“Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) refers to the collective term for traditional medicinal substances in China, which differs from Western medicine and Chinese patent medicine in that it does not have standardized usage instructions. Our application of TCM primarily references two national classics:“Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China” and “Clinical Use of the Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China”. This article will introduce Chuanxiong, making it convenient for reference and worth collecting.”
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“Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China (2020 Edition)”
【Chinese Name】Chuanxiong【Pinyin】Chuanxiong【English Name】CHUANXIONG RHIZOMA【Introduction】This product is the dried rhizome of the plant Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. of the Umbelliferae family. It is harvested in summer when the nodes on the stem are significantly prominent and slightly purple, cleaned of soil, sun-dried, and then the fibrous roots are removed.【Properties】This product is an irregular, nodule-like, fist-shaped mass, with a diameter of 2-7 cm. The surface is gray-brown or brown, rough and wrinkled, with many parallel raised nodes, a depressed round stem scar at the top, and numerous small tuberous root scars on the underside and nodes. It is solid, not easily broken, with a cross-section that is yellow-white or gray-yellow, scattered with yellow-brown oil chambers, and the growth rings are wavy. It has a strong aroma, a bitter and spicy taste, with a slight numbing sensation on the tongue and a mild sweetness in the aftertaste.【Identification】(1) The transverse section of this product shows more than 10 rows of cork cells. The cortex is narrow, with scattered vascular bundles, and the cambium is distinct. The phloem is broad, with cambium rings that are wavy or irregularly polygonal. The xylem vessels are polygonal or round, mostly arranged in single rows or in a “V” shape, with occasional xylem fiber bundles. The pith is relatively large. The parenchyma tissue contains numerous oil chambers, which are round, oval, or irregularly shaped, light yellow-brown, with smaller oil chambers near the cambium that gradually increase in size outward; the parenchyma cells are rich in starch granules, and some contain calcium oxalate crystals, appearing as round clusters or crystalline aggregates.The powder is light yellow-brown or gray-brown. It contains many starch granules, which are oval, elongated, round, oval, or kidney-shaped, with a diameter of 5-16 µm, and a length of about 21 µm, with hilum points that are dot-like, long-slit, or herringbone-shaped; compound granules composed of 2-4 single granules are occasionally seen. Calcium oxalate crystals are found in the parenchyma cells, appearing as round clusters or crystalline aggregates, with a diameter of 10-25 µm.The cork cells are deep yellow-brown, appearing polygonal and slightly wavy. Many oil chambers are broken, and fragments of oil chambers can occasionally be seen, with thin cell walls containing many oil droplets.The vessels are primarily spiral vessels, with some reticulate and ladder-like vessels, with a diameter of 14-50 µm.(2) Take 1 g of this product powder, add 5 ml of petroleum ether (30-60℃), place for 10 hours, shaking occasionally, then let it stand, take 1 ml of the supernatant, evaporate to dryness, dissolve the residue in 1 ml of methanol, and add 2-3 drops of a methanol solution of 2% 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid and 2 drops of saturated potassium hydroxide solution in methanol, which will show a red-purple color.(3) Take 1 g of this product powder, add 20 ml of ether, heat under reflux for 1 hour, filter, evaporate the filtrate, dissolve the residue in 2 ml of ethyl acetate to prepare the test solution. Take 1 g of Chuanxiong reference material and prepare the reference material solution in the same manner. Then take a reference solution of Ligusticum chuanxiong lactone A, prepared in ethyl acetate to contain 0.1 mg per 1 ml (placed in a brown volumetric flask), as the reference solution. Perform thin-layer chromatography (General Rule 0502) test, applying 10 μl of each of the three solutions on the same silica gel GF254 thin-layer plate, using n-hexane-ethyl acetate (3:1) as the developing agent, develop, remove, dry, and examine under ultraviolet light (254 nm). The test solution chromatogram should show spots of the same color at the corresponding positions as the reference material and reference solution chromatograms.