Compendium of the most significant studies with reference to properties, intake, effects.

Liu L, Yuan Y, Tao J. Flavonoid-Rich Extract of Paeonia lactiflora Petals Alleviate d-Galactose-Induced Oxidative Stress and Restore Gut Microbiota in ICR Mice. Antioxidants (Basel). 2021 Nov 26;10(12):1889. doi: 10.3390/antiox10121889.

Abstract. This study was aimed to investigate the antioxidant effect of Paeonia lactiflora Pall. petal flavonoids extract (PPF) on d-galactose (d-gal)-induced ICR mice. 

Kim MJ, Kang HH, Seo YJ, Kim KM, Kim YJ, Jung SK. Paeonia lactiflora Root Extract and Its Components Reduce Biomarkers of Early Atherosclerosis via Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects In Vitro and In Vivo. Antioxidants (Basel). 2021 Sep 23;10(10):1507. doi: 10.3390/antiox10101507.

Abstract. Although various physiological activities of compounds obtained from Paeonia lactiflora have been reported, the effects of P. lactiflora extract (PLE) on early atherosclerosis remain unclear. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the in vitro and in vivo antiatherosclerosis and in vitro antioxidant effects of PLE and its compounds. 

Chen YF, Wu KJ, Wood WG. Paeonia lactiflora Extract Attenuating Cerebral Ischemia and Arterial Intimal Hyperplasia Is Mediated by Paeoniflorin via Modulation of VSMC Migration and Ras/MEK/ERK Signaling Pathway. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:482428. doi: 10.1155/2013/482428.

Abstract. The objective of this study was to determine if Paeonia lactiflora would be protective in rodent models of cerebral ischemia and arterial intimal hyperplasia.

Kwon DA, Kim YS, Kim SK, Baek SH, Kim HK, Lee HS. Antioxidant and antifatigue effect of a standardized fraction (HemoHIM) from Angelica gigas, Cnidium officinale, and Paeonia lactiflora. Pharm Biol. 2021 Dec;59(1):391-400. doi: 10.1080/13880209.2021.1900878.

Abstract. The antifatigue effects of HemoHIM using models of citrinin and exercise-induced chronic fatigue syndrome were investigated.  HemoHIM is an herbal preparation containing Angelica gigas Nakai (Apiaceae), Cnidium officinale Makino (Umbelliferae), and Paeonia lactiflora Pallas (Paeoniaceae) developed for immune regulation.

Lee HS, Kim Y. Paeonia lactiflora Inhibits Cell Wall Synthesis and Triggers Membrane Depolarization in Candida albicans. J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2017 Feb 28;27(2):395-404. doi: 10.4014/jmb.1611.11064.

Abstract. In this study, we report on the antifungal activity of an ethanol extract from Paeonia lactiflora against Candida albicans, showing that the antifungal activity is associated with the synergistic actions of preventing cell wall synthesis, enabling membrane depolarization, and compromising permeability.

Lee M, Park JH, Gil J, Lee J, Lee Y. The complete chloroplast genome of Paeonia lactiflora Pall. (Paeoniaceae). Mitochondrial DNA B Resour. 2019 Jul 22;4(2):2715-2716. doi: 10.1080/23802359.2019.1644548.

Abstract. The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Paeonia lactiflora was obtained by de novo assembly using next-generation sequencing.

Paeonia lactiflora Pallas belongs to the Paeoniaceae family and flowers in white to purple from May to June. The flowers can be up to 25 cm in diameter. Peoniaceae are herbaceous perennials that need little care and can withstand harsh winters.

For the description, cultivation and traditions of this plant, see this study (1).

The root of this plant has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine to treat pain, inflammation and immune disorders and its petals have a fair amount of flavonoids known to exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions.

In recent times, many studies have focused on the chemical components of the Paeonia lactiflora root and have tested many of the therapeutic effects claimed by traditional medicine, confirming the effectiveness of this root in the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, oral lichen planus and Sjogren's syndrome (2).

A number of glycosides (paeoniflorin, hydroxyl-paeoniflorin, paeonin, albiflorin, benzoylpaeoniflorin) are extracted from the dried root, which have properties, in decoction form, to improve pain, joint swelling, synovial hypertrophy, bone erosion and cartilage degradation in arthritis (3). China Food and Drug Administration authorised the use of these glycosides for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in 1998, as their curative effects had been established without significant adverse effects. In particular, the glycoside paeniflorin proved to be the main active component (4).

Research is continuing, and in 2020 a new glycoside was isolated from Paeonia lactiflora root ((+)-fragransin A_2-4-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside) with moderate inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production (5).

Paeonia lactiflora studies

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) https://antropocene.it/2021/10/15/paeonia-lactiflora/

(2) Jiang H, Li J, Wang L, Wang S, Nie X, Chen Y, Fu Q, Jiang M, Fu C, He Y. Total glucosides of paeony: A review of its phytochemistry, role in autoimmune diseases, and mechanisms of action. J Ethnopharmacol. 2020 Aug 10;258:112913. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.112913.

(3) Zhang L, Wei W. Anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory effects of paeoniflorin and total glucosides of paeony. Pharmacol Ther. 2020 Mar;207:107452. doi: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2019.107452.

(4) Wei Zhang, Sheng-Ming Dai,  Mechanisms involved in the therapeutic effects of Paeonia lactiflora Pallas in rheumatoid arthritis,  International Immunopharmacology,  Volume 14, Issue 1,  2012,  Pages 27-31,  ISSN 1567-5769,  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intimp.2012.06.001.

(5) Zhong WC, Li R, Xia H, Xia GY, Zhang JF, Tian GH, Lin S. A new lignan glucoside from root of Paeonia lactiflora. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2020 Jun;45(12):2903-2906. Chinese. doi: 10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20200328.203.