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Table 1 Active chemicals identified from the four major component of Pien Tze Huang (PZH). Their putative biological functions and respective references are also listed

From: Pien Tze Huang (PZH) as a Multifunction Medicinal Agent in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): a review on cellular, molecular and physiological mechanisms

Components

Active chemicals identified

Biological functions

References

Musk

Macrocyclic compounds such as musk ketone, steroids such as testosterone, estradiol, cholesterol, a variety of amino acids such as aspartic acid, inorganic salts and others

Resist hypoxia and improve cerebral circulation, stimulate cardiac function, increase the amplitude of cardiac contraction and enhance myocardial function, anti-inflammatory effect, stimulate uterus and enhance uterine contraction

[20, 24,25,26,27, 29, 37]

Calculus bovis

Cholic acid, deoxycholic acid, cholesterol, bilirubin, ergosterol, vitamin D, sodium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, carotenoids, alanine, glycine and other amino acids, as well as mucin, fatty acids and peptides

Sedative, anticonvulsant and antipyretic effects, lower blood pressure and reduce heart rate, induce gallbladder contraction, relax the sphincter of biliary duct and promote bile secretion, anti-inflammatory, hemostatic and lipid-lowering effects, hepatoprotective effects

[14, 15, 17,18,19,20]

Snake gall

Taurocholic acid, taurogoosedeoxycholic acid, taurodeoxycholic acid, free cholic acid and cholesterol

Anti-inflammatory, antitussive, bacteriostatic, expectorant, antiasthmatic effects and used in the immune regulation and lowering blood pressure

[12, 13]

The root of Panax notoginseng

Saponins, flavonoid glycosides, amino acids and other active chemicals

Hemostatic effect; shorten bleeding time, lower blood pressure and slow heart rate; reduce myocardial oxygen consumption and oxygen utilization rate, expand cerebrovascular, and enhance cerebrovascular flow; improve humoral immune function; analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging activities

[4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11]

Pien Tze Huang

Notoginsenoside R1, ginsenosides Re, ginsenosides Rg1, ginsenoside Rb1, ginsenosides Rd, muscone, bile acids, thymol, sodium taurocholate, taurine

Protect against fibrosis, superoxide formation, and lower serum triglyceride; protect from cell death and antivascular spasm; anti-inflammatory effects

[7, 20, 31,32,33,34,35,36]