Bergenin Explained

Bergenin, alias cuscutin, is trihydroxybenzoic acid glycoside. It is the C-glycoside of 4-O-methyl gallic acid. It possesses an O-demethylated derivative called norbergenin. These are chemical compounds and drugs of Ayurveda, commonly known as Paashaanbhed. It shows a potent immunomodulatory effect.^[1]

Bergenin can be isolated from Bergenia species like Bergenia ciliata and Bergenia ligulata,^[2] from rhizomes of Bergenia stracheyi. It is also found in the stem bark of Dryobalanops aromatica,^[3] in Ardisia elliptica and in Mallotus japonicus.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Nazir . N. . Koul . S. . Qurishi . M. A. . Taneja . S. C. . Ahmad . S. F. . Bani . S. . Qazi . G. N. . 10.1016/j.jep.2007.02.023 . Immunomodulatory effect of bergenin and norbergenin against adjuvant-induced arthritis—A flow cytometric study . Journal of Ethnopharmacology . 112 . 2 . 401–405 . 2007 . 17408893.
2. Dhalwal . K. . Shinde . V. M. . Biradar . Y. S. . Mahadik . K. R. . Simultaneous quantification of bergenin, catechin, and gallic acid from Bergenia ciliata and Bergenia ligulata by using thin-layer chromatography . 10.1016/j.jfca.2008.02.008 . Journal of Food Composition and Analysis . 21 . 6 . 496–500 . 2008 . .
3. Wibowo . A. . Ahmat . N. . Hamzah . A. S. . Sufian . A. S. . Ismail . N. H. . Ahmad . R. . Jaafar . F. M. . Takayama . H. . 10.1016/j.fitote.2011.02.006 . Malaysianol A, a new trimer resveratrol oligomer from the stem bark of Dryobalanops aromatica . Fitoterapia . 82 . 4 . 676–681 . 2011 . 21338657.
4. Hepatoprotective effects of bergenin, a major constituent of Mallotus japonicus, on carbon tetrachloride-intoxicated rats. Lim HwaKyung, Kim HackSeang, Choi HongSerck, Oh SeiKwan and Choi JongWon, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2000, Volume 72, Number 3, pages 469-474,