Lindera aggregata (Sims) Kosterm: A Systematic Review of its Traditional Applications, Phytochemical and Pharmacological Properties, and Quality Control

Abstract

Lindera aggregata (Sims) Kosterm (LA), a traditional medicinal herb, has been used since long as a regulator of "Qi" (vital energy) in China, for treating chest and abdominal pain, bladder deficiency, hernia, bladder cold, dysmenorrhea, and frequent enuresis and urination. This article describes a systematic review of botanical characteristics; traditional applications; and phytochemical, pharmacological, pharmacokinetic, and toxicological properties of LA through the collation and discussion of literatures from several databases, namely Elsevier, Web of Science, SciFinder, PubMed, CNKI, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, as well as Master's theses and Doctoral dissertations. Thus far, over 166 chemical components have been isolated from LA, including alkaloids, sesquiterpenoids, flavonoids, cyclopentanedione derivatives and enantiomers of ketone derivatives, disesquiterpenoid-geranylbenzofuranone conjugates, benzenoids, and benzenoid glycosides. Crude extracts of LA and its purified compounds are used for treating inflammation, tumor, hyperlipidemia, alcoholic liver disease, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and antibiotics; thes3be extracts and compounds possess broad pharmacological properties with anti-inflammatory activity, liver protection effect, antitumor effect, lipid lowering effect, antibacterial and analgesic effects, and kidney protection activity. Additional studies are needed to confirm the relationship between the traditional effects of LA and modern pharmacological research. Hence, we suggest that future investigations on LA should emphasize on modern pharmacological research to confirm or support its traditional application.