Research progress on chemical constituents, pharmacological action and toxicity of Melia toosendan / 中草药

ABSTRACT

As a traditional Chinese medicine, Melia toosendan is widely used as a natural deworming agent. M. toosendan is rich in chemical components, incluing limonoid-type triterpenes, lignans, flavonoids, steroids, organic acids and so on. Its pharmacological activities are mainly anti-tumor, anti-oxidation, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, antiviral, deworming. The application of M. toosendan is limited due to its hepatotoxicity, pregnancy toxicity and so on. In this paper, the chemical constituents, pharmacological activities and toxicity of M. toosendan were reviewed, which will provide scientific basis for its further development research and clinical application.