IngredientesBotanical name: Glehnia littoralis Fr. Schmidt ex Miq. Glehnia littoralis Fr. Schmidt ex Miq. is the sole species in the genus Glehnia (family Apiaceae), and it has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine. As the only member of its genus, G. littoralis holds a unique taxonomic position within the carrot and parsley family.
Common and pharmacopeial names: Its dried root, Glehniae Radix, is known as Beishashen (Northern Sand Root) in China, Hamaboufu in Japan, and Heabangpoong in Korea. The Chinese name Bei Shashen — translating roughly to "northern sand root" — distinguishes the plant from the unrelated Nan Shashen (Adenophora stricta), which shares a similar Chinese common name and was historically confused with it in clinical use. It is easily confused with Radix Adenophorae in clinical applications due to the similarity of the Chinese name.
Geographic distribution and habitat: This plant is a perennial herb endemic to the sandy seashores of Eastern Asia, mainly Eastern China, Korea, Japan, and far Eastern Russia. Glehnia littoralis is a perennial halophyte that grows on sandy beaches in Northern Pacific countries and regions, such as eastern China, Japan, the Korean Peninsula, Russia, and the United States. Its salt-tolerant physiology — classifying it as a halophyte — distinguishes it from most medicinal plants and confines its wild distribution to specific coastal and near-coastal sandy habitats. Due to a decline in the number of wild G. littoralis plants in China over the last few decades, it has been listed in the endangered plants of Chinese chronicles.
Botanical morphology: G. littoralis is a perennial herb, growing 20–70 cm in height. Its root is slender, cylindrical, or spindle-shaped and is yellowish-white in color. The above-ground stems are short and branched, whereas the underground part is elongated. The leaves are ovate or oblong, ranging from 1 to 6 cm in length and 0.8 to 3.5 cm in width; they are incised-serrate with white cartilaginous margins and have an obtuse, rounded apex. G. littoralis flowers are white, short, and conical. The fruit is double-suspended, nearly globose or elliptic, and densely covered with brown spiny soft hairs, with corrugated five fruit ribs that form wing-like structures.
Medicinal part and preparations: The primary medicinal component is the dried root (Glehniae Radix). The peeled and dried roots and rhizomes of G. littoralis are commonly used as a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Recently, G. littoralis has also been incorporated into a wide range of Chinese vegetarian cuisines. The tender leaves of G. littoralis are also edible as a vegetable. In herbal medicine practice, the roots are often added to soups, porridge, medicinal wines, and teas. In modern commerce the root is also supplied as standardized dry extracts, powders, and tablet or capsule formulations.
Pharmacopeial status: G. littoralis was first recorded as Radix Glehniae in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia in 1963, but until the latest 2020 Edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, no bioactive markers were available for quality control. Among its constituents, polysaccharides and coumarins are important active components; they are closely related to the traditional curative effect and modern pharmacological effect.
The ethnomedical uses of G. littoralis have been recorded in China, Japan, and Korea for thousands of years. The plant (family Apiaceae) has been used as traditional medicine for thousands of years in China, and it is a perennial herb endemic to the sandy seashores of Eastern Asia, mainly Eastern China, Korea, Japan, and far Eastern Russia.
In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), G. littoralis is one of the most widely utilized Chinese herbal medicines in clinical practice, and it is also widely utilized in Japan, Korea, and other Asian nations. Since ancient times, more than 50 kinds of TCM prescriptions have been recorded in various ancient books.
G. littoralis has been used in traditional medicine as a tonic, antipyretic, and analgesic for thousands of years. Its dried root is commonly used to treat respiratory (rhinitis and asthma) and gastrointestinal (gastric ulcer) and autoimmune-related diseases. As a traditional herbal medicine, Glehniae Radix has a rich cultural heritage and is used in traditional healing practices to treat multiple symptoms including cough, fever, bloody phlegm, fatigue, dry throat, and thirst.
Within the framework of TCM theory, the herb is understood to act on specific organ systems and imbalances. G. littoralis has the traditional effects of clearing heat, tonifying yin, clearing lung, and nourishing stomach. It has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat fatigue, weakness, stomach-yin deficiency, lung heat, cough, dry throat, and thirst.
G. littoralis has the effects of treating the lungs with heat, nourishing yin and blood, and acting as an expectorant. Traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions containing G. littoralis have various clinical applications, such as clearing heat, relieving coughs, treating hepatic fibrosis, resolving phlegm, and treating esophagitis.
