PEONY HEALTH BENEFITS AND SIDE EFFECTS

Peony Benefits and Side Effects

Peony [Paeonia suffruticosa, Paeonia lactiflora, Paeonia
veitchii; dan pi, 丹皮; mu dan pi﹐ 牡丹皮]

The peony or paeony (Paeonia) is the sole genus in the flowering plant family Paeoniaceae.
They grow in Asia, southern Europe and western North America. Paeonia suffruticosa [also
called moutan or mu dan] and Paeonia lactiflora are believed to provide various health
benefits and they are popular in herbal industry. They together with other Paeony species all
have somewhat different properties. Peony has been used in some famous herbal formula
such as shakuyaku-kanzo-to and toki-shakuyaku-san. Unsually, use of peony within the
recommended doses does not cause side effects. However, it may not be safe to use
together with blood pressure lowering agents.

Peony is named for the mythical Greek figure Paeon. Paeon used a peony plant to heal a
wound for the god Pluto. The famous ancient Chinese city Luoyang is a cultivation centre for
the peonies. In Japan, it was cultivated as garden plant. In the States, it is the state flower of
Indiana.

What are the potential health benefits of peony?

Peony has anti-oxidant activities.
Ethanol extract of the peony root(Paeonia Lactiflora Pall, Paeoniaceae)and its ingredients-
gallic acid and methyl gallate showed protective effects against free radical generation, i.e.
free radical scavenging effect against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazine, and lipid peroxidation.
[1] Researchers also demonstrated the antioxidative activity of a few stilbene derivatives
from seeds of Paeonia lactiflora wagainst the 2-deoxyribose degradation and rat liver
microsomal lipid peroxidation. These compounds are stilbenes, trans-resveratrol, trans-
resveratrol-4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, trans-epsilon-viniferin, gnetin H, and suffruticosol
A and B. [3]

Korean researchers showed antioxidant activities of a few compounds of from peony
(Paeonia suffruticosa). Alpha-benzoyloxypaeoniflorin and some other compounds exhibited
moderately potent radical scavenging activity on DPPH radical. [5]

Peony may help cut risks of certain cancers.
Researchers showed the cytotoxic and antimutagenic effects of transresveratrol, trans-
epsilon-viniferin, gnetin H, suffruticosols A and B, isolated from the seeds of peony
(Paeonia lactiflora Pall) in a study of five different cancer lines. They showed cytotoxic activity
in a dose-dependent manner, and especially did potent cytotoxic activity against C6 (mouse
glioma) cancer cell. Trans-Resveratrol showed significant cytotoxic activity against HepG2
(liver hepatoma) and HT-29 (colon) human cancer cell lines. While, trans-epsilon-viniferin
and cis--viniferin, and gnetin H exhibited marked cytotoxic activity against Hela (cervicse)
and MCF-7 (breast) human cancer cell lines. [4]

Peony may have benefits of cholesterol-lowering.
Paeoniflorin, isolated from the methanol extract of peony (Paeonia lactiflora), showed a
lowering effect on cholesterol level in the experimentally-induced hyperlipidemic rats.
Paeoniflorin showed a significantly lowering effect of total cholesterol, LDL and triglyceride
levels compared with the control group at the dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o. once a day
for 4 weeks. [2]

Hypercholesterolaemia induced an increase of endothelial superoxide anion and
endothelial dysfunction. Japanese researchers noticed that administration of the peony
(paeonia lactiflora root) extract increased the endothelium-dependent relaxation and the
activities of superoxide dismutase compared with high the cholesterol diet group
significantly. [6]

Peony may benefit diabetes.
A study in Taipei Medical College, Republic of China, showed a significant blood sugar
lowering effect of two chemicals from the dried root of peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall) on
streptozotocin-treated rats. The two compounds are paeoniflorin and 8-
debenzoylpaeoniflorin. The antihyperglycemic activity of 8-debenzoylpaeoniflorin seems
lower than that of paeoniflorin. The effect was an insulin-independent event as plasma
insulin did not change in paeoniflorin-treated normoglycemic rats. [7]

Researchers supplied extracts of peony root (paeonia suffruticosa) to obese mice. They
found mice, especially the male, declined in food intake and increased in glucose
tolerance. Thus, peony root extracts may benefit diabetes and weight loss. [11]

Peony may have benefits in some cardiovascular conditions.
Researchers from Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Japan, showed the
endothelium-dependent vasodilator effect of an extract from the peony (Paeonia lactiflora
Pallas) root on isolated rat aorta. This extract was found to contain gallotannin. [8]

