Research progress on chemical composition, pharmacological mechanism and clinical application of Artemisia scoparia
Artemisia scoparia Waldst. et Kit. or Artemisia capillaris Thunb. is a dried aboveground part of the Asteraceae plant. Yinchen was first recorded in the “Shennong Bencao Jing” and is known for its ability to treat rheumatism, cold heat, and evil qi, as well as heat induced jaundice. Its taste is slightly bitter and pungent, and its nature is slightly cold. It enters the spleen, stomach, and bladder meridians and has the effects of clearing dampness and heat, promoting bile flow, and reducing jaundice. It is mainly used to treat symptoms such as jaundice, low urine output, dampness, warmth, heat, dampness, and itching when smelling sores. Yinchen mainly contains chemical components such as coumarins, flavonoids, organic acids, volatile oils, terpenes, etc. Research has shown that it has significant hepatoprotective and choleretic effects, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-tumor, antibacterial, and antiviral effects. It is mainly used in clinical practice to treat jaundice, ABO blood type incompatibility between mother and child, cholecystitis and intrahepatic cholestasis, vaginitis, and damp heat eczema. At present, although scholars have reviewed the chemical components and pharmacological activities of Artemisia scoparia, with the continuous discovery of new components and the expansion of pharmacological activities, the existing reviews cannot provide a comprehensive and systematic summary of its “chemical components pharmacological mechanisms clinical applications”. This article summarizes the research progress on the “chemical composition, pharmacological mechanism, and clinical application” of Artemisia scoparia both domestically and internationally in recent years, in order to provide scientific basis and reference for the rational development of Artemisia scoparia.

In summary, Artemisia scoparia contains complex chemical components and has various biological activities. In recent years, scholars at home and abroad have conducted in-depth research on the pharmacological effects, biological activities, and clinical aspects of its compound and monomer compounds. The summary is as follows: ① Artemisia scoparia and its monomer compounds can regulate signaling pathways such as PI3K/Akt/NF – κ B, affect the expression of proteins such as caspase-1 and Smad3, and cytokines such as iNOS, COX-2, TNF – α, exerting their pharmacological activities such as hepatoprotective and choleretic effects, detoxification and diuresis, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anti-tumor, and neurological effects; ② The clinical application of Yin Chen is mainly based on compound formulas, such as the ancient formulas “Yin Chen Hao Tang”, “Yin Chen Wu Ling San”, “Yin Chen Si Ni Tang”, etc., which are commonly used for the treatment of liver and gallbladder diseases. With the continuous deepening of research, the pharmacological effects and functional indications of Artemisia scoparia will become more clear, which is necessary for guiding clinical medication and new drug development. However, there are also the following issues with the research on Artemisia scoparia: ① Currently, the basic research on Artemisia scoparia is relatively weak, such as the mechanisms and toxicology of its effective monomers in treating jaundice and promoting bile flow; ② The pharmacological activity research on its main monomers and classic formulas is not deep enough, the structure-activity relationship is unclear, and the mechanism of action of the active ingredients has not been elucidated. For example, the formulas are mostly focused on the treatment of liver and gallbladder diseases, and there is relatively little research on other diseases. Therefore, in the future, systematic research on the pharmacological basis and related molecular mechanisms of Artemisia scoparia should be strengthened, or detailed studies on compound combination therapy should be conducted to promote the research, development, and clinical application of Artemisia scoparia monomers and their compound preparations.