Paeoniflorin, a representative pinane monoterpene glycoside in plants of Paeoniaceae family, is one of the principal bioactive components extracted from the root of Paeonia lactiflora Pall. It is a heat shock protein-inducing compound,  possesses promising anticancer activities on diverse tumours.

Bioactivity

Paeoniflorin has various biological activities, including anticancer activity, anti-inflammatory activity, enhancing cognition and attenuating learning impairment, anti-oxidative stress, antiplatelet aggregation, expansion of blood vessels, and reducing blood viscosity.

Because of its safety and immunoregulatory effects, paeoniflorin has been widely used in treating various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, allergic contact dermatitis and psoriasis.

Additionally, paeoniflorin inhibits cell and tumor growth and induces G1 phase cell cycle arrest in cellular and animal models of colorectal cancer. This compound also decreases hyperalgesia in animal models and inhibits L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels.

Paeoniflorin, with multiple protective effects in atherosclerosis, has the potential to be used as a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of atherosclerosis and its complications.