China Pharmacy 2025;36(18):2348-2352

Research progress on the chemical constituents，pharmacological mechanisms and clinical application of Jiegeng decoction

Yun HUANG 1 ; Shunwang HUANG 2 ; Jinwei QIAO 1 ; Qian XU 1 ; Xiaoming GAO 3 ; Xuemei BAO 4 ; Manqin YANG 4 ; Ruonan XIE 1 ; Ming CAI 4

Affiliations

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Keywords

Jiegeng decoction; chemical constituents; pharmacological effects; clinical application

Country

China

Language

Chinese

Abstract

Jiegeng decoction is a classic prescription composed of two Chinese medicinal herbs： Platycodon grandiflorum and Glycyrrhiza uralensis. It has the efficacy of diffusing lung qi， resolving phlegm， relieving sore throat and discharging pus， and is commonly used in the treatment of respiratory diseases such as cough and pharyngodynia. This article reviews the chemical components， pharmacological mechanisms and clinical applications of Jiegeng decoction. It was found that Jiegeng decoction contains triterpenoid saponins， flavonoids， glycosides， acids， and other components， with platycodin D， platycodin D2， glycyrrhizic acid， glycyrrhetinic acid， liquiritin， etc.， serving as the main active pharmaceutical ingredients. Jiegeng decoction and its chemical constituents exert anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting signaling pathways such as nuclear factor-κB and mitogen- activated protein kinases， and demonstrate anti-tumor activities through mechanisms like modulating the tumor immune microenvironment and promoting cancer cell apoptosis. Additionally， it exhibits various pharmacological actions including antibacterial， antiviral， and antioxidant effects. Clinically， Jiegeng decoction， its modified prescription and compound combinations are widely used in the treatment of respiratory diseases such as cough， pneumonia， and pharyngitis， as well as digestive system disorders like constipation.