Pulsatilla (scientific name: Anemone chinensis / Pulsatilla chinensis) is a flowering plant native to China and other parts of Asia. It is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Ranunculaceae family . Pulsatilla is found in East Asia, especially China. In my country, Leymus chinensis is widely distributed in Northeastern regions such as Jilin, Liaoning, Hebei, Shandong, Henan, Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Heilongjiang.
describe
Anemones usually reach a height of 60-90 cm and bear solitary cup-shaped flowers with five petal-like sepals. The flowers come in a variety of colors, including pink, purple and white.
cultural significance
In traditional Chinese medicine, various parts of the anemone flower are used for their medicinal properties. The plant is thought to have anti-inflammatory, analgesic and detoxifying properties and is often used to treat conditions such as rheumatism, arthritis and snake bites.
garden use
Anemones are widely planted in gardens and landscapes for their attractive flowers, which bloom in late summer and early fall. It thrives in well-drained soil and partial shade and is suitable for mixed borders, rock gardens and woodland settings.
reproduce
Pulsatilla can be propagated by seed or clump division. Seeds should be sown in spring or autumn, and division is best done in early spring. Pulsatilla usually prefers to grow on low hillsides surrounded by grass and woodland or on dry rocky slopes in plains. The height can reach 15-35 cm, and the underground rhizome is 0.8-1.5 cm thick. It has 4-5 basal leaves with long petioles, which usually appear just during the flowering stage; the leaves are broadly oval, 4.5-14 cm long, 6.5-16 cm wide, with three lobes, the middle and deep lobes are wedge-shaped and obovate, and a few are narrowly wedge-shaped or obovate. Inverted trapezoid, with or without teeth. The flowering period is from March to May, and the fruit period is usually from June to July.
care
Anemones require moderate watering and regular fertilization during the growing season. Removing the inflorescences can promote a longer flowering period. In areas with cold winters, providing mulch around the base of the plant can help protect it from frost.
Traditional uses
Pulsatilla is an herb with a variety of therapeutic properties and has a long history in traditional Chinese medicine. It first appeared in the "Shen Nong's Materia Medica" and is famous for treating fevers and physical trauma. Later, its efficacy was also recorded in medical books such as "Medicinal Properties" and "Rihuazi Materia Medica". It has the effects of treating stomach pain, toothache, joint pain, rheumatism, weight loss, and improving eyesight. Pulsatilla is often used in "Pulsatilla Decoction", a prescription for treating febrile dysentery. The recommended dosage in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia is 9-15g.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the rhizome of white peony root has the functions of clearing away heat and detoxification, cooling blood and stopping dysentery, bacterial dysentery, and amoebic dysentery. It is especially good at clearing the gastrointestinal tract of damp heat and blood. It is also reported to treat malaria and relieve spasms and pain. Modern pharmacological research has confirmed that extracts or active compounds isolated from Leymus chinensis play an important role in the anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antiviral effects of Leymus chinensis.
anticancer activity
Cancer is a major global health threat and its prevalence is increasing globally . The development of new drugs is crucial for effective treatment , and Chinese herbal medicines have attracted attention due to their lower toxicity and ability to target multiple cancer types.
Pulsatilla saponins, discovered in 1996, have shown promise in fighting cancer through multiple mechanisms. Over the years, Pulsatilla saponins have been shown to be active ingredients that can act on a variety of cancer cell types through multiple mechanisms, including regulating apoptosis, regulating autophagy, inhibiting angiogenesis, regulating cell cycle, etc.
Antimicrobial activity
Pulsatilla is a traditional Chinese medicine with antibacterial effects. Pulsatilla contains proto-Pulsatilla, saponin, oleanolic acid and other powerful antibacterial substances. Currently used to treat gastrointestinal infections. Clinical applications include enteritis, bacillary dysentery, intestinal amoebiasis, etc.
Modern research has found that Pulsatilla root has antibacterial effects on Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus albus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus typhi, Group A Streptococcus and Group B Streptococcus. It was shown that the total saponins of Pulsatilla spp. may be the main component of its antibacterial activity.
Pulsatilla extract is effective against Trichomonas vaginalis within hours and completely eliminates the parasite within 2-3 days.
