Mechanism of Prunellae Spica Against Breast Diseases： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ABSTRACT

Prunellae Spica is the dry ear of the labiaceae plant Prunella vulgaris， which is a traditional medicine and food plant with many functions. Prunellae Spica can clear liver-fire， improve eyesight， disperse knot detumescence. It owns hot and bitter flavors and cold property. It goes to the liver， gallbladder meridian， and is a kind of commonly-used antifebric. Prunellae Spica has been used in the treatment of mammary gland diseases since ancient times.The mammary abscess， mammary nodules， mammary carcinoma of traditional Chinese medicine all belong to breast disease， and the liver meridian is most closely related to these diseases. With the development of social life， breast disease has gradually become the most primary health problem for women. Modern pharmacological studies show that Prunellae Spica contains terpenoids， phenolic acids， flavonoids and other biological active components， which have anti-inflammatory， antibacterial， hormone regulation， anti-tumor and other effects. Prunellae Spica inhibits the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase （p38 MAPK）/nuclear factor kappa-B （NF-κB） pathway to play an anti-mastitis role， interferes with the effects of estrogen receptors or regulates lipid levels to treat breast hyperplasia， and treats breast cancer through promoting the apoptosis of breast cancer cells， inhibiting the migration of breast cancer cells， regulating the division of breast cancer cells and other ways. While referring to the relevant literature， it was found that Prunellae Spica often exerted pharmacological effects through multi-channels and multi-target regulation， but most of the studies did not specify the specific target of its effect， which needs further study. In this review， the effects and mechanisms of Prunellae Spica in the treatment of various breast diseases were summarized， so as to provide a reference for further research on the wider clinical therapeutic effects of Prunella subtilis and its therapeutic effects on breast diseases.