Ligusticum chuanxiong: a chemical, pharmacological and clinical review

Ethnopharmacological RelevanceThe dried rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong S.H.Qiu, Y.Q.Zeng, K.Y.Pan, Y.C.Tang and J.M.Xu (Apiaceae; including the horticultural variety Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort.) [synonym: Conioselinum anthriscoides (H.Boissieu) Pimenov and Kljuykov (The taxonomic classification ha...

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Main Authors: Yin Wang, Liuyun Wu, Hulin Wang, Mingyu Jiang, Yu Chen, Xingyue Zheng, Lian Li, Qinan Yin, Lizhu Han, Lan Bai, Yuan Bian
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1523176/full
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author Yin Wang
Yin Wang
Liuyun Wu
Liuyun Wu
Hulin Wang
Hulin Wang
Mingyu Jiang
Yu Chen
Xingyue Zheng
Lian Li
Qinan Yin
Qinan Yin
Lizhu Han
Lizhu Han
Lan Bai
Lan Bai
Yuan Bian
Yuan Bian
author_facet Yin Wang
Yin Wang
Liuyun Wu
Liuyun Wu
Hulin Wang
Hulin Wang
Mingyu Jiang
Yu Chen
Xingyue Zheng
Lian Li
Qinan Yin
Qinan Yin
Lizhu Han
Lizhu Han
Lan Bai
Lan Bai
Yuan Bian
Yuan Bian
author_sort Yin Wang
collection DOAJ
description Ethnopharmacological RelevanceThe dried rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong S.H.Qiu, Y.Q.Zeng, K.Y.Pan, Y.C.Tang and J.M.Xu (Apiaceae; including the horticultural variety Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort.) [synonym: Conioselinum anthriscoides (H.Boissieu) Pimenov and Kljuykov (The taxonomic classification has been adopted by the World Checklist of Vascular Plants)] is a traditional Chinese botanical drug renowned for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It has been widely used to treatment various diseases, particularly cardio-cerebral vascular diseases (CCVDs).Aim of the reviewThis review aims to summarize recent advances in Ligusticum chuanxiong (CX) research, including its chemical composition and pharmacological effects, and modern clinical applications.Materials and methodsA systematic literature search was conducted using keywords such as “Chuanxiong,” “traditional Chinese medicine,” “chemical components,” “metabolites,” “CCVDs,” and “pharmacological effects” to identify relevant literature published between 2014 and 2025. Databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and CNKI were utilized. Chemical structures in SMILES format were retrieved from the PubChem, and two-dimensional chemical structures were generated using ChemDraw Ultra 8.0. Classical prescriptions of chuanxiong were obtained from authoritative traditional Chinese medicine databases.ResultsOver 100 metabolites have been isolated and identified from CX, classified into nine major classes. Key bioactive compounds include senkyunolide A, ligustilide, tetramethylpyrazine (TMP), and ligusticum CX polysaccharides (LCP). CX demonstrates significant pharmacological effects in treating CCVDs, such as atherosclerosis (AS), myocardial and cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, and hypertension. Its therapeutic mechanisms include antiplatelet activity, endothelial cell protection, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic properties. CX can be administered alone or in combination with other traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) or chemical drugs, showing efficacy in cardiovascular, nervous system, digestive system disorders, as well as analgesia and anticancer activities.ConclusionCX holds substantial clinical value for treating multi-system diseases, with extensive evidence supporting its use in CCVDs. Further research and clinical exploration of CX are warranted to fully harness its therapeutic potential.
