[Anti-inflammatory active components and mechanisms of Phellodendri Amurensis Cortex: a review]

Phellodendri Amurensis Cortex is the dried bark of Phellodendron amurense(Rutaceae). It has the effects of clearing heat and drying dampness, purging fire and eliminating steaming, and detoxifying and treating sores. Clinically, it is commonly used for inflammatory diseases associated with dampness-heat diarrhea, dysentery, sores, ulcers, and toxic swellings. Modern studies have shown that Phellodendri Amurensis Cortex contains various bioactive components including alkaloids, limonoids, and phenolic acids. Among them, berberine, phellodendrine, and chlorogenic acid can inhibit key inflammatory signaling pathways, regulate inflammasome activation, restore the balance between oxidative stress and inflammation, and modulate immune cell polarization, thereby constructing a synergistic anti-inflammatory network characterized by multiple pathways and multiple targets. This article systematically reviews relevant domestic and international studies published over the past decade and summarizes the main anti-inflammatory active components of Phellodendri Amurensis Cortex and their synergistic mechanisms of action, providing a theoretical basis and research perspectives for the development of innovative anti-inflammatory drugs and the clinical application of Phellodendri Amurensis Cortex.