- Bupleurum (Bupleurum falcatum, Bupleurum fruticescens) has been widely used for over 2,000 years in Asia and is used today in Japan and China for hepatitis, cirrhosis, and other conditions associated with inflammation. Other traditional uses that are not supported by human scientific studies include the treatment of deafness, dizziness, diabetes, wounds, and vomiting. Bupleurum's root is an important ingredient in xiao-chai-hu-tan/sho-saiko-to, also known as Minor Bupleurum Decoction, a combination of nine herbs, including ginseng, ginger, and licorice, which is used in traditional Chinese and Japanese herbal medicine for hepatitis and cirrhosis.
- Clinical studies have suggested that this combination may be effective in the treatment of hepatitis B and in the prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma. The mixture has also shown some promise as a liver-protecting agent and as an adjuvant in the treatment of HIV infection. The effect of Bupleurum is inseparable from the effects of the other ingredients in xiao-chai-hu-tan/sho-saiko-to, and thus it is difficult to make any firm conclusions based on studies of this combination product. However, because there is some promising early clinical evidence of efficacy for these formulae in the treatment and prevention of hepatitis-associated liver disease, a number of the studies of the combination preparations are included in this review.
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ingredients
Bupleurum-(Bupleurum-chinense-L.,-Bupleurum-falcatum)
Contents
- Aiba T, Takahashi T, Suzuki K, et al. Liver injury induced by a Japanese herbal medicine, sairei-to (TJ-114, Bupleurum and Hoelen Combination, Chai-Ling-Tang) R1. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2007;22(5):762-763.
View Abstract - Chen YL, Lin SZ, Chang J, et al. In vitro and in vivo studies of a novel potential anticancer agent of isochaihulactone on human lung cancer A549 cells. Biochem Pharmacol 7-28-2006;72(3):308-319.
View Abstract - Cheng BJ, Moritomo A, Yamasaki Y, et al. Preventive effect of traditional herbal formulae against experimental hypercholesterolemia in rats with special reference to blood lipoprotein cholesterol levels. J Ethnopharmacol. 2004;94(2-3):275-278.
View Abstract - Chiang LC, Ng LT, Liu LT, et al. Cytotoxicity and anti-hepatitis B virus activities of saikosaponins from Bupleurum species. Planta Med. 2003;69(8):705-709.
View Abstract - Chitturi S, Farrell GC. Hepatotoxic slimming aids and other herbal hepatotoxins. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2008 Mar;23(3):366-73.
View Abstract - Chou CC, Pan SL, Teng CM, et al. Pharmacological evaluation of several major ingredients of Chinese herbal medicines in human hepatoma Hep3B cells. Eur.J Pharm.Sci. 2003;19(5):403-412.
View Abstract - Estevez-Braun A, Estevez-Reyes R, Moujir LM, et al. Antibiotic activity and absolute configuation of 8S-heptadeca-2(Z),9(Z)-diene-4,6-diyne-1,8-diol from Bupleurum salicifolium. J Nat Prod. 1994;57(8):1178-1182.
View Abstract - Fernandez-Ocana AM, Gomez-Rodriguez MV, Velasco-Negueruela A, et al. In vivo antifungal activity of the essential oil of Bupleurum gibraltarium against Plasmopara halstedii in sunflower. J Agric.Food Chem 10-20-2004;52(21):6414-6417.
View Abstract - Hirayama C, Okumura M, Tanikawa K, et al. A multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial of Shosaiko-to in chronic active hepatitis. Gastroenterol Jpn 1989;24(6):715-719.
View Abstract - Ikegami F, Sumino M, Fujii Y, et al. Pharmacology and toxicology of Bupleurum root-containing Kampo medicines in clinical use. Hum.Exp Toxicol 2006;25(8):481-494.
View Abstract - Oka H, Yamamoto S, Kuroki T, et al. Prospective study of chemoprevention of hepatocellular carcinoma with Sho-saiko-to (TJ-9). Cancer 9-1-1995;76(5):743-749.
View Abstract - Tajiri H, Kozaiwa K, Ozaki Y, et al. Effect of sho-saiko-to(xiao-chai-hu-tang) on HBeAg clearance in children with chronic hepatitis B virus infection and with sustained liver disease. Am J Chin Med 1991;19(2):121-129.
View Abstract - Wu, S. J., Lin, Y. H., Chu, C. C., Tsai, Y. H., and Chao, J. C. Curcumin or saikosaponin a improves hepatic antioxidant capacity and protects against CCl4-induced liver injury in rats. J Med Food 2008;11(2):224-229.
View Abstract - Xie Y, Lu W, Cao S, et al. Preparation of Bupleurum nasal spray and evaluation on its safety and efficacy. Chem Pharm Bull.(Tokyo) 2006;54(1):48-53.
View Abstract - Zhang S, Cheng Z, Huang B, et al. [The effect of he jie decoction on the TCRV beta 7 of chronic hepatitis B patients]. Zhong.Yao Cai. 2002;25(6):451-453.
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