Aucubin

Aucubin is an iridoid glycoside found in numerous medicinal plants, particularly in the Japanese aucuba that gives it its name, ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata), eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis), gypsywort (Lycopus europaeus), and Chinese foxglove (Rehmannia glutinosa). As a natural secondary plant compound, aucubin plays an important role in plant defense – but it is also receiving increasing attention in human medicine. Its effects range from anti-inflammatory and liver-protective to antimicrobial and antioxidant. What makes aucubin particularly exciting: it is currently a focus of naturopathic research, as it is considered a promising compound for liver diseases, viral infections, and age-related cell damage.

What are the benefits of aucubin?

Aucubin is an active compound that, as part of various plants, has been used in traditional medicine for many years. The compound itself has been linked to a range of different effects in various studies. The results of these studies suggest great potential, but they must be interpreted critically, as the results are not readily transferable. Here is a selection of the properties that have been investigated in studies.

  • Liver-protective effect: Studies show that aucubin can protect liver cells from toxic influences (e.g., from medications or environmental toxins) and inhibit inflammatory processes in the liver (1,2,3).
  • Antioxidant cell protection: According to researchers, aucubin acts as a free radical scavenger and can reduce oxidative stress – a decisive factor in chronic inflammation, aging processes, and degenerative diseases (1,2,3,4).
  • Anti-inflammatory effect: Studies suggest an anti-inflammatory effect (1,2,3,4). Kidney-protective effect: Results of scientific investigations point to a kidney-protective effect (3,5)
  • Antibacterial properties: The compound has been shown to inhibit the growth of certain bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus (3,6). Blood pressure regulation: Initial experimental studies suggest a possible blood pressure-lowering effect, which also makes aucubin interesting for cardiovascular health (3,7).
  • Antidiabetic effect: Research suggests that aucubin can have a positive effect on diabetes and blood sugar problems (3,7).

Which plants contain aucubin?

  • Plantago lanceolata (ribwort plantain)
  • Euphrasia officinalis (eyebright)
  • Lycopus europaeus (gypsywort)
  • Rehmannia glutinosa
  • Verbena officinalis (vervain)
  • Aucuba japonica (Japanese aucuba)
  • Verbascum ( mullein)
  • Veronica officinalis (heath speedwell)

These plants are traditionally used for a wide variety of health issues.

Safety and Side Effects

Aucubin is considered largely safe at the usual herbal doses. To date, no serious side effects are known. Nevertheless, targeted intake in concentrated form, such as in extracts, should be discussed with a qualified professional – especially in cases of liver disease or pregnancy.

Conclusion

Aucubin is a remarkable plant compound that has been linked in studies to a broad spectrum of effects – from antioxidant and anti-inflammatory to liver-protective. Its versatility makes it a promising candidate in modern herbal medicine, although far more research is needed before definitive conclusions can be drawn.

Sources:

  1. Zeng, X., Guo, F., & Ouyang, D. (2020). A review of the pharmacology and toxicology of aucubin. Fitoterapia, 140, 104443. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2019.104443
  2. Park, J. H., Lee, T. K., Kim, D. W., Ahn, J. H., Shin, M. C., Cho, J. H., Won, M. H., & Kang, I. J. (2024). Neuroprotective Effects of Aucubin against Cerebral Ischemia and Ischemia Injury through the Inhibition of the TLR4/NF-κB Inflammatory Signaling Pathway in Gerbils. International journal of molecular sciences, 25(6), 3461. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25063461
  3. Kartini, K., Irawan, M. A., Setiawan, F., & Jayani, N. I. E. (2023). Characteristics, Isolation Methods, and Biological Properties of Aucubin. Molecules, 28(10), 4154. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28104154
  4. Shen, B.; Zhao, C.; Wang, Y.; Peng, Y.; Cheng, J.; Li, Z.; Wu, L.; Jin, M.; Feng, H. Aucubin inhibited lipid accumulation and oxidative stress via Nrf2/HO-1 and AMPK signalling pathways. J. Cell. Mol. Med. 2019, 23, 4063–4075.
  5. Potočnjak, I.; Marinić, J.; Batičić, L.; Šimić, L.; Broznić, D.; Domitrović, R. Aucubin administered by either oral or parenteral route protects against cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury in mice. Food Chem. Toxicol. 2020, 142, 111472.
  6. Liao, Y., Chen, F., Xu, L., Dessie, W., Li, J., & Qin, Z. (2022). Study on extraction and antibacterial activity of aucubin from Eucommia ulmoides seed-draff waste biomass. Heliyon, 8(10), e10765. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10765
  7. Jung, E.; Park, S.-B.; Jung, W.K.; Kim, H.R.; Kim, J. Antiglycation activity of aucubin in vitro and in exogenous methylglyoxal injected rats. Molecules 2019, 24, 3653.