Monoterpene derivatives from the roots of Paeonia lactiflora and their anti-proliferative activity

A review of the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and quality control of Paeonia lactiflora Pall

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Paeonia lactiflora Pall. (called Shaoyao in China) is a common herb cultivated all over the world. In some Asian and European countries, such as China, Japan, South Korea and Britain, P. lactiflora has a long history of ethnomedical uses, which is widely used to relieve pain, treat gynecological diseases, anti-infection and so on. It is attributed to the extensive pharmacological activities of total glucosides of P. lactiflora. Up to now, it is still commonly used in clinical medicine.

THE AIM OF THE REVIEW

The paper aims to make a comprehensive review on the botanical characterization and distribution, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, biosynthesis pathway, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and quality control of P. lactiflora, so as to provide new insights and scientific evidence for the subsequent research.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The information of P. lactiflora was obtained from books related to traditional Chinese medicine and electronic databases, including Scifinder, PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI and Google Scholar.

RESULTS

P. lactiflora is a kind of herb with a long history and it is used for medicine, food and ornamental, and shows high utilization value. There are 200 compounds have been identified from it, including terpenoids, flavonoids, polyphenols, organic acids and others, among those paeoniflorin, a monoterpenoid glycoside, has multiple activities and is currently the focus of pharmacological research. A great deal of pharmacological experiments supported the anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, antibacterial, antitumor, dermatosis treating and other effects of P. lactiflora. In addition, evaluating the quality of P. lactiflora is essential to safe use of drug in humans.

CONCLUSIONS

The chemical components of P. lactiflora are diverse and have a wide range of activities. Modern pharmacological studies have provided reliable evidence for the traditional efficacy, such as suppressing liver yang, regulating menstruation and relieving pain. However, there are still some problems to be solved, such as part of the pharmacological mechanism has not been clarified and the biosynthetic pathway of cage-like monoterpenoids remains poorly defined. In addition, further studies on compounds other than paeoniflorin are clearly warranted. It is hoped that P. lactiflora will serve the clinic better in the future.

Paeoniae Radix Rubra: A Review of Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, Pharmacological Activities, Therapeutic Mechanism for Blood Stasis Syndrome, and Quality Control

Paeoniae Radix Rubra (PRR) known as Chishao, in China, is the dried root of Paeonia lactiflora Pall. or Paeonia veitchii Lynch, with a history of over 2000 years in traditional Chinese medicine, is employed to clear heat, cool the blood, dispel blood stasis, and alleviate pain. Phytochemical investigations identified 264 compounds that contained monoterpenes and their glycosides, sesquiterpenes, triterpenes, steroids, flavonoids, lignans, tannins, volatile oils, and other compounds. It has been reported to have different pharmacological activities, including cardiovascular-protective, antidepressive, neuroprotective, antitumor, hepatoprotective, and anti-inflammatory effects. This study offers a comprehensive review covering ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, therapeutic mechanism for blood stasis syndrome, and quality control of PRR. The comprehensive analysis aims to achieve a thorough understanding of its effects and serves as a foundation for future research and development.

Chemical Profiling of Shen-Wu-Yi-Shen Tablets Using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS and Its Quality Evaluation Based on UPLC-DAD Combined with Multivariate Statistical Analysis

Shen-Wu-Yi-Shen tablets (SWYST) is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription used for treating chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study aims to characterize the constituents in SWYST and evaluate the quality based on the quantification of multiple bioactive components. SWYST samples were analyzed with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) and a data-processing strategy. As a result, 215 compounds in SWYST were unambiguously identified or tentatively characterized, including 14 potential new compounds. Meanwhile, strategies based on characteristic fragments for rapid identification were summarized, indicating that the qualitative method is accurate and feasible. Notably, the glucose esters of laccaic acid D-type anthraquinone were first found and their fragmentation patterns were described by comparing that of O-glycoside isomers. Besides, based on comparisons of the cleavage ways of mono-acyl glucose with different acyl groups or acylation sites, differences in fragmentation pathways between 1,2-di-O-acyl glucose and 1,6-di-O-acyl glucose were proposed for the first time and verified by reference substances. In addition, a validated UPLC-DAD was established for the determination of 11 major bioactive components related to treatment of CKD (albiflorin, paeoniflorin, 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxy-stilbene-2-O-β-d-glucoside (TSG), 1-O-galloyl-2-O-cinnamoyl-β-d-glucose, emodin-8-O-β-d-glucoside, chrysophanol-O-β-d-glucoside, aloe-emodin, rhein, emodin, chrysophanol and physcion). Moreover, TSG and 1-O-galloyl-2-O-cinnamoyl-β-d-glucose were found as the quality markers related to the origins of SWYST based on multivariate statistical analysis. Conclusively, the findings in this work provide a feasible reference for further studies on quality research and mechanisms of action in treating CKD.

