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PubMed · Paeonia lactiflora Pall. Polysaccharide alleviates depression in CUMS mice by inhibiting the NLRP3/ASC/Caspase-1 signaling pathway and affecting the composition of their intestinal flora. (2023)
PubMed · Pharmacological Effects of Paeonia lactiflora Focusing on Painful Diabetic Neuropathy. (2024)
Reviewed by: HerbAlly Editorial Team, Medical herbalists and healthcare professionals
How does White Peony work to relieve muscle spasms and cramps?
White Peony contains paeoniflorin, its primary active compound, which acts as an antispasmodic by relaxing smooth muscle tissue. Research suggests it modulates GABA receptors and inhibits involuntary muscle contractions, making it effective for abdominal and uterine cramping. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it nourishes liver blood and softens tension to relieve spasms. Evidence Level: C.
Does White Peony interact with any medications?
White Peony may interact with anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications due to potential effects on blood clotting pathways. It may also enhance the effects of sedatives and drugs that act on GABA receptors, including benzodiazepines and barbiturates. Those taking blood thinners, antiplatelet drugs, or central nervous system depressants should consult a healthcare provider before use. Evidence Level: C.
What is the recommended dosage for White Peony root?
The typical adult dosage for White Peony is 6-15 grams of dried root prepared as a decoction, or approximately 500mg of standardized extract taken twice daily. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is frequently combined with other herbs in formulas, and dosages may vary based on the specific condition. Follow product label instructions or consult a qualified practitioner for personalized dosing.
Is White Peony safe to take during pregnancy?
White Peony is considered unsafe during pregnancy and should be avoided. Traditional use indicates it may stimulate uterine contractions and influence hormone levels, posing potential risks to pregnancy. Women who are pregnant, attempting to conceive, or breastfeeding should not use White Peony without explicit guidance from a qualified healthcare provider. Evidence Level: Traditional.
Can White Peony help regulate irregular menstrual cycles?
White Peony is one of the most widely used herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine for menstrual regulation. It is traditionally employed to address irregular periods, particularly those associated with blood deficiency patterns, and may help normalize cycle timing while reducing associated cramping. Clinical evidence supporting this use is limited (Level C), but it remains a foundational herb in gynecological formulas.
What are the side effects of taking White Peony?
White Peony is generally well-tolerated at recommended doses. The most commonly reported side effect is mild gastrointestinal discomfort, including nausea or stomach upset. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine principles, it should be avoided in individuals with cold patterns without concurrent blood deficiency. Discontinue use if adverse reactions occur and consult a healthcare provider.
PubMed-compiled information sheet
This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Paeonia lactiflora (White Peony) is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb used for its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and neuroprotective properties [PMID:39471979, PMID:39053710].
Background
Paeonia lactiflora Pall., also known as Shaoyao or Paeoniae Radix Alba (baishao), is a common herb cultivated globally, particularly in China, Japan, and South Korea [PMID:39053710, PMID:32237400]. It is characterized by its roots, which are processed into medicinal forms [PMID:32237400, PMID:25151277].
Traditional uses
It has been used for over a thousand years in traditional Chinese medicine to de-stress the liver, relieve depression, treat gynecological diseases, and manage pain and infections [PMID:37295570, PMID:39053710]. It is also used to treat fever, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and hepatitis [PMID:36868693].
Active compounds
Key bioactive constituents include monoterpene glycosides (such as paeoniflorin and albiflorin), polyphenols, tannins, phenolic acids, and paeonols [PMID:33558884, PMID:30144752]. Other identified components include polysaccharides, polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN), and triterpenoids [PMID:37295570, PMID:41516097, PMID:38685513].
Mechanism of action
Paeonia lactiflora and its components act through several pathways: inhibiting the NLRP3/ASC/Caspase-1 signaling pathway to alleviate depression [PMID:37295570], regulating autophagic dysfunction via AKT signaling for neuroprotection [PMID:41452493], and exerting antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities [PMID:39471979]. Paeoniflorin specifically demonstrates immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects [PMID:32682112, PMID:31610201].
Clinical evidence
Evidence AIrritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Formulas using Atractylodes macrocephala and Paeonia lactiflora as core pairs are effective for global IBS symptom relief [PMID:38186470]
Water extracts and PLE showed neuroprotective effects by regulating gut microbiota (Dubosiella) or improving autophagic flux in mouse models [PMID:40374370, PMID:41452493]
Safety & adverse effects
A genotoxicity assessment indicated that hot-water extracts (PL-W) were not toxic to S. typhimurium or E. coli, but powder extracts (PL-P) produced a mutagenic response in TA100 (absence of S9 mix) and increased chromosomal aberrations in a concentration-dependent manner [PMID:36868693].
Evidence summary
Evidence ranges from high-level systematic reviews for IBS (Level A) to preclinical animal and in vitro studies for neuroprotection and depression (Level D), and clinical assays for skin health (Level B).
