title: A systematic review of the active saikosaponins and extracts isolated from Radix Bupleuri and their applications.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Radix Bupleuri has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 2000 years with functions of relieving exterior syndrome, clearing heat, regulating liver-qi, and lifting yang-qi. More natural active compounds, especially saikosaponins, have been isolated from Radix Bupleuri, which possess various valuable pharmacological activities.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To summarize the current knowledge on pharmacological activities, mechanisms and applications of extracts and saikosaponins isolated from Radix Bupleuri, and obtain new insights for further research and development of Radix Bupleuri.
  
  
  METHODS
  PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, Research Gate, Academic Journals and Google Scholar were used as information sources through the inclusion of the search terms 'Radix Bupleuri', 'Bupleurum', 'saikosaponins', 'Radix Bupleuri preparation', and their combinations, mainly from the year 2008 to 2016 without language restriction. Clinical preparations containing Radix Bupleuri were collected from official website of China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  296 papers were searched and 128 papers were reviewed. A broad spectrum of in vitro and in vivo research has proved that Radix Bupleuri extracts, saikosaponin a, saikosaponin d, saikosaponin c, and saikosaponin b2, exhibit evident anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antiviral, anti-allergic, immunoregulation, and neuroregulation activities mainly through NF-κB, MAPK or other pathways. 15 clinical preparations approved by CFDA remarkably broaden the application of Radix Bupleuri. The main side effect of Radix Bupleuri is liver damage when the dosage is excess, which indicates that the maximum tolerated dose is critical for clinical use of Radix Bupleuri extract and purified compounds.
authors.affiliation: a School of Chinese Pharmacy , Beijing University of Chinese Medicine , Beijing , China.
authors.forename: Bochuan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: a School of Chinese Pharmacy , Beijing University of Chinese Medicine , Beijing , China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: a School of Chinese Pharmacy , Beijing University of Chinese Medicine , Beijing , China.
authors.forename: Yongsheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: a School of Chinese Pharmacy , Beijing University of Chinese Medicine , Beijing , China.
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: a School of Chinese Pharmacy , Beijing University of Chinese Medicine , Beijing , China.
authors.forename: Xiaodong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: a School of Chinese Pharmacy , Beijing University of Chinese Medicine , Beijing , China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D029972:Bupleurum / Q000737:chemistry*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009828:Oleanolic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012503:Saponins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D012503:Saponins; D009828:Oleanolic Acid; C025759:saikosaponin D
keywords: Radix Bupleuri; anti-inflammatory; antitumor; neuroregulation; saikosaponins