Genus Paeonia monoterpene glycosides: A systematic review on their pharmacological activities and molecular mechanisms

BACKGROUND

Genus Paeonia, which is the main source of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Paeoniae Radix Rubra (Chishao in Chinese), Paeoniae Radix Alba (Baishao in Chinese) and Moutan Cortex (Mudanpi in Chinese), is rich in active pharmaceutical ingredient such as monoterpenoid glycosides (MPGs). MPGs from Paeonia have extensive pharmacological effects, but the pharmacological effects and molecular mechanisms of MPGs has not been comprehensively reviewed.

PURPOSE

MPGs compounds are one of the main chemical components of the genus Paeonia, with a wide variety of compounds and strong pharmacological activities, and the structure of the mother nucleus-pinane skeleton is similar to that of a cage. The purpose of this review is to summarize the pharmacological activity and mechanism of action of MPGs from 2012 to 2023, providing reference direction for the development and utilization of Paeonia resources and preclinical research.

METHODS

Keywords and phrases are widely used in database searches, such as PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar and X-Mol to search for citations related to the new compounds, extensive pharmacological research and molecular mechanisms of MPGs compounds of genus Paeonia.

RESULTS

Modern research confirms that MPGs are the main compounds in Paeonia that exert pharmacological effects. MPGs with extensive pharmacological characteristics are mainly concentrated in two categories: paeoniflorin derivatives and albiflflorin derivatives among MPGs, which contains 32 compounds. Among them, 5 components including paeoniflorin, albiflorin, oxypaeoniflorin, 6'-O-galloylpaeoniflorin and paeoniflorigenone have been extensively studied, while the other 28 components have only been confirmed to have a certain degree of anti-inflammatory and anticomplementary effects. Studies of pharmacological effects are widely involved in nervous system, endocrine system, digestive system, immune system, etc., and some studies have identified clear mechanisms. MPGs exert pharmacological activity through multilateral mechanisms, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, inhibition of cell apoptosis, regulation of brain gut axis, regulation of gut microbiota and downregulation of mitochondrial apoptosis, etc. CONCLUSION: This systematic review delved into the pharmacological effects and related molecular mechanisms of MPGs. However, there are still some compounds in MPGs whose pharmacological effects and pharmacological mechanisms have not been clarified. In addition, extensive clinical randomized trials are needed to verify the efficacy and dosage of MPGs.

Phytochemical Analysis, Biological Activities, and Molecular Docking Studies of Root Extracts from Paeonia Species in Serbia

Without being aware of their chemical composition, many cultures have used herbaceous peony roots for medicinal purposes. Modern phytopreparations intended for use in human therapy require specific knowledge about the chemistry of peony roots and their biological activities. In this study, ethanol-water extracts were prepared by maceration and microwave- and ultrasound-assisted extractions (MAE and UAE, respectively) in order to obtain bioactive molecules from the roots of Paeonia tenuifolia L., Paeonia peregrina Mill., and Paeonia officinalis L. wild growing in Serbia. Chemical characterization; polyphenol and flavonoid content; antioxidant, multianti-enzymatic, and antibacterial activities of extracts; and in vitro gastrointestinal digestion (GID) of hot water extracts were performed. The strongest anti-cholinesterase activity was observed in PT extracts. The highest anti-ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical potential was observed in PP extracts, whereas against DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals), the best results were achieved with PO extracts. Regarding antibacterial activity, extracts were strongly potent against Bacillus cereus. A molecular docking simulation was conducted to gather insights into the binding affinity and interactions of polyphenols and other Paeonia-specific molecules in the active sites of tested enzymes. In vitro GID of Paeonia teas showed a different recovery and behavior of the individual bioactives, with an increased recovery of methyl gallate and digallate and a decreased recovery of paeoniflorin and its derivatives. PT (Gulenovci) and PP (Pirot) extracts obtained by UAE and M were more efficient in the majority of the bioactivity assays. This study represents an initial step toward the possible application of Paeonia root extracts in pharmacy, medicine, and food technologies.