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spelling doaj-art-5a691eec8fc34c5cbc4e0c1de4250b082025-08-20T01:54:45ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-04-011610.3389/fphar.2025.15231761523176Ligusticum chuanxiong: a chemical, pharmacological and clinical reviewYin Wang0Yin Wang1Liuyun Wu2Liuyun Wu3Hulin Wang4Hulin Wang5Mingyu Jiang6Yu Chen7Xingyue Zheng8Lian Li9Qinan Yin10Qinan Yin11Lizhu Han12Lizhu Han13Lan Bai14Lan Bai15Yuan Bian16Yuan Bian17Department of Pharmacy, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, ChinaPersonalized Drug Therapy Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, ChinaPersonalized Drug Therapy Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, ChinaPersonalized Drug Therapy Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, North Sichuan Medical Collage, Nanchong, ChinaPower China Chengdu Engineering Corporation Limited, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Chengdu Women’s and Children’s Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, The Fourth People’s Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, ChinaPersonalized Drug Therapy Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, ChinaPersonalized Drug Therapy Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, ChinaPersonalized Drug Therapy Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, ChinaPersonalized Drug Therapy Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, ChinaEthnopharmacological RelevanceThe dried rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong S.H.Qiu, Y.Q.Zeng, K.Y.Pan, Y.C.Tang and J.M.Xu (Apiaceae; including the horticultural variety Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort.) [synonym: Conioselinum anthriscoides (H.Boissieu) Pimenov and Kljuykov (The taxonomic classification has been adopted by the World Checklist of Vascular Plants)] is a traditional Chinese botanical drug renowned for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It has been widely used to treatment various diseases, particularly cardio-cerebral vascular diseases (CCVDs).Aim of the reviewThis review aims to summarize recent advances in Ligusticum chuanxiong (CX) research, including its chemical composition and pharmacological effects, and modern clinical applications.Materials and methodsA systematic literature search was conducted using keywords such as “Chuanxiong,” “traditional Chinese medicine,” “chemical components,” “metabolites,” “CCVDs,” and “pharmacological effects” to identify relevant literature published between 2014 and 2025. Databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and CNKI were utilized. Chemical structures in SMILES format were retrieved from the PubChem, and two-dimensional chemical structures were generated using ChemDraw Ultra 8.0. Classical prescriptions of chuanxiong were obtained from authoritative traditional Chinese medicine databases.ResultsOver 100 metabolites have been isolated and identified from CX, classified into nine major classes. Key bioactive compounds include senkyunolide A, ligustilide, tetramethylpyrazine (TMP), and ligusticum CX polysaccharides (LCP). CX demonstrates significant pharmacological effects in treating CCVDs, such as atherosclerosis (AS), myocardial and cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, and hypertension. Its therapeutic mechanisms include antiplatelet activity, endothelial cell protection, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic properties. CX can be administered alone or in combination with other traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) or chemical drugs, showing efficacy in cardiovascular, nervous system, digestive system disorders, as well as analgesia and anticancer activities.ConclusionCX holds substantial clinical value for treating multi-system diseases, with extensive evidence supporting its use in CCVDs. Further research and clinical exploration of CX are warranted to fully harness its therapeutic potential.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1523176/fullethnopharmacologyLigusticum chuanxiongtraditional Chinese medicinemetabolitepharmacological effectscardio-cerebral vascular diseases
spellingShingle Yin Wang
Yin Wang
Liuyun Wu
Liuyun Wu
Hulin Wang
Hulin Wang
Mingyu Jiang
Yu Chen
Xingyue Zheng
Lian Li
Qinan Yin
Qinan Yin
Lizhu Han
Lizhu Han
Lan Bai
Lan Bai
Yuan Bian
Yuan Bian
Ligusticum chuanxiong: a chemical, pharmacological and clinical review
Frontiers in Pharmacology
ethnopharmacology
Ligusticum chuanxiong
traditional Chinese medicine
metabolite
pharmacological effects
cardio-cerebral vascular diseases
title Ligusticum chuanxiong: a chemical, pharmacological and clinical review
title_full Ligusticum chuanxiong: a chemical, pharmacological and clinical review
title_fullStr Ligusticum chuanxiong: a chemical, pharmacological and clinical review
title_full_unstemmed Ligusticum chuanxiong: a chemical, pharmacological and clinical review
title_short Ligusticum chuanxiong: a chemical, pharmacological and clinical review
title_sort ligusticum chuanxiong a chemical pharmacological and clinical review
topic ethnopharmacology
Ligusticum chuanxiong
traditional Chinese medicine
metabolite
pharmacological effects
cardio-cerebral vascular diseases
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1523176/full
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