title: The genus Litsea in traditional Chinese medicine: an ethnomedical, phytochemical and pharmacological review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The genus Litsea, mainly distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions, has been used in traditional and indigenous Chinese medicines for the treatment of diarrhea, stomachache, dyspepsia, gastroenteritis, diabetes, edema, cold, arthritis, asthma, pain, traumatic injury, etc. for a long history. The present review aims to provide a comprehensive summary on the ethnomedical uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of the Litsea species used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Based on these data, evidences supporting their ethnopharmacological effectiveness are illustrated, and opportunities for the future research and development as well as the therapeutic potential of this genus are analyzed to highlight the gaps in our knowledge that deserves further investigation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Information on the Litsea species was collected via electronic search (using Pubmed, SciFinder, Google Scholar, Web of Science and CNKI) and a library search for articles published in peer-reviewed journals. Furthermore, information was also obtained from some local books on ethnopharmacology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty plants of the genus Litsea are found to be important traditional medicines in China, and have a long medicinal application for diarrhea, stomachache, dyspepsia, gastroenteritis, diabetes, edema, cold, arthritis, asthma, pain, traumatic injury, etc. Over 200 ingredients have been identified from these 20 Litsea species used in TCM, and flavonoids, terpenoids and alkaloids are considered as the characteristic and bioactive constituents. The crude extracts and the isolated metabolites of these medicinal plants have exhibited some in vitro and in vivo pharmacological effects, including antimicrobial, hepatoprotection, anti-inflammatory, antiasthmatic, immunomodulation, anti-diabetic, anticholelithogenic, as well as function on central nervous system, etc.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The extensive literature survey reveals Litsea species to be a group of important medicinal plants used for the ethnomedical treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, diabetes, inflammatory disorders, and microbial infection in TCM. Pharmacological investigations have supported the use of some Litsea species in the traditional medicines. In addition, further researches targeting individual ingredients responsible for the pharmacological effects, as well as their mechanisms of action are necessary. The outcome of these studies will further support the therapeutic potential of the genus Litsea, and provide convincing evidences to its future clinical applications in modern medicine.
authors.affiliation: Key Lab of Chemical Biology (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, PR China.
authors.forename: De-Gang
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Key Lab of Chemical Biology (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, PR China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Jinan Maternity and Child Care Hospital, Jinan, PR China.
authors.forename: Guo-Hui
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Lab of Chemical Biology (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, PR China.
authors.forename: Bang-Jiao
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Key Lab of Chemical Biology (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Ning
authors.initials: XN
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, PR China.
authors.forename: Hong-Lei
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Key Lab of Chemical Biology (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, PR China.
authors.forename: Hong-Xiang
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.affiliation: Key Lab of Chemical Biology (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, PR China. Electronic address: rendom@sdu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Dong-Mei
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Key Lab of Chemical Biology (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, PR China. Electronic address: shentao@sdu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D006801:Humans; D032862:Litsea / Q000737:chemistry; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000032:analysis; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D064209:Phytochemicals; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Ethnomedical uses; Litsea; Pharmacology; Phytochemistry