【Inspection】Moisture must not exceed 12.0% (General Rule 0832, Method 4).Total Ash must not exceed 6.0% (General Rule 2302).Acid-insoluble Ash must not exceed 2.0% (General Rule 2302).【Extractives】Determined by the method for determining alcohol-soluble extractives (General Rule 2201) using ethanol as the solvent, must not be less than 12.0%.【Content Determination】Determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (General Rule 0512).Chromatographic Conditions and System Suitability Test Using octadecylsilyl-bonded silica gel as the stationary phase; using methanol-1% acetic acid solution (30:70) as the mobile phase; detection wavelength at 321 nm. The theoretical plate number calculated based on the ferulic acid peak should not be less than 4000.Preparation of Reference Solution Take an appropriate amount of ferulic acid reference substance, accurately weigh, place in a brown volumetric flask, and add 70% methanol to prepare a solution containing 20 µg per 1 ml.Preparation of Test Solution Take about 0.5 g of this product powder (passed through a No. 4 sieve), accurately weigh, place in a stoppered conical flask, accurately add 50 ml of 70% methanol, stopper tightly, weigh, heat under reflux for 30 minutes, cool, reweigh, and use 70% methanol to make up for the weight loss, shake well, let it stand, take the supernatant, filter, and take the filtrate.Determination Method Accurately take 10 μl of the reference solution and the test solution, respectively, and inject into the liquid chromatography system for determination.This product, calculated on a dry basis, must contain not less than 0.10% of ferulic acid (C10H10O4).Processing【Preparation】Remove impurities, separate by size, wash clean, moisten, cut into thick slices, and dry.【Properties】This product is irregular thick slices, with a gray-brown or brown outer skin, and has wrinkled patterns. The cut surface is yellow-white or gray-yellow, with distinct wavy ring patterns or polygonal textures, and scattered yellow-brown oil spots. It is solid. It has a strong aroma, a bitter and spicy taste, with a slight sweetness.【Identification】【Inspection】(Moisture Total Ash)【Extractives】【Content Determination】same as the medicinal material.【Taste and Meridian Entry】Spicy, warm. Enters the liver, gallbladder, and pericardium meridians.【Functions and Indications】Invigorates blood circulation and promotes qi flow, dispels wind and alleviates pain. Used for chest obstruction and heart pain, stabbing pain in the chest and hypochondrium, swelling and pain from falls, irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, abdominal pain from masses, headaches, and rheumatic pain.【Dosage】3-10 g.【Storage】Store in a cool, dry place, and prevent insect infestation.
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“Clinical Use of the Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China (2015 Edition)”
【Chinese Name】Chuanxiong【Pinyin】Chuanxiong【Introduction】This product is the dried rhizome of the plant Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. of the Umbelliferae family, mainly produced in Sichuan. It is harvested in summer when the nodes on the stem are significantly prominent and slightly purple, cleaned of soil, sun-dried, and then the fibrous roots are removed. Cut into thick slices. The best quality has a cut surface that is yellow-white, strong aroma, and high oil content.【Taste and Meridian Entry】Spicy, warm. Enters the liver, gallbladder, and pericardium meridians.【Functions and Indications】Invigorates blood circulation and promotes qi flow, dispels wind and alleviates pain. Used for chest obstruction and heart pain, stabbing pain in the chest and hypochondrium, swelling and pain from falls, irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, abdominal pain from masses, headaches, and rheumatic pain.