Allii Macrostemonis Bulbus: A Comprehensive Review of Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology

Abstract

The dried bulbs of Allii Macrostemonis Bulbus (AMB) are called “薤白” in China and are mainly distributed in Asia. The plant species included in the 2020 Edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (ChP) are Allium macrostemon Bunge (called xiaogensuan in Chinese, A. macrostemon) and Allium chinense G. Don (called xie in Chinese, A. chinense), respectively. In the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theoretical system, AMB is warm in nature, acrid-bitter taste, and attributive to the heart, lung, stomach, large intestine meridian. AMB has the function of activating Yang and removing stasis, regulating Qi and eliminating stagnation. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that AMB has anti-platelet aggregation, hypolipidemic, anti-atherosclerotic, cardiomyocyte, vascular endothelial cell protection, anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, anti-asthmatic, and anti-oxidant effects. In some Asian countries, AMB is often used to treat coronary heart disease (CHD), angina pectoris (AP), asthma, and diarrhea. This review collates the botanical background, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, quality control, and toxicological studies of AMB, and provides an outlook on the current research deficiencies and future research priorities of AMB, intending to provide ideas for future research directions and commercial development.

Saponins from Allii Macrostemonis Bulbus attenuate atherosclerosis by inhibiting macrophage foam cell formation and inflammation

“…The chemical components of Allii Macrostemonis Bulbus are typically classified as volatile oils, nitrogenous compounds, steroidal saponins, and other constituents. SAMB exhibits remarkable biological properties among these compounds and holds great potential for treating atherosclerosis 35 . Along this line, in the present study, we first reported that oral administration of SAMB significantly ameliorated HFD-induced atherosclerosis in ApoE −/− mice.…”

Saponins from Allium macrostemon Bulbs Attenuate Endothelial Inflammation and Acute Lung Injury via the NF-κB/VCAM-1 Pathway

“…There is still a lack of investigations on AMBs’ regulation of endothelial function. The current study aimed to understand how SAMB (saponins from AMBs), the main active component of AMBs [ 34 ], protect ECs by inhibiting inflammation in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, we utilized both the exogenous inflammatory mediator lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the endogenous inflammatory mediator tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-a) to investigate the impact of SAMB on inflammation in human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs).…”

Antioxidant activity of spirostanol saponins from Allii Macrostemonis Bulbus and their contents in different origins and processed products

“…The whole plant of AMB is edible, with a unique flavor and pungent taste, which not only improves appetite, but also has an antiseptic effect, and is one of the common dishes on the table; its bulb can be used as medicine for treating coronary heart disease, epigastric and abdominal distension, and diarrhea. Remarkably, AMB has earned official recognition as both a homology of medicine and food, as stipulated by the National Health and Wellness Commission of the People's Republic of China, attesting to its elevated status in terms of both edibility and medicinal efficacy ( Wu et al, 2023b ). Previous investigations have revealed a diverse array of bioactive constituents within AMB.…”