Pulsatilla saponins exhibit anti-Schistosoma japonicum efficacy in vitro by affecting the metabolism of Schistosoma japonicum and causing surface damage to adult worms, reducing glycogen content and reducing the activity of certain enzymes.
anti-inflammatory activity
Studies have shown that Pulsatilla glycoside B4 has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities in the body and may become a new natural anti-inflammatory drug candidate for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
Chemical composition of Pulsatilla
| Name | Part/Excerpt | formula |
| triterpenoids | ||
| Atractylodes A 3 | Root/ethanol | C 41 H 66 O 12 |
| Pulsatilloside B 4 | Root/ethanol | C 59 H 96 O 26 |
| Pujin saponin B | Root/ethanol | C 53 H 86 O 22 |
| Pulsatilla glycoside A | Root/methanol | C 35 H 56 O 8 |
| Pulsatilla glycoside B | Root/methanol | C 30 H 46 O 4 |
| Pulsatilla glycoside C | Root/methanol | C 48 H 78 O 18 |
| Pulsatilla glycoside D | Root/methanol | C 59 H 96 O 27 |
| Pulsatilloside E | Root/methanol | C 65 H 106 O 31 |
| 3-[(O-6-deoxy-α- L -mannopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-O-[O-β- D -glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-O-[O -β- D -glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-β- D -glucopyranosyl- (1 → 4)]-α- L -arabinopyranosyl)oxy]-23–hydroxy- , O-6-deoxy-α- L -mannopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-O-β- D -glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-β- D -glucopyranosyl ester | Root/methanol | C 71 H 116 O 36 |
| (3β,4α)-3-[(O-6-deoxy-α- L -mannopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-O-[β- D -glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)] -α-L-arabinopyranosyl)oxy]-23-hydroxy-20(29)-en-28-oleic acid | Root/ethanol | C 47 H 76 O 17 |
| 3-[(4-O-β- D -glucopyranosyl-α- L -arabinopyranosyl)oxy]-23–hydroxy-, 6-O-β- D -glucopyranosyl-β -D-glucopyranosyl ester | Root/ethanol | C 53 H 86 O 23 |
| 3-[(O-6-deoxy-α- L -mannopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-O-[β- D -glucopyranosyl- (1 → 4) ]-α- L -arabic [(pyranosyl)oxy]-23-hydroxy-,6-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester | Root/ethanol | C 59 H 96 O 27 |
| (3β,4α)-23–(acetyloxy)-3-[[3,4-di-O-acetyl-2-O-(2, 3, 4-tri-O-acetyl- 6-deoxy-α-L-mannopyranosyl)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl]oxy]lup-20(29)-en-28-oleic acid | Root/ethanol | C 53 H 78 O 18 |
| Carotene | Root/ethanol | C 35 H 60 O 6 |
| Betulinic acid | Root/methanol | C 30 H 48 O 4 |
| Cucumber saponin C | Root/methanol | C 59 H 96 O 25 |
| Betulinic acid 3β-O-α- L -rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-[β- D -glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)] -α- L -arabinopyranoside | Root/ethanol | C 47 H 76 O 16 |
| 3-[[2-O-(6-deoxy-α-L-mannopyranosyl)-α- L-arabinopyranosyl]oxy] -6-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl -β-D-glucopyranose ester | Root/ethanol | C 53 H 86 O 21 |
| 3-[(O-β- D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-O-6-deoxy-α- L -mannopyranosyl-( 1 → 2)- α- L -arabinopyranosyl Glycosyl)oxy]-,6-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester | Root/ethanol | C 59 H 96 O 26 |
| 3-[(O-β- D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-O-6-deoxy-α- L -mannopyranosyl-( 1 → 2)- α- L -arabinopyranosyl Glycosyl)oxy]-, O-6-deoxy-α- L -β- D -mannopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-O- β- D -glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6) -β-D-glucopyranose ester | Root/ethanol | C 65 H 106 O 30 |
| Pulsatilla acid | Root/ethanol | C 30 H 46 O 4 |
| Edelweisin B | Root/methanol | C 41 H 66 O 13 |
| Pulsatilla saponin A | Root/methanol | C 41 H 66 O 12 |
| Pulsatilla saponin D | Root/methanol | C 47 H 76 O 17 |
| Sophora saponin H | Root/methanol | C 47 H 76 O 17 |
| 3-[(O-β- D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-O-6-deoxy-α- L -mannopyranosyl-( 1 → 2)- α- L -arabinopyranosyl Glycosyl)oxy]-23-hydroxy-, methyl ester | Root/methanol | C 48 H 78 O 17 |
| Pulsatilla saponin H | Root/ethanol | C 65 H 106 O 31 |
| 3-[[2-O-(6-deoxy-α-L-mannopyranosyl)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl]oxy] -20,23–dihydroxy-, O-6- Deoxy-α- L -mannopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-O-β- D -glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-β- D -glucopyranosyl ester | Root/methanol | C 59 H 98 O 27 |
| Taurine C | Root/methanol | C 41 H 66 O 11 |
| Pulsatilla saponin I | Root/methanol | C 47 H 76 O 16 |
| Hederaside A 1 | Root/methanol | C 47 H 76 O 16 |
