Bupleurum rotundifolium

Bupleurum rotundifolium, the round-leaved hare's ear, also known as field hare's ear, growing-through hare's ear or growing-through hare's ear, is an umbellifer native to the Chinese provinces of Hebei, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Henan and Shaanxi and rarely to very rarely found in Central Europe.

The annual herbaceous plant grows to a height of about 15 to 50 cm. The umbels are usually 5 to 7-rayed and have no sheath. The usually 5 to 6 bracts are roundish-ovate, yellow-green and pointed. They are two to three times as long as the umbels. The corolla is golden yellow.

Animal experiments have demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity for extracts of Bupleurum root (Cholet J et al. (2019).

From the methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Bupleurum rotundifolium, versch. Oleanane-type triterpene saponins have been isolated. In animal experiments, these saponins were found to be effective against TPA-induced ear edema in mice (Navarro P et al. 2001).

1. Cholet J et al. (2019) In Vitro Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Activities of an Extract from the Roots of Bupleurum rotundifolium. Medicines (Basel) 6:101.

2. Navarro P et al. (2001) In vivo anti-inflammatory activity of saponins from Bupleurum rotundifolium. Life Sci 68:1199-206.