Aucklandia lappa, Vladimiria souliei, and Inula helenium: A comprehensive review on the ethnomedicines, phytochemicals, quality control and pharmacology of three confusable Muxiang varieties (2015-2025).

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The dried roots of Aucklandia lappa (Mu-Xiang), Vladimiria souliei (Chuan-Mu-Xiang), and Inula helenium (Tu-Mu-Xiang), perennial species of the Asteraceae family, are commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine for their therapeutic properties.

AIM OF THE REVIEW: Morphological and phytochemical similarities among three Muxiang varieties, particularly between A. lappa and V. souliei, lead to confusion. This review aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of their ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, quality control, pharmacological properties, and modern applications.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Relevant literatures between January 2015 and September 2025 were retrieved from the Web of Science, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and CNKI.

RESULTS

A total of 429 compounds were identified from three Muxiang varieties, mainly including the sesquiterpene lactones (SLs), monoterpenoids, triterpenoids, phenylpropanoids, and flavonoids. Among these, the contained SLs (149 compounds) were the principal bioactive constituents responsible for the effects of anticancer, anti-inflammation, gastrointestinal protection, anti-microorganism, hepatoprotection and neuroprotection. Advanced analytical methods, such as HPLC, GC-MS, DNA barcoding, and hyperspectral imaging coupled with machine learning, were established to enable accurate species differentiation and quality control. The review further provided a comparative analysis of the similarities and differences among three Muxiang varieties.

CONCLUSION

This review synthesizes the current knowledge on three Muxiang varieties, establishing a foundational resource for their botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and quality control. Despite historical confusion due to morphological and ethnopharmacological similarities, modern research has revealed differences in their chemical composition and pharmacological activities. Future validation of distinctions is essential to ensure the rational and targeted utilization of these Muxiang resources.