【Effect Analysis】Chuanxiong is spicy and dispersing, with the function of invigorating blood circulation and promoting qi flow, known as a “blood and qi herb” (“Bencao Huiyan”). It invigorates blood, dispels stasis, and opens the meridians, effectively treating heart vessel stasis and chest obstruction; it also promotes qi and alleviates pain, commonly used for chest and hypochondrium stabbing pain due to liver qi stagnation. Chuanxiong is adept at “regulating menstrual flow” (“Bencao Huiyan”), invigorating blood and regulating menstruation, especially important for irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, and amenorrhea; it also treats abdominal pain from masses, with the ability to invigorate blood, dispel stasis, and dissolve masses. Chuanxiong can also invigorate blood, dispel stasis, and alleviate swelling and pain, commonly used for injuries and pain from stasis.Chuanxiong’s spicy and ascending nature can “raise the head and eyes” (“Bencao Huiyan”), making it a key herb for treating headaches, hence the saying “headaches are never far from Chuanxiong.” Regardless of whether the headache is caused by wind, cold, dampness, heat, stasis, or deficiency, it can be selected according to the syndrome.Chuanxiong disperses wind, invigorates blood, and dispels stasis, capable of “bypassing and opening the collaterals,” and can also be used to treat rheumatic pain and joint pain.【Compatibility Applications】1. Chuanxiong with Bai ShaoChuanxiong is spicy and dispersing, with the function of invigorating blood and promoting qi, being a blood and qi herb; Bai Shao is bitter and sour, cooling, good at nourishing blood and softening the liver, and stopping pain. The combination of these two herbs has the effect of invigorating blood, promoting qi, alleviating pain, nourishing blood, softening the liver, and regulating menstruation, suitable for cases of blood deficiency or yin deficiency with heat causing irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, and amenorrhea.2. Chuanxiong with Chai HuChuanxiong invigorates blood and dispels stasis, promoting the flow of qi; Chai Hu soothes liver qi and regulates liver function. The combined use of these two herbs enhances the ability to soothe the liver, relieve depression, promote qi, and alleviate pain, suitable for cases of liver qi stagnation causing hypochondriac pain and irregular menstruation.3. Chuanxiong with Dan ShenChuanxiong is spicy, aromatic, and warm, primarily invigorating blood and promoting qi, being a blood and qi herb; Dan Shen is bitter and slightly cold, primarily invigorating blood and opening the meridians, being a key herb for treating chest obstruction. The combination of these two herbs invigorates blood, opens the meridians, promotes qi, and alleviates pain, suitable for cases of chest obstruction due to heart vessel stasis.4. Chuanxiong with Bai ZhiChuanxiong disperses wind and ascends to the head, being a key herb for treating headaches; Bai Zhi is spicy and warm, dispersing the exterior and dispelling wind, commonly used for exterior-induced headaches. The combination of these two herbs enhances the ability to disperse wind, suitable for headaches caused by exterior wind-cold.5. Chuanxiong with Du HuoChuanxiong invigorates blood and dispels wind, capable of “bypassing and opening the collaterals”; Du Huo is good at dispelling wind and dampness, alleviating pain. The combination of these two herbs works together to dispel wind, eliminate dampness, alleviate cold, invigorate blood, dispel stasis, and alleviate pain, suitable for pain caused by wind-cold-dampness obstructing the meridians and joints, leading to qi and blood stagnation.