Ethnomedical uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Apocynum venetum L

Apocynum venetum L., commonly known as Luobuma, has been widely utilized in East Asia and Southeast Asia for its medicinal properties and health benefits. Its first documented mention is found in the classic Chinese text Divine Farmer's Materia Medica from the Eastern Han Dynasty, in which it is referred to as "Zeqi." In 1977, the leaves of A. venetum were officially included in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The 2020 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia attributes various effects to A. venetum, including liver pacification, spirit tranquilization, heat clearance, and water disinhibition.

Despite the abundance of recent studies on A. venetum leaves, a comprehensive review of the literature that incorporates the latest research findings is lacking. The primary goal of this article is to provide researchers with a more comprehensive and detailed reference by conducting an in-depth analysis of the traditional medicinal uses, phytochemicals, and pharmacological mechanisms associated with A. venetum leaves.

This research project includes original articles published from 1957 to 2024 from various databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Furthermore, data from ancient Chinese herbal texts, doctoral dissertations, and master's theses were examined, encompassing a total of 89 records.

A. venetum, which is widely utilized in traditional ethnic medicine, possesses a diverse botanical chemical composition with 371 chemical constituents, including flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, phenylpropanoids, organic acids, polysaccharides, and volatile oils. Although the water-soluble components of A. venetum remain incompletely understood, empirical evidence and scholarly literature have demonstrated the beneficial pharmacological effects of its extracts and chemical constituents, particularly the flavonoids, which offer various effects, including cardiovascular protection, anticancer properties, antioxidant activity, and anti-inflammatory effects.

This review presents a comprehensive review of the traditional and contemporary medicinal applications of A. venetum. These findings indicate that A. venetum is effective in treating hypertension and also shows promise in addressing hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, and myocardial damage. This discovery may offer novel perspectives on the prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases associated with hypertension. Additionally, the article outlines a total of 114 nonvolatile phytochemicals and 257 volatile components identified in A. venetum extract, which is a significant increase compared with the previous literature. Drawing upon published data, this paper also employs bioinformatic analysis to anticipate the potential activity of additional components. In conclusion, this article offers the most comprehensive summary to date of the traditional medicinal uses and components of A. venetum, serving as a scientific foundation for the potential expansion of its clinical application.