Investigation of the potential curative effects of Gui-Zhi-Jia-Ge-Gen decoction on wind-cold type of common cold using multidimensional analysis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Gui-Zhi-Jia-Ge-Gen decoction (GJGD) is a classical Chinese medicine prescription that has been widely used in clinical practice for centuries. In recent times, TCM has received considerable attention for its potential efficacy in treating a wind-cold type of common cold. However, the effect of the Gui-Zhi-Jia-Ge-Gen decoction on the wind-cold type of common cold is still not fully understood, which presents challenges for both quality control, research and development. Furthermore, the identification of potential pharmacodynamic ingredients (PPIs) is important for developing quality control procedures for industrial and large-scale production.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential curative effect of Gui-Zhi-Jia-Ge-Gen decoction on wind-type of common cold using multidimensional qualitative analysis that combined water-decoction spectrums, in vivo plasma spectrums, and molecular docking to identify key constituents of GJGD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Water-based GJGDs were formulated according to the clinical usage documented in ancient medical texts. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS) was combined with computer-aided modeling screening to identify GJGD PPIs in rats following oral administration. Molecular docking experiments were carried out to predict the binding affinity of the PPIs to tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Finally, the active ingredients of GJGD were further validated through pharmacodynamic experiments by assessing their efficacy in treating a wind-cold type of common cold in rats.

RESULTS

A total of 61 compounds were identified in the GJGD, 8 of which were detected in rat blood samples, providing stronger evidence for PPIs. Molecular docking also confirmed that these 8 compounds had a better affinity for TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β. In animal studies, various doses of the GJGD groups and the positive control groups caused significant elevations (P < 0.05) in the levels of white blood cell count and lymphocyte ratio and caused a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in the monocyte ratio and neutrophilic granulocyte ratio compared to the model group. Organ indexes of the GJGD treated groups were higher than the model group (P < 0.05). Significant neutrophil infiltration, hemorrhage, compensatory vacuole, and interstitium proliferation were observed in the lung tissue of the model group. However, the lung tissues of the various dose groups that received GJGD showed a near normal appearance, except for slight thickening, interstitium proliferation, and compensatory vacuole in some areas. The GJGD was found to be effective against a cold-wind type of common cold, which is in accordance with molecular docking studies suggesting that GJGD may be effective against a cold-wind type of common cold. Finally, based on multidimensional analysis, 8 potential compounds in GJGD were identified as PPIs (puerarin, 3'-hydroxy puerarin, 3'- methoxy puerarin, daidzin, cinnamic acid, paeoniflorin, liquiritin, and glycyrrhizic acid).

CONCLUSION

The present study combined water decoction spectral analysis, molecular docking, and in vivo blood plasma spectrum analysis to develop a multidimensional qualitative approach for the development of GJGD and to assess its effectiveness in a wind type of common cold in Sprague Dawley rats. Meanwhile, 8 compounds in the GJGD were identified as PPIs in this study, which may be useful in developing quality standards for complex TCM prescriptions.