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 37295570 (2023) — Paeonia lactiflora Pall. Polysaccharide alleviates depression in CUMS mice by inhibiting the NLRP3/ASC/Caspase-1 signaling pathway and affecting the composition of their intestinal flora. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
2.PMID: 39227108 (2024) — Composite microneedles loaded with Astragalus membranaceus polysaccharide nanoparticles promote wound healing by curbing the ROS/NF-κB pathway to regulate macrophage polarization. · Carbohydrate polymers
3.PMID: 39471979 (2024) — Pharmacological Effects of Paeonia lactiflora Focusing on Painful Diabetic Neuropathy. · Planta medica
4.PMID: 41516097 (2025) — Anti-Aging Efficacy of Low-Molecular-Weight Polydeoxyribonucleotide Derived from Paeonia lactiflora. · International journal of molecular sciences
5.PMID: 36037599 (2022) — A review on natural products with cage-like structure.
Government sources
No direct government monograph is available for this herb. The content below is AI-generated and has not been verified against an authoritative government source. Use the search links to check official sources before relying on this information.
6.PMID: 33558884 (2021) — Chemical Profiling and Antioxidant Evaluation of Paeonia lactiflora Pall. "Zhongjiang" by HPLC-ESI-MS Combined with DPPH Assay. · Journal of chromatographic science
7.PMID: 27279421 (2016) — A Pharmacological Review of Bioactive Constituents of Paeonia lactiflora Pallas and Paeonia veitchii Lynch. · Phytotherapy research : PTR
8.PMID: 40374370 (2025) — Neuroprotective Effects of Paeonia lactiflora Through the Regulation of Gut Dubosiella in an MPTP-Induced Parkinson's Disease Mouse Model. · The American journal of Chinese medicine
9.PMID: 19402674 (2009) — Monoterpene glucosides from Paeonia lactiflora. · Journal of natural products
10.PMID: 39744909 (2024) — Development of specific molecular markers for medicinal peony (Paeonia lactiflora) with double flower. · Journal of genetics
11.PMID: 37872838 (2024) — Protective mechanism of Paeonol on central nervous system. · Phytotherapy research : PTR
12.PMID: 32237400 (2019) — [Textual research on Chinese herbaceous peony in Chinese classical prescriptions]. · Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
13.PMID: 41452493 (2025) — Paeony root prevents 6-hydroxydopamine-induced neurotoxicity by regulating autophagic dysfunction via AKT signaling in Parkinson's disease models. · Metabolic brain disease
14.PMID: 38186470 (2023) — Atractylodes macrocephala-Paeonia lactiflora Class Formula for the Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis. · Cureus
15.PMID: 42258575 (2026) — Monoterpenoids from the roots of Paeonia lactiflora Pall. and their neuroprotective activity. · Natural product research
16.PMID: 25151277 (2015) — Genetic and chemical characterization of white and red peony root derived from Paeonia lactiflora. · Journal of natural medicines
17.PMID: 39053710 (2024) — A review of the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and quality control of Paeonia lactiflora Pall. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
18.PMID: 31610201 (2019) — A review for the anti-inflammatory effects of paeoniflorin in inflammatory disorders. · Life sciences
19.PMID: 36868693 (2023) — Genotoxicity assessment of root extracts of Paeonia lactiflora Pall. · Mutation research. Genetic toxicology and environmental mutagenesis
20.PMID: 32563469 (2020) — Herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) PlDELLA gene negatively regulates dormancy release and plant growth. · Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology
21.PMID: 30144752 (2018) — Advancement in the chemical analysis of Paeoniae Radix (Shaoyao). · Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
22.PMID: 38685513 (2024) — Oleanane and 30-noroleanane triterpenoids from the roots of Paeonia lactiflora. · Fitoterapia
23.PMID: 26540435 (2015) — Role of Bai-Shao towards the antidepressant effect of Chaihu-Shu-Gan-San using metabonomics integrated with chemical fingerprinting. · Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences
24.PMID: 36493668 (2023) — Chaetomium globosum D5 confers salinity tolerance on Paeonia lactiflora Pall. · Journal of plant physiology
25.PMID: 32682112 (2020) — A review on the pharmacokinetics of paeoniflorin and its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. · Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
26.PMID: 31644406 (2020) — Paeonol Derivatives and Pharmacological Activities: A Review of Recent Progress. · Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry
27.PMID: 41780755 (2026) — SIRT1-inhibitory resveratrol trimers from the seeds of Paeonia lactiflora pall. · Fitoterapia
28.PMID: 40718023 (2025) — Peony (Paeonia lactiflora) leaf performance of two cultivars in response to ozone exposure. · Frontiers in plant science
29.PMID: 39701720 (2024) — [Cultivation history and cultivars of medicinal Paeonia lactiflora in China]. · Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
30.PMID: 32371143 (2020) — Total glucosides of paeony: A review of its phytochemistry, role in autoimmune diseases, and mechanisms of action. · Journal of ethnopharmacology