Abstract

Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) Harms (Acanthopanax senticosus, Araliaceae, ES, thereafter), also called Siberian ginseng, Ciwujia in Chinese, and Gasiogalpi in Korea, is distributed in the southeastern Russia, northeast China, Korea, and Japan. The woody medicinal plant has been known since ancient times for its curative properties, and particularly the cortical roots and stem tissues of ES have been utilized for the treatment of various ailments such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hepatitis, spleen and liver complaints. Due to its giant therapeutic efficacy, more and more investigations have been carried out on the isolation and analysis of active compounds of ES, and their in vitroand in vivo pharmacological activities and even clinical effects in humans. This review, therefore, provides a comprehensive review of the pharmacologically relevant compounds of ES characterized so far and of the studies supporting its use as a medicinal plant. Particular attention has been given to anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-carcinogenic, anti-fatigue, anti-diabetes, hypolipide, immunoprotection and immunoregulation, and antimicrobial and antiviral activities. This work presented here would help more detailed pharmacological cognition and further understanding of natural components of this medicinal plant species.

Key words: Eleutherococcus senticosus, Acanthopanax senticosus, pharmacology, biological activity, medicinal plant, adaptogen.

Abbreviation

ES, Eleutherococcus senticosus; LC, liquid-chromatography; ES-ITMS, electrosparay-ion trpa mass spectrometry; HPLC-ESI/TOF/MS, high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray time-of-flight mass spectrometry; GC, gas chromatography;DPPH, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; IC₅₀, inhibitor concentration yielding 50% inhibition; GI₅₀, 50% growth inhibition; CK, creatine kinase; LDH, lactate dehydrogenase; LAD, left anterior descending artery; LPS, lipopolysaccharides; iNOS, inducible nitric-oxide synthase; COX-2, cyclooxygenase-2; DSHEA, dietary supplement health and education act.