Sinomenium acutum: a review of chemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and clinical use.

Sinomenium acutum (Thumb.) Rehd. et Wils. (Menispermaceae, SA) has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of various diseases for hundreds of years; it possesses favorable effects against autoimmune diseases, especially rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A great number of investigations have been done on SA in the last decade, but they are usually scattered across various publications. The purpose of this article is to summarize and review the published scientific information about the chemical constituents, pharmacological effects, pharmacokinetics, and clinic applications of this plant since 2000. The information for 89 cases included in this review was compiled. The SA contains alkaloids, sterols, phospholipids, and some other components. A great deal of pharmacological and clinic research has been done on sinomenine, a main compound from SA, which mainly focuses on the immune system, cardiovascular system, and nervous system. Previous studies strongly support its potential as an effective adaptogenic herbal remedy. There is no doubt that SA is being widely used now and will have extraordinary potential for the future.