title: Cuscuta chinensis Lam.: A systematic review on ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and pharmacology of an important traditional herbal medicine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cuscuta chinensis Lam. has found its use as a traditional medicine in China, Korea, Pakistan, Vietnam, India and Thailand. It is commonly used as an anti-aging agent, anti-inflammatory agent, pain reliever and aphrodisiac. To provide an overview of the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology and clinical applications of Cuscuta chinensis, as well as being an evidence base for further research works of the plant.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present review covers the literature available from 1985 to 2014. The information was collected from journals, books, theses and electronic search (Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, ESBCO, Springerlink and CNKI). Literature abstracts and full-text articles were analyzed and included in the review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Many phytochemicals have been isolated, identified and published to date, including: at least 18 flavonoids; 13 phenolic acids; 2 steroids; 1 hydroquinone; 10 volatile oils; 22 lignans; 9 polysaccharides; 2 resin glycosides; 16 fatty acids. These phytochemicals and plant extracts exhibit a range of pharmacological activities that include hepatoprotective, renoprotective, antiosteoporotic, antioxidant, anti-aging, antimutagenic, antidepressant, improve sexual function, abortifacient effects, etc.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This present review offers primary information for further studies of Cuscuta chinensis. The in vitro studies and in vivo models have provided a bioscientific explanation for its various ethnopharmacological uses and pharmacological activities (most notably antioxidant effects) especially in the prevention of hepatic disease and renal failure. It is necessary and important to do more pharmacokinetic and toxicological research works on human subjects in order to inform the possible active compounds in the body and validate its safety in clinical uses.
authors.affiliation: Tianjin State Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Pharmaceutical Analysis, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China.
authors.forename: Sineeporn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Donnapee
authors.affiliation: Tianjin State Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Tianjin State Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Pharmaceutical Analysis, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China.
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Tianjin State Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Pharmaceutical Analysis, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China.
authors.forename: Ai-hua
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.affiliation: Tianjin State Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China.
authors.forename: Paul Owusu
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Donkor
authors.affiliation: Tianjin State Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Pharmaceutical Analysis, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China.
authors.forename: Xiu-mei
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Tianjin State Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Pharmaceutical Analysis, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China. Electronic address: Tcmcyx@126.com.
authors.forename: Yan-xu
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D034182:Cuscuta / Q000737:chemistry*; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Astragalin (PubChem CID: 5282102); Caffeic acid (PubChem CID: 689043); Calycopteretin (PubChem CID: 10429470); Cinnamic acid (PubChem CID: 444539); Clinical applications; Cuscuta chinensis Lam; Ethnopharmacology; Hyperoside (PubChem CID: 5281643); Isorhamnetin (PubChem CID: 5281654); Kaempferol (PubChem CID: 5280863); Pharmacokinetics; Phytochemistry; Quercetin (PubChem CID: 5280343); Rutin (PubChem CID: 5280805); Tu-Si-Zi; p-coumaric acid (PubChem CID: 637542)