【Identification Applications】Chuanxiong vs. Yu Jin Both are blood-invigorating and pain-relieving herbs, capable of invigorating blood, relieving pain, and resolving qi stagnation. However, Chuanxiong is spicy and warm, capable of ascending to the head and descending to the blood sea; it is a key herb for various headaches and is also good for treating dysmenorrhea and amenorrhea; it is commonly used for conditions of blood stasis and qi stagnation with cold. Yu Jin, on the other hand, is spicy and bitter, cold in nature, capable of clearing the heart and cooling the blood, commonly used for blood stasis and qi stagnation with liver heat; it enters the heart meridian to clear the heart and relieve depression, effectively treating conditions such as phlegm-heat obstructing the heart or liver heat causing jaundice; it can also cool the blood and clear heat, treating conditions such as hematemesis and epistaxis.【Formula Examples】1. Chai Hu Shu Gan San (“Zheng Zhi Zhun Sheng” citing “Yi Xue Tong Zhi”)Ingredients: Chai Hu, Shao Yao, Xiang Fu, Zhi Qiao, Chen Pi, Chuanxiong, Zhi Gan Cao.Functions and Indications: Soothes the liver, relieves depression, promotes qi, and alleviates pain. Suitable for hypochondriac pain due to liver qi stagnation, or alternating chills and fever, abdominal distension, and wiry pulse.2. Tong Qiao Huo Xue Tang (“Yi Lin Gai Cuo”)Ingredients: Chi Shao, Chuanxiong, Tao Ren, Hong Hua, Lao Cong, Fresh Ginger, Red Dates, Musk, Huang Jiu.Functions and Indications: Invigorates blood and opens the orifices. Suitable for obstructive conditions of the head and face. Symptoms include headache, dizziness, deafness, hair loss, purple complexion, or rosacea, or vitiligo, as well as women with blood deficiency, and children with malnutrition showing muscle wasting, abdominal distension, and tidal fever.3. Chuanxiong San (“Wei Sheng Bao Jian”)Ingredients: Chuanxiong, Ju Hua, Shi Gao, Jiang Can.Functions and Indications: Dispels wind and clears heat. Suitable for headaches, red eyes, and sore throat caused by exterior wind-heat.4. Chuanxiong Tea Tiao San (“He Ji Ju Fang”)Ingredients: Chuanxiong, Bai Zhi, Fang Feng, Xi Xin, Qiang Huo, Jing Jie, Bo He, Gan Cao, Tea.Functions and Indications: Dispels wind and alleviates pain. Suitable for headaches or vertex pain caused by exterior wind, with chills and fever, dizziness, nasal congestion, thin white tongue coating, and floating pulse.5. Shen Tong Zhu Yu Tang (“Yi Lin Gai Cuo”)Ingredients: Qin Jiao, Chuanxiong, Tao Ren, Hong Hua, Gan Cao, Qiang Huo, Mo Yao, Dang Gui, Wu Ling Zhi, Xiang Fu, Niu Xi, Di Long.Functions and Indications: Invigorates blood, promotes qi, opens the collaterals, and alleviates pain. Suitable for obstructive conditions of the meridians due to blood stasis. Symptoms include shoulder pain, arm pain, low back pain, leg pain, or generalized pain that has persisted for a long time.【Patent Medicine Examples】1. Qing Xuan Pian (Wan) (“Clinical Use of the Pharmacopoeia of China, Chinese Patent Medicine Formulations Volume, 2015 Edition”)Ingredients: Chuanxiong, Bai Zhi, Bo He, Jing Jie, Shi Gao.Functions and Indications: Dispels wind and clears heat. Used for dizziness and vertigo due to wind-heat, headaches, nasal congestion, and toothache.2. Su Xiao Jiu Xin Wan (“Clinical Use of the Pharmacopoeia of China, Chinese Patent Medicine Formulations Volume, 2015 Edition”)Ingredients: Chuanxiong, Bing Pian.Functions and Indications: Promotes qi, invigorates blood, dispels stasis, and alleviates pain, increasing coronary blood flow and relieving angina. Used for coronary heart disease with qi stagnation and blood stasis, and angina pectoris.3. Nao An Ke Li (Capsule) (“Clinical Use of the Pharmacopoeia of China, Chinese Patent Medicine Formulations Volume, 2015 Edition”)Ingredients: Chuanxiong, Dang Gui, Hong Hua, Ren Shen, Bing Pian.Functions and Indications: Invigorates blood, dispels stasis, and tonifies qi. Used for acute cerebral thrombosis and recovery phase in patients with qi deficiency and blood stasis, symptoms include sudden onset, hemiplegia, limb numbness, facial droop, slurred speech, shortness of breath, swelling of limbs, dark tongue or purplish spots, and thin white tongue coating.4. Xiao Shan Tong Luo Jiao Nang (Granules, Tablets) (“Clinical Use of the Pharmacopoeia of China, Chinese Patent Medicine Formulations Volume, 2015 Edition”)Ingredients: Chuanxiong, Dan Shen, San Qi, Huang Qi, Yu Jin, Gui Zhi, Shan Zha, Mu Xiang, Ze Xie, Huai Hua, Bing Pian.Functions and Indications: Invigorates blood, dispels stasis, warms the meridians, and opens the collaterals. Used for stroke caused by blood stasis, symptoms include dullness, slurred speech, cold limbs, and limb pain; ischemic stroke and hyperlipidemia with the above symptoms.5. Kan Li Sha (“Clinical Use of the Pharmacopoeia of China, Chinese Patent Medicine Formulations Volume, 2015 Edition”)Ingredients: Chuanxiong, Fang Feng, Tou Gu Cao, Dang Gui.Functions and Indications: Dispels wind, eliminates cold, invigorates blood, and alleviates pain. Used for wind-cold-dampness obstructing the meridians, numbness of limbs, joint pain, and abdominal pain.