerifolium Willd. is a commonly used bulk Chinese herbal remedy. Due to the large-scale mining of wild Bupleurum scorzonerifolium Willd., its natural resources are gradually exhausted. In addition, there are some problems in Bupleurum scorzonerifolium Willd. cultivation, such as lack of guidance, excessive application of fertilizers and so on, which lead to the yield and quality of Bupleurum to be below the standard value. Therefore, it is significant to clarify the regulation of quality and yield under different levels of fertilizers. In this study, three different levels of potassium fertilizer were applied; then, the metabolites in different parts of Bupleurum were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) to detect the alterations in the metabolic spectrum and recognize both the accumulation and distribution of key metabolites in response to each level of potassium fertilizer. The contents of various mineral elements, such as sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, iron, and copper, in different parts of Bupleurum under different potassium levels were determined. Potassium fertilizer had a significant impact on the absorption and distribution of these mineral elements. There were synergistic and antagonistic effects between each element and K⁺. The results showed that low and high potassium levels could promote the progression of main shoots and roots, but inhibited the accumulation of dry matter in lateral shoots and flowers. Low potassium levels stimulated the content of saikosaponin a in all plant parts, while high potassium levels inhibited the accumulation of most saikosaponin a,c and d. A total of 77 metabolites were identified by GC–MS, of which glycerol, d-glucose, silane and copper phthalocyanine were highlighted as the key metabolites in response to potassium fertilizer. The abovementioned metabolites are mapped into insulin signaling pathways, streptomycin biosynthesis, galactose metabolism and other metabolic pathways, sustaining the metabolic regulation of Bupleurum scorzonerifolium Willd. Full article

Background/Objectives: Bupleuri Radix is a plant in the Apiaceae family Bupleurum Chinense DC. or Bupleurum scorzonerifolium Willd. root. The dissimilarities in the metabolite profiles of plants directly correlate with the disparities in their clinical efficacy. Methods: Therefore, the wild Bupleurum Chinense DC. (YBC) and wild Bupleurum scorzonerifolium Willd. (YNC) were used as research materials. They were analyzed using the UPLC-MS/MS and the similarities and differences were uncovered based on differential metabolites. Results: Our results proved that the differences in clinical efficacy between YBC and YNC may be attributed to their distinct metabolite profiles, as follows: (1) a total of 12 classes of 2059 metabolites were identified in the roots, with phenolic acids, terpenoids, and flavonoids being the most abundant metabolic products, with 2026 shared components between the two, 2045 in YBC, and 2040 in YNC; (2) a total of 718 differential metabolites were identified, accounting for 35.44% of the shared metabolites. Among them, YBC had 452 metabolites with higher content relative to YNC, representing 62.95%, and 266 components with lower content, representing 37.05%; (3) the KEEG enrichment analysis results show that the differential metabolic pathways are flavone and flavonol biosynthesis, linoleic acid metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid biosynthesis, and linolenic acid metabolism. Conclusions: These new findings will serve as a foundation for further study of the BR biosynthetic pathway and offer insights into the practical use of traditional Chinese medicine in clinical settings. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia among the elderly, yet effective treatments remain elusive. Total saikosaponins (TSS), the primary bioactive components in Bupleurum chinense, have shown promising therapeutic effects against AD in previous studies. Methods: To delve deeper into the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic role of TSS in AD, we investigated its neuroprotective effects and associated molecular mechanisms in APP/PS1 mice. Further, we employed metabolomic and proteomic analyses, with a focus on the potential protein-level changes induced by TSS, particularly those related to metabolite accumulation in the brain. Results: Our results showed that lysophosphatidylcholine, adenosine, and sphingomyelin in plasma might serve as potential biomarkers. Compared to the control group, AD mice exhibited significantly increased expression of proteins related to neuroinflammatory pathways, whereas proteins involved in cAMP signaling, cGMP-PKG signaling, and synaptic plasticity pathways were significantly downregulated. Notably, these signaling pathways were partially reversed in APP/PS1 mice following TSS administration. Behavioral tests demonstrated that TSS effectively improved the learning and memory functions of mice. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that TSS ameliorate cognitive decline through regulating neuroinflammatory pathways, cAMP and cGMP signaling, and synaptic plasticity pathways, providing insights into its therapeutic potential in AD. Full article

