4.1.3 Bupleurum

4.1.3 Bupleurum

Bupleurum is the dried root of either Chinese bupleurum (Bupleurum chinense DC.) or narrow-leaved bupleurum (Bupleurum scorzonerifolium Willd.) [8]. Its taste is bitter, its nature pungent and slightly cold, and it enters the Liver and Gallbladder meridians. It has the functions of releasing the exterior and interior, reducing fever, and soothing the Liver to relieve depression [80]. Bupleurum contains triterpenoid saponins, volatile oils, polysaccharides, flavonoids, and other components [80]. Bupleurum can inhibit the growth of human liver cancer cells and combat human hepatocellular carcinoma [89], with its extract showing an 87.21% inhibition rate against the S-180 solid tumor in mice [90].