Traditional Use, Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Quality Control of Species in Genus Bupleurum L.

Many species of genus Bupleurum L. have been pharmaceutically used mainly in Asia and Europe for thousand years. Their roots are the most popular ingredients in Chinese materia medica prescriptions for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and auto-immune diseases. A plenty of chemical constituents have been isolated and identified from the species in Bupleurum L., such as saikosaponins, polysaccharides, volatile oils, flavonoids, polyacetylenes, lignins, and coumarins, most of which possess a variety of biological activities, especially for the hepatoprotective effect, antitumor activity, immunoregulation, and febrifuge efficacy. Therefore, the species in genus Bupleurum L. could be potential herbs of immunomodulator, antineoplastic, anti-oxidant, etc. Meanwhile, as potential toxicities have been discovered in some constituents, it is urgent to establish a comprehensive quality evaluation system to ensure the safety and efficiency of herbs. This paper reviews on the phytochemical and pharmacological studies, especially for the toxicology and quality control of the species in Bupleurum L., which is a reference for the species in this genus for safe usage and further development.

[Comprehensive yield and quality comparison of Bupleurum chinense' s seeds of different harvesting time from Qingchuan County with Topsis approach].

In order to investigate the comprehensive quality differences of the seeds harvested in different growing time, and offer theoretical guide for the optimization of seeds' production technology, we analyzed the apparent size, 1 000-grain weight, water absorbency, germination indexes, postharvest embryo rate change, relatively contents of coumarins and the yield of single plant of its seeds of different harvesting time, and compared their comprehensive quality by Topsis analysis. The results showed that there existed obvious differences in yield and quality between seeds of 3 harvesting times. While the harvesting time postponed, the yield of single plant raised, and the shrunken seeds rate decreased, the quality of seedlings increased, while the contents of coumarins showed a steady increase, and the germination rate decreased. The comprehensive quality of the seeds harvested in the black ripe time rank the first place, followed by the brown ripe time and the yellow ripe time. As the harvesting time delays, the seeds' comprehensive quality increases, therefore, we could put off the seeds' harvesting time properly for the high efficient seed production.

Combined effect of dark and wounding on regeneration potential of Houttuynia cordata Thunb. leaves.

Houttuynia cordata is one of the most potential medicinal and edible wild herb whose resources have decreased sharply due to excessive exploitation. Besides its slow agamic propagation, problems of browning and non-dedifferentiation have prevented the application of micropropagation in H. cordata. Through 4 week pre-culture in darkness and wounding after 1 week pre-culture, the browning rate of leaf explants decreased significantly and resulted in efficient regeneration (20.64 +/- 5.94 adventitious buds per explant) on the induction medium. The protocol shall facilitate conservation and commercial cultivation of the endangered species.