Review Article

Radix Bupleuri: A Review of Traditional Uses, Botany, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicology

Table 1

The traditional and clinical uses of Radix Bupleuri in China.

Preparation nameCompositionsTraditional uses

Xiao Chai Hu decoctionRadix Bupleuri, Radix Scutellariae, Panax ginseng, Pinellia ternata, Radix Glycyrrhizae, Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens, Fructus jujubae.Curing thoracic and hypochondrium fullness, mouth-bitterness, throat-drying, and eyes-dazzling
Da Chai Hu decoctionRadix Bupleuri, Radix Scutellariae, Pinellia ternata, Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens, Fructus jujubae, Fructus Aurantii immaturus, Radix Paeoniae Alba, Rheum palmatum.Treating diarrhea or constipation
Chaihu Guizhi decoctionRadix Bupleuri, Radix Scutellariae, Panax ginseng, Pinellia ternata, Radix Glycyrrhizae, Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens, Fructus jujubae, Radix Paeoniae Alba, Ramulus cinnamomi.Curing fever with cold aversion, restless arthralgia of limbs, and epigastric induration
Chaihu Guizhi Ganjiang decoctionRadix Bupleuri, Ramulus cinnamomi, Rhizoma Zingiberis, Radix Scutellariae, Radix Glycyrrhizae, Trichosanthes kirilowii, Ostreae Concha.Curing palpitation, fullness of the upper abdomen, and a bitter taste in the mouth
Chaihu plus Mangxiao decoctionRadix Bupleuri, Radix Scutellariae, Panax ginseng, Pinellia ternata, Radix Glycyrrhizae, Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens, Fructus jujubae, Natrii Sulfas.Curing thoracic and hypochondrium fullness, retching counterflow, hot flashes, mouth-bitterness, throat-drying, eyes-dazzling, and constipation
Chaihu plus Longgu Muli decoctionRadix Bupleuri, Radix Scutellariae, Panax ginseng, Pinellia ternata, Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens, Fructus jujubae, Rheum palmatum, Ramulus cinnamomi, Ostreae Concha, Os Draconis, Poria cocos, Minium.Curing thoracic and hypochondrium fullness, difficulty in micturition, and delirium
Buzhong Yiqi decoctionRadix Astragali, Radix Bupleuri, Panax ginseng, Radix Glycyrrhizae, Rhizoma Cimicifugae, Radix Angelicae sinensis, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium.Curing prolapse of uterus, prolapse of rectum, uterine bleeding, shortness of breath and tiredness, and pale tongue
Chaige Jieji decoctionRadix Bupleuri, Radix Puerariae lobatae, Radix Glycyrrhizae, Radix Scutellariae, Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii, Radix Angelicae dahuricae, Radix Paeoniae Alba, Radix Platycodonis, Gypsum fibrosum, Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens, Fructus jujubae.Curing mind-cold due to exogenous evils, headache, and vexation and sleeplessness
Zheng Chaihu YinRadix Bupleuri, Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, Radix Saposhnikovia, Radix Paeoniae Rubra, Radix Glycyrrhizae, Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens.Curing mind-cold due to exogenous evils, fever with chilliness, headache, and body pain
Xuefu Zhuyu decoctionRadix Angelicae sinensis, Radix Rehmanniae, Semen Persicae, Flos Carthami, Fructus Aurantii, Radix Bupleuri, Radix Glycyrrhizae, Radix Platycodonis, Rhizoma Chuanxiong, Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae, Radix Paeoniae RubraTreating blood pressure related symptoms caused by qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome
Shengxian DecoctionRadix Astragali, Radix Bupleuri, Rhizoma Anemarrhenae, Radix Platycodonis, Rhizoma Cimicifugae.Curing coronary heart disease, chronic congestive heart failure, vital myocarditis, and myocardial ischemia
Xiaoyao sanRadix Bupleuri, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Radix Paeoniae Alba, Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, Poria, Radix Glycyrrhizae, Herba Menthae, and Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens.Soothing the liver and improving the circulation of qi to relieve depression
Chaihu Shugan SanRadix Bupleuri, Fructus Aurantii, Rhizoma Chuanxiong, Rhizoma Cyperi, Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, Radix Paeoniae Rubra, Radix Glycyrrhizae.Curing neurologic impairment, and depression
Sini SanRadix Bupleuri, Fructus Aurantii, Radix Paeoniae Rubra, Radix Glycyrrhizae.Curing insomnia, liver injury, hepatitis, chronic stress model, and palmoplantar hidrosis
Tongqi SanRadix Bupleuri, Rhizoma Cyperi, Rhizoma Chuanxiong.Curing deafness, tinnitus, and stagnation of liver qi
Danzhi Xiaoyao SanRadix Bupleuri, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Radix Paeoniae Alba, Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, Poria, Cortex Moutan, Fructus Gardeniae.Curing headache, menoxenia, distending pain in the lower abdomen, and depression
