TCM Compound Library

Emodin-8-O-beta-D-glucoside extracted from the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc is widely used to treat acute hepatitis possibly by antioxidative mechanisms; it is able to provide neuroprotection against cerebral ischemia-reperfused injury and glutamate induced neuronal damage through exerting antioxidative effects and inhibiting glutamate neurotoxicity.

Geniposide, a major iridoid found in fruit, is widely used in Asian countries for its anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic activities, the anti-apoptotic activities is due to its modulation of and -related factors (p53, Bax, Bcl-2 and Caspase-3) in LPS-induced mouse mastitis.

Astilbin has insecticidal, antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities, it may act as an efficient therapeutic agent for arthritis like cyclosporine A but with less toxicity, its mechanism includes a selective suppression on lymphocyte functions via reducing MMP and NO production. Astilbin can exert an early renal protective role to diabetic nephropathy (DN), inhibit production of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF).Astilbin also alleviates contact hypersensitivity through a unique mechanism involving a negative cytokine regulation through stimulating IL-10, which is distinct from the immunosuppressant cyclosporin A.

Aconitine, one of the major Aconitum alkaloids, is a highly toxic compound from the Aconitum species, it appears to exert a long-lasting cholinergic action in the causation of severe arrhythmias leading to death.

Digoxin is a classical Na,K-ATPase inhibitor, with selectivity for the α2β3 isoform over the common α1β1 isoform, used in the treatment of atrial fibrillation and heart failure. Digoxin and other cardiac glycosides can inhibit hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1)α synthesis and block tumor growth.

Glycyrrhetinic acid, a hydrolysis product of one of the main constituents of licorice, the triterpene glycoside of glycyrrhizic acid, when added to rat liver mitochondria at micromolar concentrations induces swelling, loss of membrane potential, pyridine nucleotide oxidation, and release of cytochrome c and apoptosis inducing factor; indicates that glycyrrhetinic acid is a potent inducer of mitochondrial permeability transition and can trigger the pro-apoptotic pathway.

Ginsenoside Rd (Rd), a saponin isolated from the roots of panax notoginseng, Rd has immunological adjuvant activity, and elicits a Th1 and Th2 immune response by regulating production and gene expression of Th1 cytokines and Th2 cytokines.

Aucubin is an iridoid glycoside with a wide range of biological activities, including pancreas-protective, chondroprotective, antispasmodic, liver-protective, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, antioxidant, anti-algesic as well as anti-tumor activities. Aucubin prevents neuronal death in the hippocampal CA1 region in rats with diabetic encephalopathy, it also has protective effects on H2O2-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells. Aucubin may improve obesity-induced atherosclerosis by attenuating TNF-α-induced inflammatory responses. Aucubin suppresses hepatitis B viral DNA replication in vitro.