Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology of the Genus Glehnia: A Systematic Review.

Min Yang,Xue Li,Chunhong Zhang,Minhui Li,Jicheng Liu,Keyong Zhang,Lei Zhang,Mingyue Ji,Congcong Wang,Jianping Xu

doi:10.1155/2019/1253493

Abstract

Glehnia littoralis Fr. Schmidt ex Miq, the sole species in the genus Glehnia (Apiaceae), has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat fatigue, weakness, stomach-yin deficiency, lung heat, cough, dry throat, and thirst. Recently, G. littoralis has also been incorporated into a wide range of Chinese vegetarian cuisines. Based on the comprehensive information, advances in botany, known uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicity of G. littoralis, we aim to highlight research gaps and challenges in studying G. littoralis as well as to explore its potential use in plant biotechnology. This may provide more efficient therapeutic agents and health products from G. littoralis. A literature search of SciFinder, ScienceDirect, Scopus, TPL, Google Scholar, Baidu Scholar, and Web of Science, books, PhD and MSc dissertations, and peer-reviewed papers on G. littoralis research was conducted and comprehensively analyzed. We confirmed that the ethnomedical uses of G. littoralis have been recorded in China, Japan, and Korea for thousands of years. A phytochemical investigation revealed that the primary active compounds were phenylpropanoids, coumarins, lignanoids, and flavonoids, organic acids and derivatives, terpenoids, polyacetylenes, steroids, nitrogen compounds, and others. Our analysis also confirmed that the extracts of G. littoralis possess immunoregulatory, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, neuroprotective, antibacterial, antifungal, and analgesic properties. Although further studies are required, there is strong evidence of the antitumor and immunoregulatory potential of G. littoralis. Also, more studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms of action of its active compounds (e.g., falcarinol and panaxydiol) before any clinical studies can be carried out.

Highlights

Introduction e genusGlehnia belongs to the Apiaceae family and contains only one species, Glehnia littoralis Fr
GLP obviously increased the weight of yin deficiency mice and significantly raised the levels of antibody-forming cells in interperitoneal cavity (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), and enhanced delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction in mice (P < 0.01), but it had no effect on peritoneal macrophage coefficient and index
Available literature demonstrates that G. littoralis plays a vital role in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and nourishes yin, moistens the lung, expels phlegm, and arrests cough

Summary

Introduction

Introduction e genusGlehnia belongs to the Apiaceae family and contains only one species, Glehnia littoralis Fr. Glehniae Radix, known as Beishashen in China, Hamaboufu in Japan [3], and Heabangpoong in Korea [4], is commonly used to treat respiratory (rhinitis and asthma) and gastrointestinal (gastric ulcer) and autoimmune-related diseases [5]. G. littoralis is recognized as a nutritional supplement due to its high nutritional value; for example, in Japan, the sprouting leaves are served as vegetables [4], while in China the roots are added to porridge [9]. As a popular medicinal and functional biomaterial, G. littoralis with its strong soil adaptability has been widely cultivated in northern China and Japan in recent decades [10]

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