【Dosage】3-10 g.【Precautions】1. This product is spicy and aromatic, use with caution in cases of headache due to yin deficiency and yang excess; not suitable for those with excessive sweating.2. Use with caution in pregnant women.【Summary of Materia Medica】1. “Shennong Bencao Jing” states: “It is used for wind stroke entering the brain, headaches, cold bi, muscle spasms, traumatic injuries, and women’s blood stasis leading to infertility.”2. “Ming Yi Bie Lu” states: “It eliminates cold movement in the brain, wind on the face, excessive tears, and nasal discharge, causing confusion like drunkenness, and alleviates cold air, abdominal pain, and hypochondriac pain, warming the interior.”3. “Bencao Gangmu” states: “Chuanxiong is a blood and qi herb, used to supplement the liver in cases of bitterness and urgency, hence suitable for blood deficiency; it disperses with spiciness, hence suitable for qi stagnation.”【Chemical Components】Mainly contains lactone components: Ligusticum chuanxiong lactone A, Gao Ben lactone, 3-butyl lactone, butylenolide, Chuanxiong lactone, new snake bed lactone, and double Gao Ben lactone; contains nitrogen components: Chuanxiong alkaloid, black ryegrass alkaloid (Chuanxiong dolichos); phenolic acid components: ferulic acid, caffeic acid, and Chuanxiong phenol; also contains aromatic compounds such as camphene.The Pharmacopoeia of China stipulates that this product must contain not less than 0.10% of ferulic acid (C10H10O4).【Pharmacology and Toxicology】This product has pharmacological effects such as improving blood rheology, vasodilation, anti-myocardial ischemia, and anti-cerebral ischemia.1. Improving blood rheologyChuanxiong alkaloid has a significant inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation both in vivo and in vitro, reducing whole blood high shear viscosity, low shear viscosity, plasma viscosity, red blood cell aggregation index, and hematocrit, while increasing the red blood cell deformability index, thus having a good effect on improving blood rheology. Chuanxiong dolichos also has similar effects to a certain extent.2. VasodilationChuanxiong from different origins can significantly inhibit norepinephrine-induced contraction of the thoracic aorta in rats, significantly inhibiting the perfusion of isolated rabbit ears caused by 0.04% norepinephrine in Ringer-Locke nutrient solution. Chuanxiong alkaloid has a significant vasodilatory effect, in addition to having a similar effect to “Ca2+ channel blockers,” it also significantly inhibits voltage-dependent Cl– channels in rat thoracic aorta smooth muscle.3. Anti-myocardial ischemiaDifferent effective components in Chuanxiong have protective effects on various animal models of myocardial ischemia. Phosphate Chuanxiong alkaloid injection at 20 mg/kg intraperitoneally can increase the activity of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), cytochrome oxidase (CCO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the mitochondria of ligated rat coronary arteries, while reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Hydrochloride Chuanxiong alkaloid injection at 20 mg/kg intraperitoneally can increase the activity of SOD and GSH-Px in myocardial ischemia induced by isoproterenol, while reducing the activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), Ca2+, MDA, and nitric oxide (NO) levels, alleviating degenerative necrosis of damaged myocardium and reducing inflammatory cell infiltration. Chuanxiong alkaloid can increase the serum SOD activity in a rabbit model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, enhancing the ability to scavenge oxygen free radicals and reducing the formation of lipid