Han Cairong, Zhang Zhongrui, Adiham Akida, Huang Feifei, Yan Yulu, Li Dapeng, Gong Puyang
College of Pharmacy and Food, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Source Drug, Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2025 Jun 26;350:120031. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2025.120031. Epub 2025 May 24.
Santali Albi Lignum (SA), the dry heartwood of the trunk of Santalum album L., was originally discovered in India. It has a long history of use in Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), mainly to treat skin, cardiovascular and lung diseases. In recent years, SA has received worldwide attention because of its diverse pharmacological effects, including anti-tumour, neuroprotective and gastrointestinal regulatory effects.
This paper aims to systematically review progress in the research on SA, focusing on its ethnopharmacology, phytochemical ingredients, pharmacological effects, quality control and clinical applications; directions for further research and development of this herbal medicine are also discussed.
Information on SA was obtained mainly from published materials, classic ancient books on TCM and electronic databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Web of Science China National Knowledge Infrastructure and traditional Chinese medicine classics).
A total of 216 molecules have been identified in SA, including terpenoids, fatty acids, organic acids, phenols, aldehydes, alkanes, esters, ketones, steroids, alcohols, phenylpropanoids and other compounds, of which sesquiterpenes have emerged as the primary bioactive ingredients. A wide spectrum of biological activities of extracts or compounds of SA, including neuroprotective, antitumour, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and gastrointestinal effects, have been verified in in vitro and in vivo pharmacological studies. Quality is monitored by the quantification and identification of α⁃santalol, β⁃santalol and volatile oils. TCM formulations that contain SA are commonly used to treat coronary heart disease, heart failure, ischaemic stroke, skin diseases and others.
This systematic review demonstrates that modern bioactivities and clinical research reports provide scientific evidence for the efficacy of SA, especially the ability to circulate qi and alleviate pain. Current studies have focused mainly on the chemical composition and pharmacological effects of the volatile oil fraction of SA. Moreover, the integrated pharmacological mechanisms of the active compounds and extracts of SA still need to be comprehensively elucidated. Furthermore, research on its toxicology and pharmacokinetics should be expanded to ensure the reasonable and safe clinical use of SA.
降香（SA），即檀香树干的干燥心材，最初发现于印度。它在阿育吠陀医学和传统中医（TCM）中有着悠久的使用历史，主要用于治疗皮肤、心血管和肺部疾病。近年来，降香因其多样的药理作用，包括抗肿瘤、神经保护和胃肠调节作用而受到全球关注。
本文旨在系统综述降香的研究进展，重点关注其民族药理学、植物化学成分、药理作用、质量控制和临床应用；还讨论了这种草药进一步研发的方向。
关于降香的信息主要从已发表的资料、中医经典古籍和电子数据库（PubMed、谷歌学术、科学Direct、科学网、中国国家知识基础设施和中医经典）中获取。
在降香中总共鉴定出216种分子，包括萜类、脂肪酸、有机酸、酚类、醛类、烷烃、酯类、酮类、甾体、醇类、苯丙素类和其他化合物，其中倍半萜已成为主要的生物活性成分。降香提取物或化合物的广泛生物活性，包括神经保护、抗肿瘤、抗炎、抗氧化和胃肠作用，已在体外和体内药理研究中得到验证。通过对α-檀香醇、β-檀香醇和挥发油的定量和鉴定来监测质量。含有降香的中药制剂常用于治疗冠心病、心力衰竭、缺血性中风、皮肤病等。
本系统综述表明，现代生物活性和临床研究报告为降香的疗效提供了科学证据，尤其是其行气止痛的能力。目前的研究主要集中在降香挥发油部分的化学成分和药理作用。此外，降香活性化合物和提取物的综合药理机制仍需全面阐明。此外，应扩大其毒理学和药代动力学研究，以确保降香临床使用的合理与安全。
