伞形科植物阿尔泰柴胡的根在中国和日本被用来治疗慢性肝炎、肾病综合征和自身免疫性疾病。柴胡根中含有几种柴胡皂甙,并确认皂甙为该植物的主要活性成分。然而,柴胡根的药理活性不能仅以皂甙的作用来说明。尽管Shibata等曾报道过皂甙组 The roots of Umbelliferae Altai Bupleurum are used in China and Japan to treat chronic hepatitis, nephrotic syndrome and autoimmune diseases. There are several saikosaponins in Radix Bupleuri roots, and it is confirmed that saponins are the main active ingredients of the plant. However, the pharmacological activity of Radix Bupleuri cannot be explained simply by the action of saponins. Although Shibata et al. have reported saponins