Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort.: a review of its phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology.

This article provides a comprehensive review of Chuanxiong Rhizoma (CX), the dried rhizome of *Conioselinum anthriscoides* (synonym *Ligusticum chuanxiong* Hort.), a perennial herb widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) primarily for cardiocerebrovascular and gynecological diseases. Summarizing nearly 100 experimental studies from the past 20 years, it details CX's chemical composition—including essential oils, phthalides, terpenes, alkaloids (notably tetramethylpyrazine, TMP), organic acids like ferulic acid, polysaccharides, ceramides, and cerebrosides—and its diverse pharmacological effects such as neuroprotection, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cardioprotective, antitumor, and anti-adhesion activities. The review also addresses CX's toxicology, indicating low toxicity within reasonable doses, and highlights current challenges including quality control, incomplete understanding of mechanisms, and the need for further research on its active components and combined drug therapies.