Bupleurum gibraltaricum
StarBupleurum gibraltaricum
Synonyms: Bupleurum coriaceum, Tenoria canescens, Pteraton fragrans, Bupleurum obliquum, Bupleurum arborescens, Bupleurum verticale, Tenoria coriacea, Buprestis coriacea
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In Spanish (Iberian) folk medicine Bupleurum gibraltaricum is used for inflammatory complaints, an application supported by pharmacological study: the essential oil (rich in delta-3-carene) and the saponin saikosaponin I markedly reduce carrageenan-induced paw oedema in rats (Martin et al., 1989; Just et al.). It is botanically and medicinally distinct from the TCM chai hu, Bupleurum chinense.
Botanical Description
Bupleurum gibraltaricum (syn. B. gibraltarium) is a woody perennial or subshrub of the Apiaceae endemic to the western Mediterranean, especially the mountains of southern Spain and the Gibraltar region. It forms tough, much-branched stems up to about 1 m tall, bearing narrow, leathery, linear to lanceolate leaves with parallel venation, characteristic of the genus. The tiny yellow flowers are grouped in compound umbels subtended by leafy bracts, the umbellets surrounded by conspicuous bracteoles. The fruit is a small, ribbed, oblong schizocarp. A drought-tolerant plant of dry, rocky limestone slopes, scrub, and sunny mountainsides, it is aromatic and rich in essential oil dominated by monoterpenes such as delta-3-carene and alpha-pinene. It is distinct from the Chinese medicinal Bupleurum chinense (chai hu).
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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