ABSTRACT
Triterpine glycosides of the oleanane series occurring in the genus are named saikosaponins, derived from the Japanese name “Saiko,” the common name of Bupleurum spp. There are more than 150 species in the genus Bupleurum, nearly a quarter of which have been subjected to phytochemical investigation. In reference to aglycones, the flavonoids from Bupleurum can be divided into three series: quercetin series, kaempferol series and isorhamnetin series Quercetin-3-glucoside, quercetin-3-rhamnoside, quercetin-3-arabipyranoside, quercetin-3-arabifuranoside, rutin, and iso-quercetrin belong to the quecetin series. Polysaccharides from Bupleurum possess antiulcer, antitumor, and immunomodulatory activities. As a main constituent of Bupleurum, research on essential oil composition began early. In 1913, L. Francesconi et al. reported the presence of a terpenic alcohol in Bupleurum, and named it bupleurol. The content of saikosaponins in Bupleurum genus is approximately ca 1 to 2%.
