Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Fundamentals and New Drugs Research, School of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, 712046, Shaanxi, PR China.
Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Fundamentals and New Drugs Research, School of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, 712046, Shaanxi, PR China.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2025 Jan 30;337(Pt 3):118902. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118902. Epub 2024 Oct 10.
Chuanxiong Rhizoma (CX) is the dried root rhizomes of the plant Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. of the family Umbelliferae. CX is listed as a superior herb in the book "Shennong Bencao Jing". It has a pungent and warm nature and belongs to the liver, gallbladder, and pericardium meridians. CX is documented in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia from 1963 to 2020 editions. CX as a well-known traditional Chinese medicine for promoting blood circulation, regulating qi, dispelling wind, and relieving pain, has been proven to contain a variety of bioactive compounds with diverse pharmacological activities and medicinal value.
The current review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicity, quality control and pharmacokinetics of CX.
The relevant information of CX was obtained from several databases including Web of Science, PubMed, ACS Publications, Google Scholar, Baidu Scholar, CNKI, Ph.D, MSc dissertations, as well as The Catalogue of Life, Flora of China database, and The Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
CX is widely used in traditional medicine for treating various diseases related to the cardiovascular system, liver and kidney system, nervous system, respiratory system, and more. Over 400 compounds have been identified in CX, including phthalides, alkaloids, organic acids and its esters, polyphenols, terpenes and their derivatives, polysaccharides, hydrocarbons and their derivatives, coumarins, lignans and others. The plant extracts, compounds and Chinese patent medicines possess various pharmacological activities, including cardiovascular system protection, nervous system protection, cerebrovascular system protection, anti-inflammatory, liver and lung protection, anti-diabetes, anti-osteoporosis, anti-bacterial, anti-aging, anti-oxidant, immune regulation, prevention of DNA damage, prevention of postoperative peritoneal adhesion.
Considering its traditional and modern applications, phytochemical composition, and pharmacological properties, CX can be regarded as a traditional Chinese medicine resource for treating various diseases related to the cardiovascular, hepatorenal, nervous, and respiratory systems. Current research mainly focuses on cell and animal experiments, where some active ingredients exhibit diverse pharmacological activities. However, further studies are needed to fully understand its specific mechanisms of action. In addition, there are multiple active ingredients in CX, but current research mainly focuses on the pharmacological effects of individual components, with little research on the interactions and synergistic effects between different components. It is recommended to strengthen the research on the interactions of CX compounds and their components to reveal the overall pharmacological mechanisms. This will contribute to quality control, new drug development, commercialization, and promote its continuous development in the field of medicine.
川芎（CX）是伞形科藁本属植物川芎的干燥根茎。CX 在《神农本草经》中被列为上品草药。它具有辛辣和温热的特性，属于肝、胆、心包经。从 1963 年到 2020 年版的《中国药典》都有收录 CX。作为一种著名的活血化瘀、调气祛风、止痛的中药，已被证明含有多种具有多种药理活性和药用价值的生物活性化合物。
本综述旨在对 CX 的植物学、传统用途、植物化学、药理学、毒性、质量控制和药代动力学进行全面分析。
从包括 Web of Science、PubMed、ACS 出版物、Google Scholar、百度学者、中国知网、博士、硕士论文在内的多个数据库中获取 CX 的相关信息，以及生命目录、中国植物数据库和全球生物多样性信息设施。
CX 在传统医学中被广泛用于治疗与心血管系统、肝肾系统、神经系统、呼吸系统等相关的各种疾病。在 CX 中已鉴定出 400 多种化合物，包括苯酞类、生物碱类、有机酸及其酯类、多酚类、萜类及其衍生物、多糖类、碳氢化合物及其衍生物、香豆素类、木脂素类等。植物提取物、化合物和中药方剂具有多种药理活性，包括心血管系统保护、神经系统保护、脑血管系统保护、抗炎、肝肺保护、抗糖尿病、抗骨质疏松、抗菌、抗衰老、抗氧化、免疫调节、预防 DNA 损伤、预防术后腹膜粘连。
考虑到其传统和现代应用、植物化学组成和药理特性，CX 可被视为治疗与心血管、肝肾、神经和呼吸系统相关的各种疾病的中药资源。目前的研究主要集中在细胞和动物实验上，一些活性成分表现出多种药理活性。然而，仍需要进一步研究以充分了解其具体作用机制。此外，CX 中含有多种活性成分，但目前的研究主要集中在单个成分的药理作用上，对不同成分之间的相互作用和协同作用研究较少。建议加强对 CX 化合物及其成分相互作用的研究，揭示其整体药理机制。这将有助于质量控制、新药开发、商业化，并促进其在医学领域的持续发展。