In a clinical study of 42 patients suffered from decompensative chronic cor pulmonale or
related conditions, intravenous injection of Paeonia lactifiora improved hemorheologic
parameters, oxygen consumption of myocardium and related parameters such as blood
pressure. [10]

In a study of rabbits, oral administration of nifedipine and Paeonia lactiflora with 2%
cholesterol diet for 15 weeks caused 60.75% and 74.24% reduction in the lesion area of
aorta respectively. [13]

Researchers from Beijing College of TCM demonstrated that Paeonia lactiflora could inhibit
thrombosis and platelet aggregation, increase fibrinolytic activity and promote thrombolysis
in a vitro study. [14]

Peony may have properties of immunological Modulation
Researchers from Kyoritsu College of Pharmacy,Japan, demonstrated the anti-
complementary activities of an acidic polysaccharide isolated from the root of peony
(Paeonia lactiflora PALLAS) - peonan PA. Peonan PA is composed of L-arabinose: D-
galactose: D-galacturonic acid in the molar ratio of 2:1:10. [9]

Peony may promote liver health.
In a rat study, a combined treatment of Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) and Paeonia lactiflora (PL)
showed protective benefits to D-galactosamine-induced liver damage. [12]

MOST CLAIMS ARE BASED ON EITHER IN VITRO OR ANIMAL STUDIES ONLY. THIS ARTICLE IS FOR
YOUR INFORMATION ONLY. PLEASE CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR FOR ANY QUESTIONS. ALL
RIGHTS RESERVED ZHION 2009.

[1] Lee SC, et al, Arch Pharm Res. 2005 Jul;28(7):775-83. Antioxidative constituents from Paeonia
lactiflora. [2] Yang HO, et al, Paeoniflorin: an antihyperlipidemic agent from Paeonia lactiflora.
Fitoterapia. 2004 Jan;75(1):45-9.[3] Kim HJ, et al, Antioxidative activity of resveratrol and its derivatives
isolated from seeds of Paeonia lactiflora.Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2002 Sep;66(9):1990-3. [4] Kim HJ
et al, Cytotoxic and antimutagenic stilbenes from seeds of Paeonia lactiflora.Arch Pharm Res. 2002 Jun;
25(3):293-9.[5] Ryu G,A new antioxidant monoterpene glycoside, alpha-benzoyloxypaeoniflorin from
Paeonia suffruticosa.Arch Pharm Res. 2001 Apr;24(2):105-8. [6] Goto H, et al, Effect of extract prepared
from the roots of Paeonia lactiflora on endothelium-dependent relaxation and antioxidant enzyme
activity in rats administered high-fat diet.Phytother Res. 1999 Sep;13(6):526-8. [7] Hsu FL, et al,
Antihyperglycemic effects of paeoniflorin and 8-debenzoylpaeoniflorin, glucosides from the root of
Paeonia lactiflora.Planta Med. 1997 Aug;63(4):323-5. [8] Goto H, et al, Endothelium-dependent
vasodilator effect of extract prepared from the roots of Paeonia lactiflora on isolated rat aorta.Planta Med.
1996 Oct;62(5):436-9. [9] Tomoda M, et al, An acidic polysaccharide with immunological activities from
the root of Paeonia lactiflora.Biol Pharm Bull. 1994 Sep;17(9):1161-4. [10] Jia YB, Tang TQ.Paeonia
Lactiflora injection in treating chronic cor pulmonale with pulmonary hypertension Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za
Zhi. 1991 Apr;11(4):199-202, 195.[11] Nagasawa H, et al, Protection by tree-peony (Paeonia suffruticosa
Andr) of obesity in (SLN x C3H/He) F1 obese mice.In Vivo. 1991 Mar-Apr;5(2):115-8. [12] Qi XG.
Protective mechanism of Salvia miltiorrhiza and Paeonia lactiflora for experimental liver damageZhong
Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1991 Feb;11(2):102-4, 69. [13] Zhang YZ, Yan XF.Effects of nifedipine and Paeonia
lactiflora on plasma TXB2 and 6-Keto-PGF1 alpha in cholesterol-fed rabbits Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi.
1990 Nov;10(11):669-71, 645. [14] Wang Y, Ma R.Effect of an extract of Paeonia lactiflora on the blood
coagulative and fibrinolytic enzymesZhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1990 Feb;10(2):101-2, 70.