corydalis rhizoma

Corydalis rhizoma is the dried tuber (rhizome) of the plant Corydalis yanhusuo W.T. Wang (family Papaveraceae), widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. It is primarily known for its analgesic (pain-relieving) properties and is traditionally employed to treat various types of pain including peripheral neuropathy, menstrual discomfort, soft tissue injuries, and abdominal pain[4][7][8]. The main bioactive constituents are alkaloids such as tetrahydropalmatine (THP), protopine, berberine, corydaline, and others[7][8]. These compounds are believed to act on multiple biological targets involved in pain modulation and inflammation. Some studies suggest additional effects such as antiarrhythmic activity (heart rhythm regulation), anti-inflammatory action, sedative/hypnotic effects for relaxation or sleep support[4][7]. In traditional use it is also said to "move Qi" and stimulate blood flow. Mechanistically: - Alkaloids like THP may modulate dopamine receptors in the central nervous system. - Berberine can affect cytochrome P450 enzymes impacting drug metabolism. - Other alkaloids may interact with targets such as prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 1/2 (PTGS1/PTGS2), potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily H member 2 (KCNH2), sodium voltage-gated channel alpha subunit 5 (SCN5A), retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRA), calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase 2 (CAMKK2), nuclear receptor coactivator 2 (NCOA2) and estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1)[7]. Despite its long history of use and promising preclinical data for pain relief and other indications like arrhythmia or gastric ulcers[4][7], robust clinical evidence remains limited. Safety concerns exist regarding potential liver toxicity from certain alkaloids such as THP; caution is advised especially in vulnerable populations[4].

Other names

Corydalidis RhizomaCorydalis yanhusuo rhizomeYan Hu SuoXuanhuCorydalis ambigua tuberCorydalis ambigua rootCorydalidis Tuber