A review on natural products with cage-like structure

Natural products with diverse structures and significant biological activities are essential sources of drug lead compounds, and play an important role in the research and development of innovative drugs. Cage-like compounds have various structures and are widely distributed in nature, especially caged xanthones isolated from Garcinia genus, paeoniflorin and its derivatives isolated from Paeonia lactiflora Pall, tetrodotoxin (TTX) and its derivatives, and so on. In recent years, the development and utilization of cage-like compounds have been a research hotspot in chemistry, biology and other fields due to their special structures and remarkable biological activities. In this review, we mainly summarized the cage-like compounds with various structures found and isolated from natural drugs since 1956, summarized its broad biological activities, and introduced the progress in the biosynthesis of some compounds, so as to provide a reference for the discovery of more novel compounds, and the development and application of innovative drugs.

Genus Paeonia: A comprehensive review on traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, clinical application, and toxicology

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Paeonia, which comprises approximately 52 shrubs or herbaceous perennials around the world, is the only genus of the Paeoniaceae and is pervasively distributed in Asia, southern Europe, and North America. Many species of the genus Paeonia have been used for centuries in ethnomedical medical systems.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

The present study aims to summarize the traditional uses, clinical applications, and toxicology of the genus Paeonia, to critically evaluate the state-of-the-art phytochemical and pharmacological studies of this genus published between 2011 and 2020, and to suggest directions for further in-depth research on Paeonia medicinal resources.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Popular and widely used databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Google Scholar were searched using the various search strings; from these searches, a number of citations related to the traditional uses, phytochemistry, biological activities, clinical application, and toxicology of the genus Paeonia were retrieved.

RESULTS

The use of 21 species, 2 subspecies, and 7 varieties of the genus Paeonia as traditional herbal remedies has been reported, and many ethnomedicinal uses, such as the treatment of hematemesis, blood stasis, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, epilepsy, spasms, and gastritis, have been recorded. The roots and root bark are the most frequently reported parts of the plants used in medicinal applications. In phytochemical investigations, 451 compounds have been isolated from Paeonia plants to date, which contains monoterpenoid glucosides, flavonoids, tannins, stilbenes, triterpenoids and steroids, and phenols. Studies of their pharmacological activities have revealed the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumour, antibacterial, antiviral, cardiovascular protective, and neuroprotective properties of the genus Paeonia. In particular, some bioactive extracts and compounds (total glucosides of peony (TGP), paeonol, and paeoniflorin) have been used as therapeutic drugs or tested in clinical trials. In addition to the "incompatibility" of the combined use of "shaoyao" and Veratrum nigrum L. roots in traditional Chinese medicine theory, Paeonia was considered to have no obvious toxicity based on the available toxicological tests.

CONCLUSION

A large number of phytochemical and pharmacological reports have indicated that Paeonia is an important medicinal herb resource, and some of its traditional uses including the treatment of inflammation and cardiovascular diseases and its use as a neuroprotective agent, have been partially confirmed through modern pharmacological studies. Monoterpenoid glucosides are the main active constituents. Although many compounds have been isolated from Paeonia plants, the biological activities of only a few of these compounds (paeoniflorin, paeonol, and TGP) have been extensively investigated. Some paeoniflorin structural analogues and resveratrol oligomers have been preliminarily studied. With the exception of several species (P. suffruticosa, P. ostii, P. lactiflora, and P. emodi) that are commonly used in folk medicine, many medicinal species within the genus do not receive adequate attention. Conducting phytochemical and pharmacological experiments on these species can provide new clues that may lead to the discovery of medicinal resources. It is necessary to identify the effective phytoconstituents of crude extracts of Paeonia that displayed pharmacological activities by bioactivity-guided isolation. In addition, comprehensive plant quality control, and toxicology and pharmacokinetic studies are needed in the future studies.

Analysis of Chemical Components in the Roots of Eight Intersubgeneric Hybrids of Paeonia

Paeonia cultivars are famous ornamental plants, and some of them are also traditional Chinese medicinal resources. Intersubgeneric hybrids of Paeonia (IHPs) are formed by the hybridization of herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora) and tree peony (Paeonia×suffruticosa or lutea hybrid tree peony). The phenotypic characteristics of IHPs are similar to those of herbaceous peony, and their root systems are large and vigorous. However, their medicinal value has not been reported yet. In this study, the roots of eight IHP samples were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS). A total of 18 compounds were identified, including phenols, paeonols, monoterpene glycosides, and tannins. The contents of monoterpene glycosides and tannins in IHPs were higher than herbaceous peony and tree peony, exceeding 44.76 mg/g DW and 11.50 mg/g DW, respectively. Three IHPs, 'Prairie Charm', 'Garden Treasure', and 'Yellow Emperor', with more types and a higher content of medicinal compounds, were screened out by cluster analysis. These IHPs have considerable potential for the development of medicinal resources.

