Volume 107, December 2015, Pages 1–14
Review
Belamcandae chinensis rhizoma – a review of phytochemistry and bioactivity
Abstract
Belamcandae chinensis rhizoma, is a rhizome of Iris domestica (syn. Belamcanda chinensis). Under the Chinese name she gan, it is extensively used in Traditional Chinese Medicine and other East Asian phytotherapy systems. Recently, the monograph of Belamcandae chinensis rhizoma
has been included in the European Pharmacopeia. This review provides a
comprehensive summary and systematizes the literature data on
ethnobotanical uses, chemical constituents and biological effects of Belamcandae chinensis rhizoma and its components.
The
main group of phytochemicals identified in the dried rhizoma are
polyphenols such as isoflavones, xanthone glycosides, stilbenes, simple
phenols and quinones. Another characteristic class of substances are
triterpenopid iridals.
The most typical traditional usage of Belamcandae chinensis rhizoma
is for healing respiratory diseases but most of pharmacological
research so far has been focused on isoflavones and their estrogenic
properties. In pharmacological research, it has been mainly considered
as a source of tectorigenin – a phytoestrogene with therapeutic
potential in hormone-dependent cancer. The most active isoflavones are
tectoridin, tectorigenin and irigenin. The available literature
indicates that Belamcandae chinensis rhizoma can prevent
excessive oxidation of biomolecules based on various antioxidant
mechanisms: transition metal ions reduction, inhibition of lipid
peroxidation, free radicals scavenging. The other biological activities
proven by a number of in vitro studies include: anti-mutagenic,
anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, hypoglycemic.
In conclusion, the knowledge about Belamcandae chinensis rhizoma
has been growing rapidly in the recent years, but there are still
significant gaps in our understanding of its bioactivity, therapeutic
value, and roles played by each of the numerous phytochemicals.
Keywords
- Iris domestica;
- Isoflavones;
- Xanthones;
- Iridals;
- Phytoestrogens;
- she gan
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