Glehniae Radix is also a major tonic component in anti-aging and health promotion prescriptions. In Japan, the herb is known as hamabofu and has been documented as a component of herbal formulas addressing respiratory weakness and lack of vital energy. In Korean medicine under the name Heabangpoong, it similarly addresses respiratory and constitutional complaints.
Culinary use: Beyond strictly medicinal applications, the perennial herb can be commonly observed in coastal sand dunes across East Asia, and the dried roots can be used both as a dietary ingredient and a therapeutic element in nutritious food preparations.
So far, more than 186 components have been isolated and identified from G. littoralis, which are mainly divided into coumarins, lignanoids, polyacetylenes, flavonoids, organic acids, terpenoids, and steroids. In addition, G. littoralis also contains volatile oils, polysaccharides, and polyols.
Coumarins represent one of the two most pharmacologically important chemical classes in G. littoralis. Polyacetylenes and coumarins are the most important bioactive compounds responsible for pharmacological activities, such as antiproliferative, anti-oxidation, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antitussive, and immune regulation. Three structurally distinct types of coumarins are represented in the plant:
Glehnia littoralis is rich in coumarins, coumarin glycosides, phospholipids, and polysaccharides.
Polyacetylenes are the second most important bioactive class. Key representatives isolated from the roots include falcarinol and falcarindiol. More studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms of action of active compounds such as falcarinol and panaxydiol before any clinical studies can be carried out. Phytochemical investigation of the roots led to the isolation of 16 known compounds, including three β-carboline alkaloids, four phenylpropanoids, five phenolic acids, three polyacetylenes, and one fatty acid.
Polysaccharides are quantitatively the most abundant constituents of the root. Currently, there are relatively few pharmacological studies on the polysaccharide components of Glehniae Radix, which are the most abundant component of the herb. The main pharmacological effects of Glehniae Radix polysaccharides are immune regulation, anti-tumorigenesis, anti-oxidation, and anti-aging, among others. Structurally, a recently characterized polysaccharide fraction (GLP90-2) has been defined as an arabinan having a molecular weight of 7.76 × 10³ g/mol and consisting of three types of residues: α-l-Araf-(1→, →5)-α-l-Araf-(1→, and →3,5)-α-l-Araf-(1→.
The chemical composition isolated from G. littoralis consists primarily of phenylpropanoids, coumarins, lignans, flavonoids, organic acids, terpenoids, polyacetylenes, and steroids. Phenylpropanoid compounds contribute to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory profiles of the plant.
G. littoralis roots are rich in polysaccharides, phospholipids, coumarins, coumarin glycosides, and polyacetylenes. A 2001 study on the fruit of G. littoralis reported thirty compounds, including three new monoterpenoids and a new monoterpenoid glucoside, a new benzofuran glucoside, a new alkyl glucoside, and a new glucide. Vanillic acid glycosides have also been isolated: a new aromatic glycoside was isolated from the roots; its structure was elucidated as vanillic acid 1-O-[β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside] ester, and in vitro assays demonstrated some TNF-α secretion inhibitory activity.
Knowledge gap: The pharmacological activities of more than half of the 186 identified chemical constituents are yet unknown.
G. littoralis possesses several pharmacological effects, such as antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitussive, immunomodulatory, and antibacterial.
The anti-inflammatory activity has been demonstrated through multiple in vitro and animal models. The anti-inflammatory activities of the methylene chloride fraction from G. littoralis extract (MCF-GLE) were studied by Yoon et al. (2010). MCF-GLE strongly inhibited the release of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and significantly inhibited the mRNA and protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase. The mechanistic basis involves suppression of NF-κB and MAPK pathways.
In studies on acute and chronic skin inflammation in mice, investigators examined 70% ethanolic extract from G. littoralis (GLE) on skin inflammation in mice, studying production of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α), activation of myeloperoxidase (MPO), and histological indicators in TPA-induced mouse ear edema, as well as acetic acid-induced vascular permeability tests. GLE treatment at 200 mg/kg inhibited topical edema in the mouse ear, leading to substantial reductions in skin thickness and tissue weight, inflammatory cytokine production, neutrophil-mediated MPO activity, and several histopathological indicators.
A 2024 in vitro study examined phenolic compounds in G. littoralis leaf extract. HPLC and mass spectrometry were used to analyze the compounds. GLE was tested in vitro in macrophages after LPS-induced inflammation. The extract contained eight peaks representing phenolic compounds and one peak representing riboflavin. Biologically active compounds purified by ultrafiltration demonstrated binding affinity for both COX-2 and DPPH. These findings suggest that phenolic compounds from the leaf contribute anti-inflammatory activity partly through COX-2 inhibition.