| (3β)-3-[(O-β- D -glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-O-β- D -glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)- O-6-deoxy-α- L -mannopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α- L -arabinopyranosyl)oxy]olean-12-en-28-oleic acid | Root/methanol | C 53 H 86 O 21 |
| (3β)-3-[(O-β- D -glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-O-[O-β- D -glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-O-[O- β-D -glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-O-β- D -glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-6-deoxy-α- L -mannopyranosyl-(1 → 2 )]-α-L-arabinopyranosyl)oxy]olean-12-en-28-oleic acid | Root/methanol | C 59 H 96 O 26 |
| 3-[(O-β- D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-O-β- D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)- O-6-deoxy-α- L -pyran Mannosyl-(1 → 2)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl)oxy]-methyl ester | Root/methanol | C 54 H 88 O 21 |
| Hederaside E | Root/ethanol | C 65 H 106 O 30 |
| Propisin Q | Root/ethanol | C 65 H 106 O 30 |
| (3β)-3-[(O-β- D -glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-O-[O-β- D -glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-O-[O- β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-6-deoxy-α-L-mannopyranosyl]-α-L-arabinopyranosyl)oxy]olean-12-en -28-Oleic acid; | Root/ethanol | C 53 H 86 O 21 |
| Hawthorn saponin D | Root/ethanol | C 59 H 96 O 26 |
| Honeysuckle II | Root/ethanol | C 65 H 106 O 31 |
| (3β)-3-[(O-6-deoxy-α- L -mannopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-O-β- D -glucopyranosyl-( 1 → 4)-O-β - D -glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-O-6-deoxy-α- L -mannopyranosyl-(1 → 2) -α- L-arabinopyranosyl)oxy] Argan-12-en-28-oleic acid | Root/ethanol | C 59 H 96 O 25 |
| Hedera saponin C | Root/ethanol | C 59 H 96 O 26 |
| Pulsatilla glycoside C | Root/ethanol | C 48 H 78 O 18 |
| Hederaside D | Root/ethanol | C 53 H 86 O 22 |
| 2,3,23–Trihydroxy-, O-6-deoxy-α- L -mannopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-O- β- D -glucopyranosyl- (1 → 6)-β - D-glucopyranose ester | Root/ethanol | C 48 H 78 O 19 |
| Edelweisin D | Root/ethanol | C 59 H 96 O 27 |
| Ursolic acid | Root/ethanol | C 30 H 48 O 3 |
| β-sitosterol | Root/ethanol | C 29 H 50 O |
| Hederic acid | Root/ethanol | C 30 H 46 O 4 |
| 23–hydroxybetulinic acid | Root/ethanol | C 30 H 48 O 3 |
| Carotene | Root/ethanol | C 35 H 60 O 6 |
| Hedera saponin B | Root/ethanol | C 59 H 96 O 25 |
| Oleic acid | Root/ethanol | C 30 H 48 O 3 |
| Betulinic acid | Root/ethanol | C 30 H 46 O 3 |
| Pujin saponin E | Root/ethanol | C 65 H 106 O 31 |
| Pulsatilla triterpene acid A | Root/ethanol | C 35 H 50 O 7 |
| Pulsatilla triterpene acid B | Root/ethanol | C 36 H 54 O 6 |
| Pulsatilla triterpene acid C | Root/ethanol | C 36 H 50 O 6 |
| O-6-deoxy-α- L -mannopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-O-β- D -glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6) β- D -glucopyranosyl (3β,4α )-3-Hydroxy-23–(α-D-ribofuranosyloxy) ester | Root/ethanol | C 53 H 86 O 22 |
| (3β,4α)-3-(β- D -glucopyranosyloxy)-23–(α- D -ribofuranosyloxy)olean-12-en-28-oleic acid | Root/ethanol | C 41 H 66 O 13 |
| flavonoids | ||
| tiliroside | Root/ethanol | C 30 H 26 O 13 |
| 5-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-7-[[3-O-[(2E)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-oxo-2-propen-1-yl] -β-D-glucopyranosyl]oxy]-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one | Root/ethanol | C 30 H 26 O 12 |
| Coumarins | ||
| cider | Root/ethanol | C 12 H 12 O 4 |
| 4,6,7-Trimethoxy-5-methylcoumarin | Root/ethanol | C 13 H 14 O 5 |
| Zanthoxylum bungeanum | Root/methanol | C 12 H 8 O 4 |
| Lignans | ||
| (+)-pinoresinol | Root/methanol | C 20 H 22 O 6 |
| β-podophyllin | Root/methanol | C 22 H 22 O 8 |
| Other compounds | ||
| sea anemone | root | C 10 H 8 O 4 |
| Trans-caffeoyl tartaric acid | Root/n-butanol | C 22 H 18 O 12 |
Citation: Z. Zhao (2021). Pulsatilla chinensis: A review of traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology research progress.
Precautions
Although anemone has medicinal properties, it should be used with caution and under the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional. Some parts of the plant contain toxic compounds that may cause skin irritation or gastrointestinal discomfort if ingested.
In general,
Anemone is a beautiful and versatile plant that adds color and interest to the garden while also having potential medicinal benefits. However, it must be handled with care and aware of its potential toxicity.
