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Saikosaponins: a potential treatment option for systemic lupus erythematosus

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Abstract

While the exact cause of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is still unknown, modern medicine has a number of effective treatments for this complex disorder. Corticosteroid hormones help reduce inflammation, antimalarial treatments address flare-ups and immunosuppressive medications work to keep the immune system in check. All these therapies are well tolerated, but accompany an increased risk of infection and nephrotoxicity. Recently, several studies showed that a number of natural and herbal products may also help some SLE patients deal with the debilitating symptoms. In this brief report, we proposed a traditional Chinese medicinal herb—Saikosaponins, and discussed its potential as a treatment option for SLE.

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No competing financial interests exist.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, The First People’s Hospital, Lakeshore New District, Hefei, 230001, Anhui, People’s Republic of China

    G.-C. Wu, H. Wu & L.-Y. Fan

  2. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, People’s Republic of China

    H.-F. Pan

Authors
  1. G.-C. Wu
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  2. H. Wu
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  3. L.-Y. Fan
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  4. H.-F. Pan
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Correspondence to H. Wu.

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Wu, GC., Wu, H., Fan, LY. et al. Saikosaponins: a potential treatment option for systemic lupus erythematosus. Ir J Med Sci 180, 259–261 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-010-0646-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-010-0646-4

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