A specific furanocoumarin, imperatorin, has been studied for anti-neuroinflammatory effects. Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation is an important pathological feature in many neurological diseases, and suppressing microglial activation is considered a possible therapeutic strategy. Oxyimperatorin (OIMP) is a furanocoumarin isolated from G. littoralis; its capacity to suppress neuroinflammation has been investigated in LPS-induced neuroinflammation in vitro and in vivo models.
Evidence strength: All anti-inflammatory evidence is preclinical (in vitro and animal studies). No human or clinical trials have been published demonstrating anti-inflammatory efficacy in humans.
Although further studies are required, there is strong evidence of the antitumor and immunoregulatory potential of G. littoralis.
Antiproliferative activity has been observed across multiple cancer cell lines in in vitro settings. Coumarins and polyacetylenes were shown in a study to be partly responsible for the anti-proliferative effects shown by crude extracts of this plant.
For colon cancer, studies showed a significant synergistic inhibitory effect on the proliferation of HT-29 human colon cancer cells. The inhibitory rates of 50 μg·mL⁻¹ extract of G. littoralis on human colon cancer cells were 12%, 76%, 41%, 77%, and 86% respectively, and the inhibitory effects were dose-dependent.
For gastric cancer, Dong et al. studied the anticancer activity of bergapten from G. littoralis extract. That study showed that 100 mg·L⁻¹ bergapten had inhibitory effect on SGC-7901 and HEP-G2 gastric cancer cell lines.
A 2024 study characterized an antitumor polysaccharide fraction (GLP90-2) from the roots. An arabinan (GLP90-2) was purified from the roots of Glehnia littoralis. GLP90-2 showed good antitumor effects by activating the immune system. GLP90-2 showed interaction with the proteins TLR-4, PD-1, and VEGF. The antitumor activity was related to angiogenesis inhibition based on zebrafish models. TLR-4 stimulation would generate an inflammatory response, while PD-1 interaction could potentially inhibit PD-L1 binding and promote T-cell reactivation. VEGF is related to angiogenesis and is often a target for pharmacotherapy.
The furanocoumarins from the plant have known mechanistic relevance to cancer. Regarding bergapten (5-methoxypsoralen) and xanthotoxin: both bergapten and xanthotoxin have pro-apoptotic and anti-proliferative properties and inhibit the cell cycle in the G1 phase in human leukemia cell lines. 5-MOP also inhibits the development of liver cancer (HepG2) and stomach cancer (SGC-7901), and the pro-apoptotic activity of the compound is related to its ability to inhibit PI3K kinase activity in breast cancer cells. Imperatorin's anticancer effects have been observed in many types of cancer, including leukemias, cervical cancer, gliomas, and liver cancer, and this activity is associated with downregulation of the PI3k-Akt/PKB pathway.
Evidence strength: Antitumor evidence is entirely preclinical: in vitro cell line experiments and zebrafish models. No human clinical trials have been conducted.
This herb has been studied and shown to have hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties.
Previous studies have substantiated that numerous polysaccharides can stimulate diverse immune cells such as macrophages, T cells, B cells, and DCs. The polysaccharide fraction of Glehniae Radix has received particular attention as a driver of immunomodulatory activity. Defined as branched α(1,5) and α(1,3–5) arabinan of about 7.7 kDa, GLPs exerted antitumor effect and inhibition of angiogenesis on a zebrafish model while promoting immune stimulation in vitro. Molecular docking and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assays were performed to evaluate the feasibility of interactions with TLR-4, PD-1, and VEGF proteins.
Evidence strength: Immunomodulatory evidence is preclinical. No controlled human trials have been conducted.
Antioxidant properties have been demonstrated in multiple experimental systems. Phytochemical studies have demonstrated that the roots of G. littoralis are rich in polyphenolic compounds and furanocoumarins, which exhibit potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and immunomodulatory properties.
In the context of chronic bronchitis, a compound formula containing G. littoralis as a main component was investigated. Shashen Maidong Decoction (with G. littoralis as the main component) increased the activity of SOD, CAT, and GSH-PX and decreased the MDA content in the serum of rats with chronic bronchitis. This points to upregulation of endogenous antioxidant enzyme systems as a mechanism.