In vitro and in vivo effects of traditional Chinese medicine formula T33 in human breast cancer cells

Background

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in women worldwide. Although traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is commonly used by patients with breast cancer, little is known about TCM prescriptions for breast cancer. This study investigated the effects of a new TCM formula, T33, comprising Radix Kansui, Rheum rhabarbarum, Paeonia lactiflora, Jiangbanxia, and Zhigancao on breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

Methods

To evaluate the effects of T33 on human breast cancer, HMEpiC, MDA-MB231 and MCF-7 cells were treated with different concentrations of T33 and then analyzed using MTT and Transwell migration assays. To elucidate the involvement of autophagy in the T33-induced death of MDA-MB231 and MCF-7 cells, immunofluorescence staining with LC3-II-specific antibodies was performed. Tumor xenografts were generated by subcutaneously injecting either MDA-MB231 or MCF-7 cells into BALB/c nude mice to determine the effects of T33 on these cell lines in vivo.

Results

The experimental results revealed that 0.1 mg/mL, 0.5 mg/mL, 2.5 mg/mL, 5 mg/mL and 10 mg/mL T33 significantly inhibited the proliferation and invasion of MDA-MB231 and MCF-7 cells. Moreover, significant autophagy was observed in MDA-MB231 and MCF-7 cells in the presence of 2.5 mg/mL, 5 mg/mL and 10 mg/mL T33. An animal study further revealed that both low (200 mg/kg) and high (600 mg/kg) doses of T33 inhibited the proliferation of xenografted breast cancer cells in BALB/c nude mice.

Conclusion

These findings demonstrate for the first time that T33 has potential in the treatment of breast cancer owing to its antiproliferative effects and induction of autophagy.

Monoterpene glycosides with anti-inflammatory activity from Paeoniae Radix

Six new monoterpene glycosides, named 6'-O-nicotinoylalbiflorin (1), 4'-O-vanillylalbiflorin (2), paeonidanin L (3), paeoniflorigenin-1-O-β-d-xyloside (4), 6'-(2-hydroxypropanoyl)-paeoniflorin (5), oxylactiflorin (6), together with 16known ones (7-22) were isolated from the 70% ethanol extract of Paeoniae Radix. Their structures were elucidated based on spectroscopic analysis (1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS, IR and UV), chemical evidences and comparison with literatures. The inhibitory effects of all the isolates were evaluated against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated PGE₂ production in RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Neural network analysis of Chinese herbal medicine prescriptions for patients with colorectal cancer

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an experiential form of medicine with a history dating back thousands of years. The present study aimed to utilize neural network analysis to examine specific prescriptions for colorectal cancer (CRC) in clinical practice to arrive at the most effective prescription strategy. The study analyzed the data of 261 CRC cases recruited from a total of 141,962 cases of renowned veteran TCM doctors collected from datasets of both the DeepMedic software and TCM cancer treatment books. The DeepMedic software was applied to normalize the symptoms/signs and Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) prescriptions using standardized terminologies. Over 20 percent of CRC patients demonstrated symptoms of poor appetite, fatigue, loose stool, and abdominal pain. By analyzing the prescription patterns of CHM, we found that Atractylodes macrocephala (Bai-zhu) and Poria (Fu-ling) were the most commonly prescribed single herbs identified through analysis of medical records, and supported by the neural network analysis; although there was a slight difference in the sequential order. The study revealed an 81.9% degree of similarity of CHM prescriptions between the medical records and the neural network suggestions. The patterns of nourishing Qi and eliminating dampness were the most common goals of clinical prescriptions, which corresponds with treatments of CRC patients in clinical practice. This is the first study to employ machine learning, specifically neural network analytics to support TCM clinical diagnoses and prescriptions. The DeepMedic software may be used to deliver accurate TCM diagnoses and suggest prescriptions to treat CRC.

