Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus: Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, Pharmacodynamics, Pharmacokinetics and Toxicity.

Hong Li,Mingdi Li,Angela Yang,Andrew Hung

doi:10.3390/ijms20071667

Abstract

Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus (FTB) has been widely used as an antitussive herb for thousands of years in China. However, FTB’s traditional uses, chemical compounds and pharmacological activities have not been systematically reviewed. This study aimed to review its traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and toxicity. We searched the Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine to explore the historical records which indicate that it acts to clear heat, resolve phlegm, relieve cough, remove toxicity and disperse abscesses and nodules. We searched 11 databases to identify potential phytochemical or pharmacological studies. Characteristics of its chemical constituents, pharmacological effects, pharmacokinetic and toxicity were descriptively summarized. A total of 9706 studies were identified and 83 of them were included. As a result, 134 chemical constituents were identified, including 26 alkaloids, 29 compounds found in essential oils, 13 diterpenoids, two carbohydrates, two sterols, 18 amino acids, six nucleosides, four nucleobases, four fatty acids, three lignans, and 27 elements. Thirteen pharmacological effects of FTB were identified, including anti-cancer, tracheobronchial relaxation, antitussive, expectorant, anti-muscarinic, anti-inflammation, anti-thyroid, regulation of blood rheology, antiulcer, anti-diarrhea, pain suppression, antioxidation and neuroprotection. These pharmacological activities may be mainly attributed to the alkaloids in FTB. Further phytochemical, pharmacological and network pharmacological studies are recommended.

Highlights

Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus (FTB) is known as Zhe bei mu or Xiang bei mu in Chinese, Setsubaimo in Japanese and Jeolpaemo in Korean [1]
IC50 of TAF to A549: 141 ± 5 mg/L; IC50 of TAF to A549/DDP: 298 ± 22 mg/L; FTB was superior to closporine A and tetrandrines in increasing the reversal fold; FTB alone was superior to vehicle in decreasing the MDR1 mRNA and P-gp expression
Total alkaloids or Total nucleosides in FTB was superior to the control in increasing the restriction of efflux activity of P-gp

Summary

Introduction

Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus (FTB) is known as Zhe bei mu or Xiang bei mu in Chinese, Setsubaimo in Japanese and Jeolpaemo in Korean [1]. Fritillariae Thunbergii belongs to the Fritillariae (Liliaceae) family and FTB has been widely used as an antitussive herb for thousands of years in China [2]. Fritillariae Thunbergii is widely cultivated in the south-eastern coastal, south-central and eastern areas of China, such as Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui and Hunan provinces [2]. FTB is a significant traditional Chinese herb with bitter and cold properties, entering the Lung and Heart channels [2]. It is generally prescribed as one of the ingredients of herbal formula, such as Danggui Beimu Kushen Wan (Chinese Angelica, Fritillaria and Flavescent Sophora Pill; DBKW) in traditional and contemporary clinical practice [3,4]. Modern studies that are recorded in the Zhong Yao Da Ci Dian (Great Compendium of Chinese Medicines) [6] and Zhong

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