Evidence strength: Antioxidant evidence is preclinical (in vitro and animal studies).
Extracts of G. littoralis possess immunoregulatory, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, neuroprotective, antibacterial, antifungal, and analgesic properties. The neurogenic effects of G. littoralis extract have been specifically investigated in an animal study published in 2018.
In that study, investigators examined effects of G. littoralis extract on cell proliferation, neuroblast differentiation, and the maturation of newborn neurons in the hippocampus of adult mice. A total of 39 male ICR mice (12 weeks old) were randomly assigned to vehicle-treated and 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg G. littoralis extract-treated groups. Vehicle and G. littoralis extract were orally administered for 28 days, and neurogenic effects were examined via immunohistochemistry for BrdU and doublecortin, and double immunofluorescence staining for BrdU and NeuN.
Protein levels of BDNF and TrkB in the 100 mg/kg GLe-treated group were not significantly different from those in the vehicle-treated group. However, protein levels of BDNF and TrkB in the 200 mg/kg GLe-treated group were significantly increased (about 232% and 244% of the vehicle-treated group, respectively).
The study concluded that G. littoralis extract promotes cell proliferation, neuroblast differentiation, and neuronal maturation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus, and that neurogenic effects might be closely related to increases of BDNF and TrkB proteins by G. littoralis extract treatment.
Evidence strength: Neuroprotective and neurogenic evidence is preclinical (animal study only). No human clinical trials have been conducted.
Hepatoprotective properties are among the pharmacological activities attributed to G. littoralis extracts. Traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions containing G. littoralis have various clinical applications, such as clearing heat, relieving coughs, treating hepatic fibrosis, resolving phlegm, and treating esophagitis. Modern pharmacological research corroborates that extracts possess hepatoprotective properties, though the supporting evidence remains preclinical.
Evidence strength: Hepatoprotective claims are supported by preclinical data and traditional use, but clinical human evidence is absent.
G. littoralis is clinically used for clearing lung heat, relieving cough, moistening lung, chronic bronchitis, and weakness. It is used in Chinese and Mongolian medicine to relieve coughs, moisten lungs, and clear lung-heat, and as an antiphlogistic for the treatment of respiratory and digestive diseases. This herb, discovered in regions such as Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, exhibits efficacy in the treatment of chronic bronchitis and alleviation of associated symptoms.
Evidence strength: Antitussive use is extensively documented in the traditional literature. Animal studies support biological plausibility. Robust clinical trial evidence in human populations is lacking.
In vitro studies have demonstrated antibacterial and antifungal activity attributable to the polyacetylene and coumarin fractions. Analysis confirmed that extracts of G. littoralis possess antibacterial and antifungal properties, though this evidence is entirely in vitro.
Studies have shown that the polysaccharide-rich extract of Glehniae Radix can effectively relieve intestinal inflammation in rats with constipation, indicating that its anti-inflammatory activity is closely related to the polysaccharide content. The polysaccharides have also been evaluated in models of ulcerative colitis, and evaluation of the therapeutic significance of Glehniae Radix polysaccharides in ulcerative colitis has been reported through a DSS-induced rat model.
Evidence strength: Evidence for gastrointestinal effects is preclinical (rat models). No human clinical trials for colitis or other GI conditions have been published.
Based on the converging evidence from traditional use, phytochemistry, and preclinical pharmacology, G. littoralis is associated with the following body systems and health areas:
The evidence base consists of extensive traditional use documentation and animal pharmacological studies (including the Shashen Maidong Decoction antioxidant enzyme studies in rats with chronic bronchitis). Derived from the root of the plant, glehnia is used in traditional medicine to treat bronchitis and fevers, and it is also used in Asia to treat immune-related diseases. No published randomized controlled trials in humans were identified.
Evidence includes multiple in vitro studies using RAW 264.7 macrophages and LPS-induced inflammation models, as well as the Yoon et al. (2010) mouse ear-edema model at 200 mg/kg, demonstrating suppression of NF-κB, MAPK, COX-2, iNOS, TNF-α, IL-1β, and NO pathways. The 2024 leaf-extract study identified COX-2 and DPPH binding affinity in phenolic fractions. Evidence is preclinical only.
Evidence derives from in vitro cell-line studies (HT-29 colon cancer, SGC-7901 and HEP-G2 gastric cancer, MCF-7 breast cancer, A549 lung cancer) and the 2024 Liu et al. zebrafish model for GLP90-2 arabinan. Mechanisms involve cell cycle arrest, PI3K-Akt downregulation, and angiogenesis inhibition via VEGF and PD-1 interactions. Lab studies suggest anti-inflammatory and antitumor properties; however, studies in humans have not been conducted.