Hepatotoxic effects of Euphol-rich fractions from Euphorbia bivonae-Relevance to cytotoxic and anti-tumor activities

These studies were designed to evaluate the preliminary oral toxicity profile of the crude ethanolic aerial part extract of E. bivonae in the Male albino Wistar rats and its active chemical constituents. The 24-h LD₅₀ was determined using probit analysis method. The single dose LD₅₀was found to be 2568.64 mg/kg bw when administrated orally in mice. Additionally, the Wistar rats were used to evaluate the subchronic toxicity of E. bivonae ethanolic extract. The serum biomarkers, lipid peroxidation and antioxidants status in liver and histopathological analysis were investigated in normal and treated groups. Subchronic toxicity studies in rats with oral doses of 50, 150, 350 and 500 mg/kg body weight showed significant increase in alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and total bilirubin levels. In addition, the administration of this extract significantly (p < 0.05) decreased superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase and an increment in lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyls. Finally, we suggest that the three compounds of E. bivonae extract (sitosterol, euphol and lupeol) are the mainly responsible of this toxicity.

Structures and Biological Evaluation of Monoterpenoid Glycosides from the Roots of Paeonia lactiflora

Fractionation of an aqueous extract of the air-dried roots of a traditional Chinese medicinal plant, Paeonia lactiflora, yielded the new monoterpenoid glycosides 1-10. Their structures were assigned via spectroscopic techniques, and the absolute configurations of 1, 4-6, and 8 were verified via chemical methods, specific rotation, and electronic circular dichroism data. Compounds 1-4 are rare compared to the reported cage-like paeoniflorin derivatives; that is, they comprised two monoterpenoidal moieties. In the in vitro assay, compounds 5, 8, and 9 showed weak inhibitions against lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production in RAW264.7 macrophages, with IC₅₀ values of 64.8, 60.1, and 97.5 μM, respectively.

Chemical Components and Pharmacological Activities of Terpene Natural Products from the Genus Paeonia

Paeonia is the single genus of ca. 33 known species in the family Paeoniaceae, found in Asia, Europe and Western North America. Up to now, more than 180 compounds have been isolated from nine species of the genus Paeonia, including terpenes, phenols, flavonoids, essential oil and tannins. Terpenes, the most abundant naturally occurring compounds, which accounted for about 57% and occurred in almost every species, are responsible for the observed in vivo and in vitro biological activities. This paper aims to give a comprehensive overview of the recent phytochemical and pharmacological knowledge of the terpenes from Paeonia plants, and enlighten further drug discovery research.

Anti-Influenza Virus Activity and Constituents. Characterization of Paeonia delavayi Extracts

Paeonia delavayi, an endemic species in southwestern China, has been widely used as a traditional remedy for cardiovascular, extravasated blood, stagnated blood and female diseases in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). However, there are no reports on the anti-influenza virus activity of this species. Here, the anti-influenza virus activity of P. delavayi root extracts was first evaluated by an influenza virus neuraminidase (NA) inhibition assay. Meantime, constituents in the active extracts were identified using ultra-high performance liquid coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) and seven major identified constituents were used to further evaluate the NA inhibitory activity. The results showed that the ethyl acetate fraction (EA) and the ethanol fraction (E) of P. delavayi both presented strong NA inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ values of 75.932 μg/mL and 83.550 μg/mL, respectively. Twenty-seven constituents were characterized in these two active extracts by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS analysis, and seven major identified constituents exhibited high activity against the influenza virus. Among them, Benzoylpaeoniflorin (IC₅₀ = 143.701 µM) and pentagalloylglucose (IC₅₀ = 62.671 µM) exhibited the highest activity against the influenza virus, even far stronger than oseltamivir acid (IC₅₀ = 281.308 µM). This study indicated that P. delavayi was a strong NA inhibitor, but cell-based inhibition, anti-influenza virus activity in vivo and anti-influenza virus mechanism still need to be tested and explored.