Macroporous resin is an efficient separation technology that plays a crucial role in the separation and purification of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). However, the application of macroporous resins in TCM pharmaceuticals is hindered by serious fouling caused by the complex materials used in TCM. This study examines the impact of ultrafiltration (UF) membrane technology on the macroporous resin adsorption behavior of TCM extracts. In this paper, Bupleurum chinense DC. (B. chinense) water extracts were included as an example to study the effect of UF pretreatment on the macroporous resin adsorption of total saponins. The study results indicated that the adsorption of total saponins constituents from the water extracts of B. chinense on the macroporous resin followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir model. The thermodynamic parameters of adsorption, including enthalpy changes and Gibbs free energies, were negative, while entropy changes were positive. These results demonstrated that the total saponin components form a monolayer adsorption layer by spontaneous thermal adsorption on the macroporous resin, and that the adsorption rate is not determined by the rate of intraparticle diffusion. Following treatment with a UF membrane with an average molecular weight cut-off of 50 kDa, the protein, starch, pectin, tannin, and other impurities in the water extracts of B. chinense were reduced, while the total saponin content was retained at 82.32%. The adsorption kinetic model of the saponin constituents on the macroporous resin remained unchanged and was consistent with both the second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir model; the adsorption rate of the second-order kinetic model increased by 1.3 times and in the Langmuir model at 25 °C, the adsorption performance improved by 1.16 times compared to the original extracts. This study revealed that UF technology as a pretreatment method can reduce the fouling of macroporous resin by TCM extracts and improve the adsorption performance of macroporous resin. Full article

Bupleurum is a kind of medicinal plant that has made a great contribution to human health because of the presence of bioactive metabolites: Bupleurum saikosaponins and flavonoids. Despite their importance, it has been a challenge to visually characterize the spatial distribution of these metabolites in situ within the plant tissue, which is essential for assessing the quality of Bupleurum. The development of a new technology to identify and evaluate the quality of medicinal plants is therefore necessary. Here, the spatial distribution and quality characteristics of metabolites of three Bupleurum species: Bupleurum smithii (BS), Bupleurum marginatum var. stenophyllum (BM), and Bupleurum chinense (BC) were characterized by Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI). Twenty-nine metabolites, including saikosaponins, non-saikosaponins, and compounds from the saikosaponin synthesis pathway, were characterized. Some of these were successfully localized and visualized in the transverse section of roots. In these Bupleurum species, twelve saikosaponins, five non-saikosaponins, and five saikosaponin synthesis pathway compounds were detected. Twenty-two major influencing components, which exhibit higher ion intensities in higher quality samples, were identified as potential quality markers of Bupleurum. The final outcome indicates that BC has superior quality compared to BS and BM. MALDI-MSI has effectively distinguished the quality of these Bupleurum species, providing an intuitive and effective marker for the quality control of medicinal plants. Full article

This study explores the chemical composition of essential oils from two Serbian Bupleurum species (Apiaceae), Bupleurum praealtum L. and Bupleurum affine L., traditionally recognized in Chinese medicine for their therapeutic potential but less studied for their essential oils. Through GC-MS analysis, we identified 230 constituents, revealing distinct profiles between the species. Perillyl 2-methylbutanoate was identified in B. affine oil for the first time, confirmed using synthetic approaches and characterized by advanced spectroscopic techniques, including two-dimensional NMR and spin-simulation of ¹H NMR spectra. Additionally, new natural compounds, including tentatively identified 4-decyl acetate and 4-undecyl acetate, were discovered. The study also reports five stereoisomeric esters of tetradeca-5,7,9,11-tetraen-1-ol. These findings significantly contribute to the understanding of the phytochemical diversity within the genus Bupleurum and underscore potential differences in ecological adaptations or biosynthetic pathways among species. Full article

We evaluated the long-term risks of overall cancer and all-cause mortality associated with five types of phytopharmaceuticals and the most commonly used estrogen-progestogen medications for the treatment of postmenopausal syndrome in women. Using data from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2018, we conducted a 1:2 matched cohort study with 12,087 eligible patients. We compared phytopharmaceuticals -only users (n = 4029, phytopharmaceuticals group) with HRT-only users (n = 8058, HRT group) with a washout period of ≥6 months. The phytopharmaceuticals group had significantly lower risks of overall cancer and all-cause mortality than the HRT group (adjusted hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]: 0.60 [0.40–0.9] and 0.40 [0.16–0.99], respectively) after over 180 days of use. Bupleurum and Peony Formula were associated with lower risks of overall cancer and all-cause mortality (aHR: 0.57 [0.36–0.92] and 0.33 [0.11–1.05], respectively). In conclusion, phytopharmaceuticals may serve as an alternative therapy to HRT for alleviating menopausal symptoms and reducing health risks, leading to more favorable long-term health outcomes. Further randomized control trials are necessary to validate the findings of this study. Full article

Saikosaponin D (SSD), derived from Bupleurum falcatum L., has various pharmacological properties, including immunoregulatory, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic effects. Several studies have investigated the anti-tumor effects of SSD on cancer in multiple organs. However, its role in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the suppressive effects of SSD on CRC cell survival and metastasis. SSD reduced the survival and colony formation ability of CRC cells. SSD-induced autophagy and apoptosis in CRC cells were measured using flow cytometry. SSD treatment increased LC3B and p62 autophagic factor levels in CRC cells. Moreover, SSD-induced apoptosis occurred through the cleavage of caspase-9, caspase-3, and PARP, along with the downregulation of the Bcl-2 family. In the in vivo experiment, a reduction in the number of metastatic tumor nodules in the lungs was observed after the oral administration of SSD. Based on these results, SSD inhibits the metastasis of CRC cells to the lungs by inducing autophagy and apoptosis. In conclusion, SSD suppressed the proliferation and metastasis of CRC cells, suggesting its potential as a novel substance for the metastatic CRC treatment. Full article