Evidence is preclinical. Polysaccharide fractions have been characterized structurally and tested in vitro for immune cell stimulation. No human studies have been conducted.
A single animal study (ICR mice, 28 days oral administration, 100 and 200 mg/kg) showed significant increases in BDNF and TrkB at the 200 mg/kg dose and corresponding increases in neuroblast differentiation. Research findings indicate that Glehnia littoralis extract has a preventive effect on memory disorders and neuroinflammation. Evidence is preclinical.
As of the current literature, all pharmacological evidence for Glehnia littoralis is derived from in vitro experiments, animal models, or traditional use records. Although further studies are required, there is strong evidence of the antitumor and immunoregulatory potential of G. littoralis. More studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms of action of its active compounds (e.g., falcarinol and panaxydiol) before any clinical studies can be carried out. No large-scale, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials in human populations have been identified for any of the described indications.
The following dosages are reported as they appear in the cited scientific literature. They should not be interpreted as recommendations.
In traditional Chinese medicine, the dried root (Glehniae Radix) is typically administered as a decoction. No standardized human dosing has been established through clinical trials. The root is also employed in soups, teas, and porridges as a food ingredient.
G. littoralis is considered a safe Chinese herbal medicine with beneficial effects in traditional use and modern pharmacology research. Modern toxicology research of G. littoralis is relatively rare, and research work is mainly concentrated in China.
In acute toxicity testing in animals: Zhu et al. conducted a series of acute toxicity tests in vivo using a uniform design method to investigate how toxicity changed with different concentrations and whether decoction factors were correlated with toxicity. At the maximum Glehniae Radix dosage of 0.04 mL·g⁻¹, no mice died.
The furanocoumarins present in G. littoralis — specifically psoralen, bergapten, and xanthotoxin — have known photosensitizing properties. Theoretically, glehnia may have phototoxic effects or CYP3A4 interactions due to furanocoumarin components. Due to potential for photosensitivity, patients receiving radiation therapy should not consume this herb.
It is worth noting that some of the furanocoumarins in the root are stress-induced. Psoralen, xanthotoxin, and bergapten in the crude drug were considered, at least in part, to be stress metabolites produced during processing. This means furanocoumarin content can vary with processing conditions.
Theoretically, glehnia may have phototoxic effects or CYP3A4 interactions due to its furanocoumarin components. Furanocoumarins as a class — particularly bergapten and psoralen — are known CYP enzyme modulators in other botanical contexts (e.g., grapefruit). The same theoretical concern applies to G. littoralis, though specific drug-interaction studies for this plant have not been published.
Considering relevant historical books and records in China, the co-decoction of Glehniae Radix and Radix et Rhizoma Veratri Nigri (Black Hellebore root) might produce toxicity or side effects. This combination is classified as incompatible in classical TCM formulation theory.
Reports suggest that glehnia root can hemolyze blood cells and stimulate myocardial contractility. These effects have been cited in the botanical literature but have not been characterized in controlled human pharmacology studies.
Although no adverse reactions have been reported, there are also no studies in humans that have formally evaluated the safety profile of G. littoralis preparations using contemporary clinical methods. Additional research is necessary to determine the safety and efficacy of this botanical.
A significant quality-related safety consideration arises from the issue of plant identity confusion. G. littoralis is easily confused with Radix Adenophorae in clinical applications due to the similarity of the Chinese name. As these two plants have differing phytochemical compositions, adulteration or misidentification represents a practical concern for consumers of herbal preparations marketed as Bei Shashen.
Due to a decline in the number of wild G. littoralis plants in China over the last few decades, it has been listed in the endangered plants of Chinese chronicles. The majority of commercially available material is now derived from cultivated sources.
Condiciones de salud que Glehnia littoralis puede ayudar a apoyar.
Antioxidant activity is one of the most consistently reported pharmacological properties of G. littoralis. Quercetin, isoquercetin, rutin, chlorogenic acid, and caffeic acid have been isolated as major antioxidative constituents. In vitro DPPH radical-scavenging and Nrf2/HO-1 pathway activation have been documented in published studies.
Multiple published studies confirm immunoregulatory properties of G. littoralis extracts. The 2019 PMC systematic review identifies immunoregulatory activity as one of the best-supported pharmacological properties. Traditional use for immune-related diseases is also extensively documented in East Asian medicine.
