Phytochemical, Toxicological and Pharmacological Studies of Asiasari Radix et Rhizoma: A Review

Herba Asari and Asiasari Radix (AR) have a centuries-old history as a folk medicine in China, Korea and Japan. AR has long been used in combination with other herbs to treat cough, toothache, headache, neuralgia, aphthous stomatitis, gingivitis, chronic bronchitis, asthma and allergies. AR from three species of the genus Asarum: A. heterotropoides Fr. Schmidt var. mandshuricum (Maxim.) Kitag., A. sieboldii Miq. var. seoulense Nakai and A. sieboldii Miq are recognized as original “Asiasari Radix et Rhizoma”. These species do not contain aristolochic acids (nephrotoxins present in the Asarum species) and therefore the roots of AR are recommended for use. Asiasari Radix is rich in volatile oils, phenylpropanoids, terpenoids, flavonoids, glycosides and lignins. The reported toxicological and pharmacological activities of AR, including antifungal, antimicrobial, antilisterial, antiallergic, acarcidal, larvicidal, anti-caries, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, cytotoxic and anticancer activities suggest its therapeutic potentials in drug discovery.