Nowe surowce roślinne w Farmakopei Europejskiej. Część 5. Paeonia × suffruticosa (piwonia drzewiasta) ? źródło nowego surowca terpenoidowo-fenolowego

Abstract

The European Pharmacopoeia Supplement 9.4, one of the newest pharmacopoeial documents, contains monographs of new raw materials long known in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) but earlier unknown in official European medicine. Part 1 and 2 comprise characterization of two new saponin raw materials: Bupleuri radix (root of Bupleurum chinense and Bupleurum scorzonerifolium) and Platycodi radix (root of Platycodon grandiflorus ? balloon flower). Part 3 presents therapeutic values of a new essential oil raw material ? Ligustici chuanxiong rhizoma (rhizome of Ligustici chuanxiong), while part 4 portrays a new flavonoid raw material Houttuynia cordata herba (herb of Houttuynia cordata). Part 5 presents botanical-chemical-pharmacological characterization of tree peony (Paeonia × suffruticosa). It was highlighted how important role this plant plays in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Numerous possible applications of the raw material ? Moutan cortex (root bark) were depicted based on modern professional pharmacological studies documenting its very valuable medicinal values including antioxidant, anticancer, cardioprotective and neuroprotective activities. Moreover, the significance of this plant (its different organs) in the production of cosmetics was underlined. Also other species of Paeonia sp. known in TCM and in recent years incorporated in official European medicine are underscored. The aim of the paper was to introduce Polish pharmacists and medical doctors to the basic knowledge of Paeonia x suffruticosa.