G. littoralis (Radix Glehniae) is documented in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and clinical TCM practice for chronic bronchitis. Pharmacological studies confirm antitussive and anti-inflammatory activity. Extracts suppress key inflammatory mediators (NO, PGE2, TNF-α, IL-1β) via NF-κB/MAPK inhibition in cellular and animal models.
G. littoralis is formally documented in Chinese clinical practice for chronic bronchitis and is listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia for lung conditions. The 2024 PMC study (PMC11547663) and ScienceDirect 2023 review both cite chronic bronchitis as a recognized clinical application. Antitussive and anti-inflammatory preclinical evidence supports this use.
Multiple in vitro and animal studies confirm G. littoralis extracts suppress pro-inflammatory cytokines and pathways including NF-κB, MAPK, COX-2, and iNOS. The 2019 PMC systematic review (PMID 31915441) confirms anti-inflammatory properties as one of the herb's best-documented pharmacological activities.
G. littoralis has documented traditional use as an analgesic in TCM, Japanese, and Korean medicine. Published preclinical studies have identified analgesic components in the root and confirmed analgesic properties in the 2019 PMC systematic review. In vitro and animal data support the mechanism.
Animal studies show G. littoralis extract promotes hippocampal neurogenesis, reverses scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment via BDNF/CREB upregulation, and protects neurons from ischemic injury. These neurobiological effects are directly relevant to cognitive aging mechanisms.
A published peer-reviewed study (PMID 20230179) demonstrated that G. littoralis extract significantly reduced TPA-induced acute and chronic skin inflammation in mice, reducing edema, cytokine levels, and MPO activity. A second study confirmed skin inflammation reduction. These findings directly support a dermatitis-related effect.
The 2019 PMC systematic review confirms antifungal properties of G. littoralis extracts as one of the documented pharmacological activities. Active compounds including polyacetylenes and coumarins are implicated. No human clinical trials specific to fungal skin conditions have been conducted.
G. littoralis is one of the primary TCM herbs for lung conditions and is formally listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia for treating lung heat, moistening lung dryness, and as an expectorant. Pharmacological studies confirm antitussive, anti-inflammatory, and lung-protective activities. A study on lung cancer cell migration has also been published.
Animal studies demonstrate G. littoralis extract reverses scopolamine-induced memory impairment via BDNF/CREB upregulation and NF-κB/MAPK suppression. A separate murine study showed GLE promotes hippocampal neurogenesis by increasing BDNF and TrkB protein levels.
G. littoralis is documented in TCM and Korean traditional medicine for respiratory conditions including rhinitis and asthma. The PMC 2019 systematic review records traditional use for asthma as part of respiratory disease management. No dedicated asthma pharmacology or clinical studies were identified.
Treating fatigue and weakness is among the oldest documented traditional uses of G. littoralis across Chinese, Japanese, and Korean medicine. The PMC 2019 systematic review explicitly lists fatigue and weakness as classical TCM indications. No clinical or pharmacological studies on fatigue were identified.
G. littoralis has been documented as an antipyretic in traditional Chinese, Japanese, and Korean medicine for thousands of years. Classical TCM texts classify it as a heat-clearing herb. No controlled clinical or preclinical antipyretic studies were identified in peer-reviewed literature.
G. littoralis is traditionally used in TCM for 'stomach-yin deficiency,' a pattern encompassing symptoms of gastritis such as gastric discomfort, dryness, and thirst. The Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China documents stomach-related uses. The 2023 systematic review lists esophagitis among TCM clinical applications, suggesting gastric mucosal relevance.
Resolving phlegm and acting as an expectorant are core traditional indications for G. littoralis in TCM, Mongolian, and Korean herbal medicine. TCM prescriptions containing G. littoralis are explicitly described for 'resolving phlegm.' Pharmacological antitussive activity provides partial scientific support, but specific mucolytic/expectorant mechanisms have not been studied in controlled trials.
Dry throat and sore throat are among the primary classical indications for G. littoralis in TCM. The herb is described as nourishing lung yin, clearing heat, and moistening the throat. No dedicated clinical or preclinical studies specifically on sore throat were identified.
TCM and Korean traditional medicine formally document G. littoralis for gastric ulcer. The PMC 2019 systematic review explicitly lists gastric ulcer as a traditional therapeutic application of Glehniae Radix. No dedicated preclinical or clinical ulcer studies for isolated G. littoralis were found.
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