Yigan Yiqi Jieyu KeliRadix Bupleuri, Fructus Aurantii, Radix Paeoniae Alba, Radix et Rhizoma Salviae miltiorrhizae, Radix Astragali, Radix Codonopsis, Ramulus cinnamomi, Poria, Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim) Harms, Fructus trichosanthis, Rhizoma Pinelliae Preparatum, and others.Curing chronic hepatitis, hypochondriac pain, bloating, and lassitude
Xiao’ er Tuire KeliRadix Bupleuri, Folium isatidis, Radix Isatidis, Flos Lonicerae Japonicae, Cortex Moutan, Cape Jasmine Fruit, Radix Scutellariae, Herba Lophatheri, Pheretima, Rhizoma paridis, Radix et Rhizoma Cynanchi Atrati.Curing cold due to exogenous wind-heat in children
Dalitong KeliRadix Bupleuri, Fructus Aurantii, Radix Aucklandiae, Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum Cum Alumine, Herba Taraxaci, Crataegi fructus, Semen Arecae, Paederia scandens, Radix Codonopsis, Rhizoma Corydalis, Massa Medicata Fermentata.Curing epigastric fullness, belching, dry mouth, and mouth pain
Bubai KeliFructus Psoraleae, Dolichos lablab L., Folium Epimedii, Radix Bupleuri, Radix et Rhizoma Salviae miltiorrhizae, Vigna umbellata Ohwi et Ohashi, Radix Sophorae Flavescentis, Glycine max (L.) Merr.Nourishing the spleen and warming the kidneys
Ganmao Qingre KeliSchizonepetae Spica, Radix Bupleuri, Herba menthae haplocalycis, Radix Saposhnikovia, Perillae Folium, Radix Puerariae lobatae, Radix Platycodonis, Semen Armeniacae amarum, Radix Angelicae dahuricae, Corydalis bungeana Herba.Curing cold, cough, fever, headache, rhinorrhea, and pharyngoxerosis
Qizhi Weitong tabletRadix Bupleuri, Rhizoma Corydalis, Rhizoma Cyperi, Fructus Aurantii, Radix Paeoniae Alba, Radix Glycyrrhizae.Curing stagnation of liver qi, abdominal distention, and epigastric pain
Lidan tabletRheum palmatum, Flos Lonicerae. Japonicae, Herba Lysimachiae, Radix Aucklandiae, Rhizoma Anemarrhenae, Folium isatidis, Radix Bupleuri, Radix Paeoniae Alba, Radix Scutellariae, Natrii Sulfas, Herba Artemisiae Scopariae.Curing hypochondriac pain, constipation, oliguria with reddish urine, headache, and vomiting
Ruhe Sanjie tabletRadix Bupleuri, Radix Angelicae sinensis, Radix Astragali, Radix Curcumae, Tulipa edulis, Radix Rhapontici, Ecklonia kurome Okam, Sargassum, Folium Epimedii, Herba Pyrolae.Curing lump in breast, and mammary gland hyperplasia
Jianwei Yuyang tabletRadix Bupleuri, Radix Paeoniae Alba, Radix Codonopsis, Rhizoma Corydalis, Bletilla striata (Thunb.) Reiehb. f., Indigo Naturalis, Concha Margaritifera Usta.Curing dysphoria, distention and loose stools, and peptic ulcer
Longdan Xiegan pillRadix et Rhizoma Gentianae, Radix Bupleuri, Radix Scutellariae, Fructus Gardeniae, Rhizoma alismatis, Caulis Akebiae, Semen Plantaginis, Radix Angelicae sinensis, Radix Rehmanniae, Radix Glycyrrhizae.Curing hepatochlic hygropyrexia, dizziness, deafness, tinnitus, and mouth-bitterness
Qingwen Jiedu pillRadix Bupleuri, Folium isatidis, Fructus Forsythiae, Radix Scrophulariae, Radix Trichosanthis, Radix Platycodonis, Fructus Arctii, Radix Saposhnikovia, Radix Puerariae lobatae, Radix Scutellariae, Radix Angelicae dahuricae, Rhizoma Chuanxiong, and others.Curing headache, throat-drying, and mumps
Shugan Hewei pillRhizoma Cyperi, Radix Paeoniae Alba, Fructus citri Sarcodactylis, Radix Aucklandiae, Radix Curcumae, Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, Radix Bupleuri, Herba Pogostemonis, Radix Glycyrrhizae, Semen Raphani, and others.Curing disharmony between liver and stomach, epigastric pain, inappetence, and vomiting
Huayu Quban capsuleRadix Bupleuri, Radix Scutellariae, Radix Angelicae sinensis, Herba menthae haplocalycis, Flos Carthami, Radix Paeoniae RubraCuring chloasma and acne
Ruzengning capsuleRadix Bupleuri, Folium Artemisiae Argyi, Folium Epimedii, Fructus Toosendan, Radix Asparagi, Rhizoma bolbostemmatis.Curing lump in breast and mammary gland hyperplasia
Mangan Jieyu capsuleRadix Bupleuri, Radix Angelicae sinensis, Radix Paeoniae Alba, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, Poria, Radix Glycyrrhizae, Herba menthae haplocalycis, Radix et Rhizoma Salviae miltiorrhizae, Fructus Toosendan, Fructus citri, Rhizoma Corydalis, and others.Curing chest congestion, inappetence, abdominal distention, and chronic hepatitis
Biyuanshu capsuleRadix Bupleuri, Radix Scutellariae, Herba menthae haplocalycis, Radix Angelicae dahuricae, Flos Magnoliae, Fructus Xanthii, Fructus Gardeniae, Radix et Rhizoma Asari, Rhizoma Chuanxiong, Radix Astragali, Radix Platycodonis, Poria, Caulis Akebiae.Curing rhinitis and nasosinusitis