Physalin A regulates the Nrf2 pathway through ERK and p38 for induction of detoxifying enzymes.
Shin JM, Lee KM, Lee HJ, Yun JH, Nho CW.
BMC Complement Altern Med. 2019 May 9;19(1):101. doi: 10.1186/s12906-019-2511-y.

Antidiabetic potential of the ethyl acetate extract of Physalis alkekengi and chemical constituents identified by HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS.
Zhang Q, Hu XF, Xin MM, Liu HB, Sun LJ, Morris-Natschke SL, Chen Y, Lee KH.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2018 Oct 28;225:202-210. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2018.07.007.

Evaluation of in vitro/in vivo anti-diabetic effects and identification of compounds from Physalis alkekengi.
Hu XF, Zhang Q, Zhang PP, Sun LJ, Liang JC, Morris-Natschke SL, Chen Y, Lee KH.
Fitoterapia. 2018 Jun;127:129-137. doi: 10.1016/j.fitote.2018.02.015

Anti-ulcer and anti-Helicobacter pylori potentials of the ethyl acetate fraction of Physalis alkekengi L. var. franchetii (Solanaceae) in rodent.
Wang Y, Wang SL, Zhang JY, Song XN, Zhang ZY, Li JF, Li S.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2018 Jan 30;211:197-206. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2017.09.004.

Physalis alkekengi L. var. franchetii (Mast.) Makino: An ethnomedical, phytochemical and pharmacological review.
Li AL, Chen BJ, Li GH, Zhou MX, Li YR, Ren DM, Lou HX, Wang XN, Shen T.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2018 Jan 10;210:260-274. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2017.08.022.

Carotenoids and Carotenoid Esters of Red and Yellow Physalis (Physalis alkekengi L. and P. pubescens L.) Fruits and Calyces.
Wen X, Hempel J, Schweiggert RM, Ni Y, Carle R.
J Agric Food Chem. 2017 Aug 2;65(30):6140-6151. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.7b02514.

A two-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Viola odorata, Echium amoenum and Physalis alkekengi mixture in symptomatic benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) men.
Beiraghdar F, Einollahi B, Ghadyani A, Panahi Y, Hadjiakhoondi A, Vazirian M, Salarytabar A, Darvishi B.
Pharm Biol. 2017 Dec;55(1):1800-1805. doi: 10.1080/13880209.2017.1328445.

1H NMR spectroscopy-guided isolation of new sucrose esters from Physalis alkekengi var. franchetii and their antibacterial activity.
Zhang CY, Luo JG, Liu RH, Lin R, Yang MH, Kong LY.
Fitoterapia. 2016 Oct;114:138-143. doi: 10.1016/j.fitote.2016.09.007.

Six new physalins from Physalis alkekengi var. franchetii and their cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity.
Yang YK, Xie SD, Xu WX, Nian Y, Liu XL, Peng XR, Ding ZT, Qiu MH.
Fitoterapia. 2016 Jul;112:144-52. doi: 10.1016/j.fitote.2016.05.010.

Physalis and physaloids: A recent and complex evolutionary history.
Zamora-Tavares MDP, Martínez M, Magallón S, Guzmán-Dávalos L, Vargas-Ponce O.
Mol Phylogenet Evol. 2016 Jul;100:41-50. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2016.03.032.

Antibacterial and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Physalis Alkekengi var. franchetii and Its Main Constituents.
Shu Z, Xing N, Wang Q, Li X, Xu B, Li Z, Kuang H.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2016;2016:4359394. doi: 10.1155/2016/4359394.

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.