Fructus Psoraleae is a traditional East Asian herbal remedy, but it has been linked to various health problems affecting the liver, kidneys, and skin. Scientists haven’t fully understood what makes it toxic or how the damage happens, which has limited its safe medical use. Researchers set out to identify which specific components in the herb cause harm and discover the underlying reasons. The team tested fifteen compounds from the herb using zebrafish as a model organism. Three substances stood out as particularly problematic: bakuchiol, bavachinin, and corylifolinin. These damaged liver function and triggered the body’s stress response in the fish.
Bakuchiol emerged as the most concerning culprit. Further investigation revealed that bakuchiol interferes with a critical chemical messaging system in the liver called the GABA system, which helps regulate cellular activity. It does this by affecting how chloride enters cells and increasing the production of specific receptors. When researchers blocked this receptor with another substance, they could reverse bakuchiol’s harmful effects. Because bakuchiol appears in high amounts in the herb and shows potent toxicity, it’s likely a major reason Fructus Psoraleae causes liver damage. (Source: J Ethnopharmacol, via PubMed.)
Source: PubMed — read the full article
