Abstract
Artemisia capillaris Thunb. (A. capillaris, Yin-Chen in Chinese) is a traditional medicinal herb with a wide spectrum of pharmacological properties ranging from effects against liver dysfunction to treatments of severe cirrhosis and cancer. We used relevant keywords to search electronic databases, including PubMed, Medline, and Google Scholar, for scientific contributions related to this medicinal herb and the pharmacokinetics of its components. The pharmaceutical effects of A. capillaris contribute to the treatment not only of viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular hepatoma, but also metabolic syndrome, psoriasis, and enterovirus in the clinic. The bioactive compounds, including scoparone, capillarisin, scopoletin, and chlorogenic acid, exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antisteatotic, antiviral, and antitumor properties, reflecting the pharmacological effects of A. capillaris. The pharmacokinetics of the main bioactive compounds in A. capillaris can achieve a maximum concentration within 1 hour, but only chlorogenic acid has a relatively long half-life. Regarding the use of the A. capillaris herb by health professionals to treat various diseases, the dosing schedule of this herb should be carefully considered to maximize therapeutic outcomes while lessening possible side effects.
Highlights
The original uses of Artemisia capillaris Thunb. (A. capillaris, Yin-Chen in Chinese) in traditional Chinese medicine included the treatment of pyrexia, jaundice, and dysuria.Current basic studies of traditional Chinese medicine aim to find molecular, cytological and pharmacological evidence supporting the use of traditional Chinese herbal medicines to confirm the nature of active ingredients and to explore the roles of these compounds in the treatment of various diseases
HBeAg secretion and Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA replication in HepG cells are significantly inhibited by 90% ethanol extract of A. capillaris [14], and this activity is due to chlorogenic acid analogs and enynes found in
Another study reached a similar conclusion after administration of methanol extract of A. capillaris in rats with bile duct ligation; the results indicated that the serum levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
Summary
The original uses of Artemisia capillaris Thunb. (A. capillaris, Yin-Chen in Chinese) in traditional Chinese medicine included the treatment of pyrexia, jaundice, and dysuria. Current basic studies of traditional Chinese medicine aim to find molecular, cytological and pharmacological evidence supporting the use of traditional Chinese herbal medicines to confirm the nature of active ingredients and to explore the roles of these compounds in the treatment of various diseases. The harvested time and region of the plant affect the chemical compositions of bioactive compounds Both capillarisin and scoparone (6,7-dimethylesculetin) content reach peak levels in the leaf of A. capillaris at the end of July. Previous studies reported pharmacokinetic properties or pharmacological activity of A. capillaris aims on one bioactive component or single therapeutic function. The present review of pharmacological effects of A. capillaris and linking to the pharmacokinetics of extracted bioactive compounds aims to discover additional applications of this herbal medicine
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
