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Eleutherococcus senticosus as a crude medicine: Review of biological and pharmacological effects

Authors Yan-Lin, Sun; Liu Lin-De; Soon-Kwan, Hong

Journal JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL PLANTS RESEARCH , NOV 9 2011,25:5

DOI 10.5897/JMPR11.728

Abstract Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) Harms (Acanthopanax senticosus, Araliaceae, ES, thereafter), also called Siberian ginseng, Ciwujia in Chinese, and Gasiogalpi in Korea, is distributed in the southeastern Russia, northeast China, Korea, and Japan. The woody medicinal plant has been known since ancient times for its curative properties, and particularly the cortical roots and stem tissues of ES have been utilized for the treatment of various ailments such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hepatitis, spleen and liver complaints. Due to its giant therapeutic efficacy, more and more investigations have been carried out on the isolation and analysis of active compounds of ES, and their in vitro and in vivo pharmacological activities and even clinical effects in humans. This review, therefore, provides a comprehensive review of the pharmacologically relevant compounds of ES characterized so far and of the studies supporting its use as a medicinal plant. Particular attention has been given to anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-carcinogenic, anti-fatigue, anti-diabetes, hypolipide, immunoprotection and immunoregulation, and antimicrobial and antiviral activities. This work presented here would help more detailed pharmacological cognition and further understanding of natural components of this medicinal plant species.

Species covered 刺五加 Acanthopanax senticosus