title: Hepatoprotection and hepatotoxicity of Heshouwu, a Chinese medicinal herb: Context of the paradoxical effect.
abstract: Heshouwu (Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.) has been a common Chinese medicine and a folk Taoist medicine for over a thousand years. There are two drug forms, Shengshouwu (Polygoni Multiflori Radix) and Zhiheshouwu (Polygoni Multiflori Radix Prapaerata) in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. In this review, we retrieved articles with such keywords as Heshouwu, liver protection and liver toxicity in the databases of PubMed and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Hepatoprotection and hepatotoxicity of Shengshouwu and Zhiheshouwu in vitro and in vivo, and their clinical settings and adverse drug reactions (ADR) were summarized, analyzed and critically reviewed. In bench research, both drug forms had effects against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, oxidation, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Clinically, Heshouwu was used for treating fatty liver disease (FLD), hyperlipidemia, cirrhosis and hepatitis B. In contrast, both drug forms could lead to drug-induced liver injury and even death in vitro, in vivo and in clinical settings. In addition, the active components of both drug forms had hepatic benefits and toxicity in interaction with emodin, physcion, and probably 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxy-stilbene-2-O-beta-d-glucoside (TSG). In conclusion, Heshouwu exhibited both hepatoprotection and hepatotoxicity. It is essential to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages when Heshouwu is in clinical use.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Chinese Herbal Pharmacology, Oncology Center, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, 30 South Renmin Road, Shiyan, Hubei Province, 442000, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Wudang Local Chinese Medicine Research (Hubei University of Medicine), 30 South Renmin Road, Shiyan, Hubei Province, 442000, China. Electronic address: hongliangli@hbmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Hongliang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Chinese Herbal Pharmacology, Oncology Center, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, 30 South Renmin Road, Shiyan, Hubei Province, 442000, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Wudang Local Chinese Medicine Research (Hubei University of Medicine), 30 South Renmin Road, Shiyan, Hubei Province, 442000, China. Electronic address: wangxb@hbmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xuanbin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Chinese Herbal Pharmacology, Oncology Center, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, 30 South Renmin Road, Shiyan, Hubei Province, 442000, China. Electronic address: liuying@hbmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Chinese Herbal Pharmacology, Oncology Center, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, 30 South Renmin Road, Shiyan, Hubei Province, 442000, China. Electronic address: pandf7411@sina.com.
authors.forename: Dongfeng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Chinese Herbal Pharmacology, Oncology Center, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, 30 South Renmin Road, Shiyan, Hubei Province, 442000, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Wudang Local Chinese Medicine Research (Hubei University of Medicine), 30 South Renmin Road, Shiyan, Hubei Province, 442000, China. Electronic address: 422528092@qq.com.
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, 88 Xianning Road, Xianning, Hubei Province, 437100, China. Electronic address: 2536160880@qq.com.
authors.forename: Nian
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Chinese Herbal Pharmacology, Oncology Center, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, 30 South Renmin Road, Shiyan, Hubei Province, 442000, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Wudang Local Chinese Medicine Research (Hubei University of Medicine), 30 South Renmin Road, Shiyan, Hubei Province, 442000, China. Electronic address: longchaoxiang@hbmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Longchao
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Chinese Herbal Pharmacology, Oncology Center, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, 30 South Renmin Road, Shiyan, Hubei Province, 442000, China. Electronic address: 459014609@qq.com.
authors.forename: Xiaojun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 10 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. Electronic address: yfeng@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Yibin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068676:Fallopia multiflora / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal
keywords: Hepatoprotection; Hepatotoxicity; Polygoni multiflori radix