Bioactive Constituents and Pharmacological Applications of Atractylodes Species
Summary
Atractylodes species, prized in traditional East Asian medicine, encompass key taxa such as A. lancea and A. macrocephala. Phytochemical investigations have revealed a diverse array of bioactive constituents including sesquiterpenoids, polyacetylenes and polysaccharides. These compounds have demonstrated the ability to modulate inflammatory cascades, induce apoptosis in malignant cells and regulate immune responses. Pharmacological studies show that extracts and purified metabolites exert anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and gastroprotective effects. Advances in analytical techniques, such as high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry, have enabled the characterisation of minor constituents and the elucidation of structure-activity relationships. Emerging work underscores the potential for standardised extracts to transition into clinical applications, addressing challenges of consistency, safety and dosage. In the context of growing global interest in plant-derived therapeutics, Atractylodes serves as a paradigm for integrating traditional knowledge with modern pharmacological validation.
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Bioactive Constituents and Pharmacological Applications of Atractylodes Species publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in bioactive constituents and pharmacological applications of atractylodes species across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Sesquiterpenoid: A class of terpenoid compounds composed of three isoprene units, often exhibiting cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities.
Essential oil: Volatile aromatic compounds extracted from plant materials, used for their diverse biological properties.
Apoptosis: Programmed cell death characterised by cell shrinkage, DNA fragmentation and caspase activation.
PI3K/Akt/mTOR signalling pathway: Intracellular cascade regulating cell growth, survival and metabolism, frequently dysregulated in cancer.
Phytochemical: Bioactive chemical compound produced by plants that contributes to therapeutic potential.
References
- Pharmacological effects of medicinal components of Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC.. Chinese Medicine (2018).
- Anti-tumor effects of Atractylenolide I on bladder cancer cells. Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research (2016).
- Antitumor, Antiviral, and Anti-Inflammatory Efficacy of Essential Oils from Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. Produced with Different Processing Methods. Molecules (2019).
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