Advances in Studies on Pharmacological Functions of Ligustilide and their Mechanisms

The article reviewed the research progress of ligustilide in recent years and elaborated its pharmacological functions and mechanisms in detail, especially in ischemic brain injury. Its mechanism includes reducing cerebral infarct volumes and improving neurobehavioral deficits, anti-oxidant and anti-apoptosis, antithrombotic activity, calcium channel blockers function, and effect on erythropoietin. Other pharmacological effects of ligustilide including inhibiting vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, effects on LPS-induced endotoxic shock, inhibiting constriction effect, suppression of the central nervous system, and ameliorating the memory impairment induced by scopolamine and so on, are also introduced. Ligustilide has potential pharmacological value, which provides a reference for its further research and development.