Polygonumperfoliatum L., an Excellent Herbal Medicine Widely Used in China: A Review

Abstract

Polygonum perfoliatum L. (synonym: Polygonum knotweed L.; Persicaria perfoliata ; family: Polygonaceae) is a kind of folk traditional Chinese medicine with a long history of wide use in the treatment of ancient internal, surgical, and gynecological diseases. At present, 80 chemical constituents have been isolated from P. perfoliatum , including flavonoids, anthraquinones, terpenoids, phenolic acids, phenylpropanoids, and alkaloids, among which flavonoids are the main active components. Modern studies have shown that P. perfoliatum has pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, antiviral, anti-liver fibrosis, antitussive and expectorant, anti-tumor, anti-oxidation, and so on. By consulting and sorting out a large number of related literatures at home and abroad in recent years, this paper systematically reviewed the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, and quality control of P. perfoliatum , and discussed its development potential in new drug research and clinical application in the future, in order to provide a reference basis for further research and promote the in-depth development and utilization.

Treating Chronic Wounds Using Photoactive Metabolites: Data Mining the Chinese Pharmacopoeia for Potential Lead Species

“…The ethanolic extract of P. perfoliatum exhibited antiviral activity on Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), with a viral inhibition rate of 78 % [76]. This rate was close to that of the positive control, acyclovir, which was 82 % [76].…”

“…As early as 1978, in China, some scholars recorded the therapeutic effect of P. perfoliatum on Herpes zoster [79]. The ethanolic extract of P. perfoliatum exhibited antiviral activity on Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), with a viral inhibition rate of 78 % [76]. This rate was close to that of the positive control, acyclovir, which was 82 % [76].…”

“…More than 80 metabolites with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-hemorrhage and other activities have been isolated, including flavonoids, anthraquinones (including emodin, emodin methyl ether and aloe-emodin [73]) [74,75] (for their photoactivity, see B. rhizoma), terpenoids, phenolic acid, and alkaloids [76,77]. In the CP, quercetin is used as the quality marker using TLC.…”

“…Polygoni perfoliati herba has shown antiviral, bacteriostatic, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective effects [76]. It is often applied clinically in TCM to treat skin diseases of viral origin and inflammatory gynecological conditions [76].…”

“…Polygoni perfoliati herba has shown antiviral, bacteriostatic, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective effects [76]. It is often applied clinically in TCM to treat skin diseases of viral origin and inflammatory gynecological conditions [76]. The bacteriostatic, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory effects might support its use in wound treatment, as suggested by the recent results of Du et al [81].…”