The Bladder cherry (Physalis alkekengi L.), taxonomically classified in the Solanaceae family, is a berry produced by the homonymous perennial plant, long used in traditional Chinese medicine. However, unlike the berries, the roots of the plant are toxic.

The genus Physalis, besides alkekengi, Physalis alkekengi var franchetii, produces Physalis Peruviana and Physalis angulata L., both rich in vitamins, terpenoids and other antioxidants.

In particular, an anti-inflammatory seco-steroid, Phisalin E, has been isolated from Physalis angulata L. and is topically effective in treating skin inflammations (1).

Another bioactive steroid component, derived from Physalis alkekengi L. var franchetii, Phisalin A, has shown, in addition to anti-inflammatory activity, anti-tumor activity (2).

The role of intestinal flora improvement with extracts of Physalis alkekengi var franchetii, in vivo and in vitrum (3), has also been ascertained.

Bladder cherry studies

References________________________________________________________________________

(1) Pinto N. B., Morais T. C., Carvalho K. M. B., et al. Topical anti-inflammatory potential of Physalin E from Physalis angulata on experimental dermatitis in mice. Phytomedicine. 2010;17(10):740–743. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2010.01.006

(2) Physalin A exerts anti-tumor activity in non-small cell lung cancer cell lines by suppressing JAK/STAT3 signaling. Zhu F, Dai C, Fu Y, Loo JF, Xia D, Gao SP, Ma Z, Chen Z. Oncotarget. 2016 Feb 23;7(8):9462-76. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.7051.

 (3) In vivo effects on the intestinal microflora of Physalis alkekengi var. francheti extracts. Li X, Zhang C, Li W, Wu D, Liu J, Tang L, Xin Y.
Fitoterapia. 2013 Jun;87:43-8. doi: 10.1016/j.fitote.2013.03.018. 

In vitro effects on intestinal bacterium of physalins from Physalis alkekengi var. Francheti. Li X, Zhang C, Wu D, Tang L, Cao X, Xin Y.
Fitoterapia. 2012 Dec;83(8):1460-5. doi: 10.1016/j.fitote.2012.08.011.