Bupleurum smithii

Bupleurum smithii, commonly known as Chaihu in Traditional Chinese Medicine, is a perennial herb valued for its potent therapeutic properties. Renowned for its ability to soothe liver stagnation and regulate Qi, it is frequently utilized to treat emotional distress, fever, and various inflammatory conditions, playing a vital role in herbal pharmacology.

  • Scientific name: Bupleurum smithii
  • Family: Apiaceae
  • Native range: Asia-Temperate

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Apiales. Finally, it is a member of the family Apiaceae within the genus Bupleurum.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Apiales WCVP
Family Apiaceae WCVP
Genus Bupleurum WCVP

Common Names

This plant, known scientifically as Bupleurum smithii, is recognized by various common names across different Chinese linguistic contexts. In standard Chinese (zh), it is referred to as 黑柴胡 and 柴胡, while in Simplified Chinese (zh-hans and zh-cn) and Traditional Chinese (zh-tw), it is commonly identified as 黑柴胡.
Language Common Name Source
zh 黑柴胡 Wikidata
zh-hans 黑柴胡 Wikidata
zh-cn 黑柴胡 Wikidata
zh-tw 黑柴胡 Wikidata
zh 柴胡 Wikidata

Distribution

This plant, known as Bupleurum smithii, exhibits a specific geographical distribution across various regions of China. It can be found growing within the expansive territories of Inner Mongolia. Additionally, the species is documented throughout the China North-Central region. Its presence also extends into the diverse landscapes of China Southeast. Together, these locations define the primary natural range of this medicinal species.

Region Area Source
China Inner Mongolia WCVP
China China North-Central WCVP
China China Southeast WCVP

Plant Parts

This plant, known as Bupleurum smithii, is valued in traditional medicine primarily for its medicinal roots. These underground structures are harvested and processed to extract the bioactive compounds responsible for its therapeutic effects. The roots serve as the main reservoir for the plant's essential chemical constituents, making them the most critical part for pharmacological applications.
Total parts
1
Scientific sources
1
Plant Part Sources Confidence
roots 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Chemicals

Bupleurum smithii has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, saikosaponins.

Total chemicals
2
Scientific sources
2

Most Reported Compounds

Compound Sources Confidence
flavonoids 1 ★☆☆☆☆
saikosaponins 1 ★☆☆☆☆