peroxides, thus inhibiting oxygen free radical-mediated myocardial cell damage. Chuanxiong alkaloid or Chuanxiong lactone at 0.05 mg/ml can increase coronary flow during the reperfusion phase in a rat model of ischemia-reperfusion injury, reducing the incidence of ventricular fibrillation (VF) and ventricular tachycardia (VT); both Chuanxiong lactone at 0.0125, 0.025, and 0.05 mg/ml can shorten the duration and recovery time of VF and VT, delaying their onset, increasing myocardial homogenate SOD activity, and reducing MDA levels, with 0.05 mg/ml reducing LDH levels. Chuanxiong decoction at 2 mg/ml can significantly reduce CF in isolated heart perfusion, while 20 mg/ml can reduce left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), +dp/dtmax, CF, HR, and +dp/dtmax.4. Anti-cerebral ischemiaChuanxiong extract at 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg can alleviate behavioral disorders caused by acute occlusion of the middle cerebral artery in rats, reducing the area of brain damage. Chuanxiong essential oil at 0.25, 0.5, and 1 ml/kg can reduce the neurological function injury score in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, and reduce the volume of cerebral infarction; 0.25 and 0.5 ml/kg can reduce the levels of NO and MDA in brain tissue. Chuanxiong alkaloid injection at 40 mg/kg intravenously can increase the activity of SOD in plasma and brain tissue in a rabbit model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, while reducing ET and MDA levels in plasma and brain tissue. Chuanxiong alkaloids at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg intraperitoneally can reduce the levels of NO and NOS activity in serum of focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion rats. Ferulic acid at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg intravenously can improve the neurological function deficit symptoms in rats with focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, reduce the volume of cerebral infarction, lower ET levels in brain tissue, and increase CGRP levels.5. Antipyretic effectChuanxiong essential oil at 1 time intraperitoneally has a significant antipyretic effect on yeast-induced fever in rats and endotoxin-induced fever in rabbits, reducing the levels of cAMP and PGE2 in the hypothalamus of fever model rats, inhibiting the expression of COX-2 in the hypothalamus of fever model rats, and increasing the levels of 5-HT and DA in the hypothalamus of fevered rabbits.6. Sedative effectChuanxiong essential oil has an inhibitory effect on brain activity in animals, while having an excitatory effect on the vasomotor center, respiratory center, and spinal reflexes in the medulla oblongata; with increased dosage, it turns to inhibition. Chuanxiong decoction can inhibit spontaneous activity in rats, prolong the sleep time induced by pentobarbital sodium in mice, and can antagonize the excitement caused by caffeine, but cannot prevent seizures or lethal effects caused by pentetrazol or cocaine, nor can it counteract seizures induced by pentobarbital in rats.7. Promoting hematopoiesisChuanxiong alkaloid can enhance the expression of VCAM-1 on hematopoietic cells and stromal cells in mice with aplastic anemia, strengthening the interaction between hematopoietic cells and stromal cells, which is beneficial for the proliferation of hematopoietic cells; it promotes the expression of bFGF and VEGF in bone marrow tissue and the expression of bFGFR on the surface of mononuclear cells, repairing microvessels in the hematopoietic microenvironment; it promotes the expression of SDF-1 from bone marrow stromal cells and the expression of CXCR4 on the surface of mononuclear cells, activating adhesion molecules expressed on hematopoietic cells, accelerating the transendothelial migration of HSC from peripheral blood to bone marrow, and promoting hematopoietic reconstruction.8. Anti-gastric ulcer effectChuanxiong extract at 5 and 10 g/kg can reduce the incidence of gastric ulcers caused by indomethacin and pyloric ligation in mouse and rat models, alleviate ulcers, and significantly reduce ulcer area, while also reducing gastric juice volume and increasing gastric juice value