Dermatological Evidence for Coumarins Occurring in Apiaceae: Separating Traditional Use, Botanical Occurrence, and Compound Pharmacology
- 1Key Laboratory of Sustainable Utilization of Southern Medicinal Resources, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, 1076 Yuhua Road, Chenggong District, Kunming 650500, China
- 2Yunnan Key Laboratory of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Chronic Disease Prevention and Treatment, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, China
- 3School of Basic Medical Sciences, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, 1076 Yuhua Road, Chenggong District, Kunming 650500, China
Abstract
Apiaceae plants have documented uses for pruritic and inflammatory skin conditions. Their coumarins include clinical photosensitizers and experimental candidates, but botanical occurrence alone does not establish equivalence to traditional preparations. To assess dermatological evidence for Apiaceae coumarins and identify where traditional use, tested material, skin exposure, and photosafety support further development, this narrative review drew on PubMed and PubMed Central records, targeted web searches, citation checking, guidelines, and regulatory sources; documented search and update activities took place in July and September 2026. Studies were compared by disease, material, route, comparator, skin exposure, and photosafety. Controlled psoralen–ultraviolet A (UVA) treatment has established clinical use. An authenticated Cnidium monnieri fruit extract and its isolated osthol provide a material-specific experimental link. Osthol reduced dermatitis and scratching in mouse models. Imperatorin reduced psoriasiform changes after systemic dosing and rosacea-like inflammation after topical application in mice. Umbelliferone slightly altered pigmentation measures in 12 healthy volunteers and improved oral-dose wound closure in diabetic mice. Comparative topical efficacy at measured skin concentrations remains unresolved. Clinical evidence is concentrated in controlled photochemotherapy; support for other coumarins remains experimental. Further development requires chemically defined materials, appropriate comparators, measured skin exposure, and formulation-specific photosafety. Constituent activity alone does not validate traditional use; linking these results to traditional preparations requires preparation-matched comparisons of extracts and constituents.
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BibTeX
@article{gou2026dermatological,
title = {{Dermatological Evidence for Coumarins Occurring in Apiaceae: Separating Traditional Use, Botanical Occurrence, and Compound Pharmacology}},
author = {Jiaqi Gou and Ying Zhang and Xuejiao Yang and Yuting Xu and Yixuan Bu and Xiaomi Yang and Jianying Zhang and Aixue Zuo},
journal = {Molecules},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3390/molecules31213996},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/31/21/3996},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Dermatological Evidence for Coumarins Occurring in Apiaceae: Separating Traditional Use, Botanical Occurrence, and Compound Pharmacology
AU - Jiaqi Gou
AU - Ying Zhang
AU - Xuejiao Yang
AU - Yuting Xu
AU - Yixuan Bu
AU - Xiaomi Yang
AU - Jianying Zhang
AU - Aixue Zuo
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/05
JO - Molecules
DO - 10.3390/molecules31213996
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/31/21/3996
AB - Apiaceae plants have documented uses for pruritic and inflammatory skin conditions. Their coumarins include clinical photosensitizers and experimental candidates, but botanical occurrence alone does not establish equivalence to traditional preparations. To assess dermatological evidence for Apiaceae coumarins and identify where traditional use, tested material, skin exposure, and photosafety support further development, this narrative review drew on PubMed and PubMed Central records, targeted web searches, citation checking, guidelines, and regulatory sources; documented search and update activities took place in July and September 2026. Studies were compared by disease, material, route, comparator, skin exposure, and photosafety. Controlled psoralen–ultraviolet A (UVA) treatment has established clinical use. An authenticated Cnidium monnieri fruit extract and its isolated osthol provide a material-specific experimental link. Osthol reduced dermatitis and scratching in mouse models. Imperatorin reduced psoriasiform changes after systemic dosing and rosacea-like inflammation after topical application in mice. Umbelliferone slightly altered pigmentation measures in 12 healthy volunteers and improved oral-dose wound closure in diabetic mice. Comparative topical efficacy at measured skin concentrations remains unresolved. Clinical evidence is concentrated in controlled photochemotherapy; support for other coumarins remains experimental. Further development requires chemically defined materials, appropriate comparators, measured skin exposure, and formulation-specific photosafety. Constituent activity alone does not validate traditional use; linking these results to traditional preparations requires preparation-matched comparisons of extracts and constituents.
SN - 1420-3049
ER -