Genus Bupleurum

Some species from Bupleurum genus are often used in combination with other plants as antihepatotoxic, antipyretic, analgesic, sedative and antidepresive agents. Saikosaponins extracted from B. falcatum are reported to have another variety of therapeutic activities such as alleviating hyperlipidemia, hepatic injury and chronic hepatitis as well as cardiac activities. 

According to the revised literature, sdkosaponins are commonly the active constituents as antiinflamatory agents of Bupleurum genus.. 

From different species of this genus triterpenoid saponins have been isolated, together with other compounds such as lignans, coumarins, flavonoids and polyacetylenes. The saikosaponins from Bupleurum L. are considered as the major bioactive components mainly used for their antiinflammatory and antihepatotoxic actmties. 

Some 120 Bupleurum species have been described, of which only ca 40 species have been chemically studied [5-14], Thus, the genus still holds many species containing substances of medicinal value which have yet to... 

To the best of our knowledge, phenolic glycosides have not been reported previously in the genus Bupleurum. However, glycoside 14 was obtained from the butanolic extract of the roots of B. rigidum. 

Chemical characterization and biological activities of compounds found in this genus are reviewed by Goren and co-workers. Contreras and co-workers have described bioactive components of Bupleurum rigldum L. subscp. rlgidum, some of which have shown interesting anti-inflammatory activity. 

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