The current study was designed to uncover the chemistry and bioactivity potentials of Bupleurum lancifolium growing wild in Jordan. In this context, the fresh aerial parts obtained from the plant material were subjected to hydrodistillation followed by GC/MS analysis. The main components of the HDEO were γ-patchoulene (23.79%), β-dihydro agarofuran (23.50%), α-guaiene (14.11%), and valencene (13.28%). Moreover, the crude thanolic extract was partitioned to afford two main major fractions, the aqueous methanol (BLM) and butanol (BLB). Phytochemical investigation of both fractions, using conventional chromatographic techniques followed by careful inspection of the spectral data for the isolated compounds (NMR, IR, and UV-Vis), resulted in the characterization of five known compounds, including α-spinasteryl (M1), ethyl arachidate (M2), ethyl myristate (M3), quercetin-3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1-4”)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (B1), and isorhamnetin-3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1-4”)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (B2). The TPC, TFC, and antioxidant activity testing of both fractions and HDEO revealed an interesting ABTS scavenging potential of the BLB fraction compared to the employed positive controls, which is in total agreement with its high TP and TF contents. Cytotoxic evaluation tests revealed that BLM had interesting cytotoxic effects on the normal breast cell line MDA-MB-231 (ATCC–HTB-26) and the normal dermal fibroblast (ATCC^® PCS-201-012) and normal African green monkey kidney Vero (ATCC-CCL-81) cell lines. Despite both the BLB and BLM fractions showing interesting AChE inhibition activities (IC₅₀ = 217.9 ± 5.3 µg/mL and 139.1 ± 5.6 µg/mL, respectively), the HDEO revealed an interestingly high AChE inhibition power (43.8 ± 2.7 µg/mL) that far exceeds the one observed for galanthamine (91.4 ± 5.2 µg/mL). The HDEO, BLM, and BLB exhbitied no interesting antimicrobial activity against Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, or Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Full article

Volatile oil serves as a traditional antipyretic component of Bupleuri Radix. Bupleurum marginatum var. stenophyllum (Wolff) Shan et Y. Li belongs to the genus Bupleurum and is distinguished for its high level of saikosaponins and volatile oils; nonetheless, prevailing evidence remains inconclusive regarding its viability as an alternative resource of other official species. This study aims to systematically compare the volatile oil components of both dried and fresh roots of B. marginatum var. stenophyllum and the four legally available Bupleurum species across their chemical, molecular, bionics, and anatomical structures. A total of 962 compounds were determined via GC-MS from the dried roots; B. marginatum var. stenophyllum showed the greatest differences from other species in terms of hydrocarbons, esters, and ketones, which was consistent with the results of fresh roots and the e-nose analysis. A large number of DEGs were identified from the key enzyme family of the monoterpene synthesis pathway in B. marginatum var. stenophyllum via transcriptome analysis. The microscopic observation results, using different staining methods, further showed the distinctive high proportion of phloem in B. marginatum var. stenophyllum, the structure which produces volatile oils. Together, these pieces of evidence hold substantial significance in guiding the judicious development and utilization of Bupleurum genus resources. Full article

The incidence of depression has been steadily rising in recent years, making it one of the most prevalent mental illnesses. As the pursuit of novel antidepressant drugs captivates the pharmaceutical field, the therapeutic efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been widely explored. Chaihu (Bupleurum) has been traditionally used for liver conditions such as hepatitis, liver inflammation, liver fibrosis, and liver cancer. It is believed to have hepatoprotective effects, promoting liver cell regeneration and protecting against liver damage. In addition, Bupleurum has also been used as a Jie Yu (depression-relieving) medicine in China, Japan, Republic of Korea, and other Asian countries for centuries. This review article aims to summarize the research conducted on the antidepressant properties and mechanisms of Bupleurum, as well as discuss the potential of TCM formulas containing Bupleurum. This review highlights various antidepressant ingredients isolated from Bupleurum, including saikosaponin A, saikosaponin D, rutin, puerarin, and quercetin, each with distinct mechanisms of action. Additionally, Chinese herb prescriptions and extracts containing Bupleurum, such as Chaihu Shugansan, Xiaoyaosan, and Sinisan, are also included due to their demonstrated antidepressant effects. This review reveals that these Bupleurum compounds exhibit antidepressant effects through the regulation of neurotransmitter mechanisms (such as 5-HT and DA), the NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) system, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and other intracellular signaling pathways. Collectively, this comprehensive review provides insights into the multiple applications of Bupleurum in the treatment of depression and highlights its potential as an alternative or complementary approach to traditional therapies. However, it is essential to consider the potential adverse effects and clinical restrictions of Bupleurum despite its promising potential. Further research is needed to elucidate its specific mechanisms of action and evaluate its effectiveness in human subjects. Full article