in pyloric ligation rats, with an ulcer inhibition rate of over 61.5%.9. Anti-kidney injury effectChuanxiong alkaloid (ferulic acid) at 40 mg/kg intravenously can improve pathological changes in the kidneys of rabbits with ischemia-reperfusion injury, increasing serum NO levels and reducing creatinine levels. Chuanxiong alkaloid has protective effects on rat models of glomerular basement membrane antibody nephritis, increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as GSH-Px, CAT, and SOD in cytoplasm and mitochondria, gradually reducing MDA levels, and protecting kidney function. Chuanxiong decoction at 1.2 g/kg can alleviate morphological changes in the kidneys of experimental diabetic rats. Chuanxiong can increase the levels of prostaglandins in the kidneys of rabbits with glycerol-induced acute renal failure, reduce plasma angiotensin II levels, and increase renal blood flow. Hydrochloride Chuanxiong alkaloid can completely inhibit the contraction of renal blood vessels induced by cyclosporine A. Chuanxiong preparations or Chuanxiong alkaloid can significantly reduce blood creatinine and urea nitrogen levels in chronic renal failure animal models, providing protective effects against chronic renal failure. Chuanxiong alkaloid injection at 50 mg/kg intraperitoneally for 4 weeks can improve kidney function by reducing urinary protein excretion and inhibiting ET-1 production, thus protecting against interstitial tubular injury.[1]Chuanxiong alkaloid at 200 and 400 µg/ml in vitro has a certain inhibitory effect on the proliferation of human renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2), significantly inducing the expression of SnoN protein in the nucleus; Chuanxiong alkaloid at 50 µg/ml can significantly inhibit the expression of α-SMA and p-Smad2 proteins in HK-2 cells induced by TGF-β1.[2],[3]。10. Other effectsChuanxiong alkaloid at 60 mg/kg intraperitoneally can inhibit hypertension and serum NE and DA monoamine neurotransmitter levels in morphine withdrawal rats. Chuanxiong extract at 0.06 g/ml can inhibit the invasion of pancreatic cancer HS766T cells in vitro, inhibiting the adhesion of HS766T cells to extracellular matrix proteins and vascular endothelial cells. Chuanxiong extract can block the G0/G1 phase of pancreatic cancer HS766T cells, increasing the percentage of cells in the synthesis phase.11. In vivo processesChuanxiong water extract, ethanol extract, and ethyl acetate extract administered to rats show that the t1/2a of ferulic acid is 1.6, 0.6, and 0.4 hours, respectively; AUC0→t is 1.3, 2.9, and 1.4 mg/(L•h). Chuanxiong supercritical CO2 extract’s β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex at 400 mg/kg shows that ligusticum chuanxiong lactone in rats follows a two-compartment model, with t1/2α of 1.4 hours and AUC0→t of 70.87 µg/(ml•h). Chuanxiong essential oil administered shows that ligusticum chuanxiong lactone concentration distribution in major effect organs is as follows: Clung>Cheart>Cbrain, and in major elimination organs: Cliver>Cspleen>Ckidney, with more distribution in the lung and spleen.12. Toxicological studiesChuanxiong water decoction at 53.2 g/kg administered once, observed for 2 weeks, showed no deaths in mice and no abnormal phenomena. Chuanxiong water decoction at 4.5, 13.5, and 22.5 g/kg administered for 9 consecutive days, with 22.5 g/kg causing fetal death in early pregnancy mice, indicating caution in use during pregnancy.【References】[1] Fei Liangyu, Ou Jihong, Yang Bo, et al. Experimental study on the effect of Chuanxiong alkaloid on renal tubular interstitial injury in adriamycin nephropathy. Chinese Physician Journal, 2011, 13(12): 1599-1602.[2] Lu Min, Zhang Yue, Lu Haiying, et al. The effect of Chuanxiong alkaloid on the expression of SnoN protein in human renal tubular epithelial cells. Chinese Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology, 2011, 18(5): 411-413.[3] Huang Qi, Ma Jun, Wang Yao, et al. Experimental study on the inhibitory effect of Chuanxiong alkaloid on TGF-β1-induced transdifferentiation of human renal tubular epithelial cells. Chinese Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology, 2013, 20(4): 365-366.