Bupleurum has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years, and is used today in Japan and China for liver and inflammation problems.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine
Bupleurum is known as a primary harmony herb in multiple classical formulations.
Bupleurum is useful in the tonic system because it is thought to relieve liver tension and facilitate supportive actions. Specifically, it has a unique reputation for deeply cleansing the liver.
Bupleurum's root is an important ingredient in Sho-Saiko-To, which is used in traditional Chinese and Japanese herbal medicine to reduce symptoms of liver cirrhosis. Test tube studies have shown that Sho-Saiko-To can increase production of various chemicals (known as cytokines) that immune cells use to signal one another.
[1] This mixture is also thought to promote blood circulation to the liver and strengthen the stomach and intestines.
Bupleurum also contains constituents known as saikosaponins, which appears to account for much of the medicinal activity of the plant. Test tube studies have found that saikosaponins are not only anti-inflammatory,
[2][3] but can also inhibit growth of liver cancer cells.
[4]
Did you know Japan has a government regulated Chinese herbal system used by patients of its national health care system.
[5][6] This herbal system is called Kampo, and
Bupleurum is an integral part of many Kampo medicines.
Ingredient Research
1. Yamashiki M, Nishimura A, Nomoto M, et al. Herbal medicine sho-saiko-to induces tumor necrosis factor-alpha and
granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in vitro in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with hepatocellular
carcinoma. J Gastro Hepatol 1996;11:137–42.
2. Utrilla MP, Zarzuelo A, Risco S, et al. Isolation of a saikosaponin responsible for the antiinflammatory activity of
Bupleurum gibralticum Lam root extract. Phytother Res 1991;5:43–5.
3. Motoo Y, Sawabu N. Antitumor effects of saikosaponins, baicalin and baicalein on human hepatoma cell lines.
Cancer Lett 1994;86:91–5.
4. Yamamoto M, Kumagai A, Yamamura Y. Structure and actions of saikosaponins isolated from Bupleurum falcatum
L. I. Anti-inflammatory action of saikosaponins. Arzneim Forsch 1975;25:1021–3.
5. Tian RT, Xie PS, Liu HP. Evaluation of traditional Chinese herbal medicine: Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) by both
high-performance liquid chromatographic and high-performance thin-layer chromatographic fingerprint and
chemometric analysis. J Chromatogr A . 2009;1216(11):2150-2155.
6. Ikegami F, Sumino M, Fujii Y, Akiba T, Satoh T. Pharmacology and toxicology of Bupleurum root-containing Kampo
medicines in clinical use. Hum Exp Toxicol . 2006;25(8):481-494.
Additional Resources
1.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bupleurum_chinense
