Saikosaponins from Bupleurum falcatum

Given their structural relationship to steroids, many saponins are renowned for their anti-inflammatory effects. Among the most potent are saikosaponins from Bupleurum falcatum and boswellic acid from Boswellia serrata. Saikosaponins are also immunomodulatory and hepatoprotective. Some saponins have been found to reduce... 

Saikosaponin d (50) from Bupleurum falcatum is not suitable to be applied as an antiviral agent because of its strong cytotoxic activity on host cells, but it is highly active in vitro as an inactivating agent on viruses with envelopes such as measles and herpes [151]. 

Some saponins have anti-inflammatory properties. The mixture of saponins from Bupleurum falcatum (Apiaceae) (a crude drug used in oriental medicine) is effective (400 mg/kg) for the treatment of edema in rats and possesses antiinflammatory activity (Hikino and Kiso, 1988). The saponins saikosaponin a and d appear to be responsible for most of the activity. 

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. 

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