cortex moutan

Cortex moutan is the dried root bark of Paeonia suffruticosa, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb widely used in China and other East Asian countries. It is recognized for its rich composition of bioactive compounds, including monoterpene glycosides (notably paeoniflorin), phenols (such as paeonol), benzoic acid, and quercetin[2][7][9]. Cortex moutan exhibits a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor (including induction of apoptosis in cancer cells), anti-diabetic, cardiovascular protective, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective effects[1][2][5]. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), it is used to "cool the blood," promote circulation by dispersing blood stasis, clear heat from the body (especially deficiency heat or "yin deficiency"), and treat bleeding disorders caused by heat[4][6]. Modern studies have shown that extracts from cortex moutan can inhibit cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity in vitro—suggesting an anti-inflammatory mechanism—and induce apoptosis via caspase activation pathways in cancer cells[3][5]. The main active constituents are paeoniflorin and paeonol; paeonol has been specifically studied for its potential benefits against atherosclerosis through vascular protection mechanisms[7][10].

Other names

Moutan CortexMu Dan Piroot bark of Paeonia suffruticosa