Herb Profile

Paeonia Suffruticosa

Paeonia suffruticosa

Paeonia Suffruticosa (Paeonia suffruticosa) carries a Grade C rating — limited evidence.

Last reviewed: 3 sources citedReport a correctionProfile-wide ·C Limited

Use extra caution Immune modulating activity is plausible; use caution with autoimmune disease, transplant medicines, or immunosuppressants. Details

Evidence
Limited Evidence
Typical onset
Varies by prep
Safety rating
High caution
Best for
Anti Inflammatory, Cardiovascular, Inflammatory signaling, Hormonal effects
Avoid / review if
Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Without Clinician Supervision, Known Allergy To The Plant/Family, Hormone Sensitive Conditions Without Clinician Review
Paeonia Suffruticosa monograph visual
Generated profile category visual

At a glance

From this profile's structured data
Evidence
Grade C
Safety
Immune-modulating activity is plausible; use caution with autoimmune disease, transplant medicines, or immunosuppressants.
Profile context
anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular
Next steps

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Safety

Safety & Cautions

Immune modulating activity is plausible; use caution with autoimmune disease, transplant medicines, or immunosuppressants.

High caution

Caution level: High. Multiple caution categories apply, or the record uses avoid/contraindication language.

  • Interaction-AwareMedication or interaction context is explicitly noted.
  • Hormonal Activity ContextHormone-adjacent wording is present and should be interpreted carefully.
  • Pregnancy/Breastfeeding CautionPregnancy or breastfeeding caution language is present.
Detailed safety fields

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and contraindications

  • Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Without Clinician Supervision
  • Known Allergy To The Plant/Family
  • Hormone Sensitive Conditions Without Clinician Review
  • Potential Interaction Concern With Hormonal Therapies
  • Immunosuppressants
  • Use Clinician Review For High Dose Extracts Or Chronic Use.

Safety classifications

  • Interaction-Aware: Medication or interaction context is explicitly noted.
  • Hormonal Activity Context: Hormone-adjacent wording is present and should be interpreted carefully.
  • Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Caution: Pregnancy or breastfeeding caution language is present.

Full safety note

  • Immune modulating activity is plausible; use caution with autoimmune disease, transplant medicines, or immunosuppressants.

Safety labels

  • Interaction-Aware
  • Hormonal Activity Context
  • Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Caution

Evidence

Evidence Summary

Evidence lens

Read as directional context, not settled clinical proof.

LimitedLimited Evidence

Human clinical evidence: Not the primary signal

Mechanistic / preclinical: Mechanism mappedInflammatory Signaling Modulation · Vascular Function Support · Hormonal Signaling Context

Research maturity: Theoretical / mechanistic researchMechanistic or unresolved evidence is kept separate from established human outcomes.

Safety boundary: Safety note availableImmune modulating activity is plausible; use caution with autoimmune disease, transplant medicines, or immunosuppressants.

This profile cites 3 human studies.

Study design details
Evidence Grade

Grade C: Limited Evidence

Evaluation of methodological rigor, population reach, and evidence alignment.

Design Match
Narrative review
Risk of Bias
High
Consistency
Not assessed
Strongest recorded design is a narrative review, drawn from 3 recorded studies, none of which measured an outcome in people.
How evidence grades work

Each grade reflects the strength and consistency of published human evidence — not marketing claims. Grades are based on study count, design quality, effect size, consistency, and recency.

Strong
Multiple RCTs, consistent direction, adequate effect size
Moderate
Some RCTs or consistent observational data in humans
Preliminary / Mixed
Animal or in-vitro only, or conflicting human data
Traditional / Theoretical
Traditional use only; no controlled human trials
Clinical Study Summaries (4)0 human evidence sources · 0 human trials · Participant totals not consistently reported · Consistency not yet classifiable

Filter by study class

Showing 4 of 4 studies.

What the evidence actually shows

This table contains 4 structured sources, including 0 human evidence sources; 0 are human trials.

StudyDesignNDoseDurationPopulationOutcomeResult & magnitudeSource

Peony

PubMed indexed authors · 2006

Background
Narrative review

Summarizes selected literature without the full prespecified search and selection methods of a systematic review.

PubMed

Paeonol: pharmacological effects and mechanisms of action

Zhang L et al. · Int Immunopharmacol · 2019

Background
Narrative review

Summarizes selected literature without the full prespecified search and selection methods of a systematic review.

PubMed

A 2023 review uses Paeonia × suffruticosa and defines Moutan Cortex as the dried root bark, cataloguing extensive chemistry while showing that much of the pharmacology remains preclinical.

Background
Narrative review

Summarizes selected literature without the full prespecified search and selection methods of a systematic review.

A 2023 review uses Paeonia × suffruticosa and defines Moutan Cortex as the dried root bark, cataloguing extensive chemistry while showing that much of the pharmacology remains preclinical.PubMed

Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews root extract ameliorates photoaging via regulating IRS1/PI3K/FOXO pathway

Liu J et al. · Front Pharmacol · 2025

Background
Other / unclear

The study design is not yet classified clearly enough to infer its place in the evidence hierarchy.

PubMed

Dosing & Timing

No standardized dose
Preparation specific; use standardized product label for Preparation varies by tradition and product form and require source backed dosage review before therapeutic claims.
How Paeonia Suffruticosa works

Simplified mechanism pathway based on preclinical and pharmacological evidence. Does not confirm clinical efficacy.

Mechanism Pathway — How Paeonia Suffruticosa Works

How Paeonia Suffruticosa WorksPaeonia Suffruticosa acts on biological target pathways via anti inflammatory, leading to anti inflammatory.Paeonia SuffruticosaBiological TargetBiological pathwayAnti InflammatoryAnti InflammatoryObservable outcomeVascular FunctionSupport
CompoundTarget / ReceptorMechanismEffect / Outcome
Mechanisms & biological pathways (preclinical)
  • Inflammatory Signaling Modulation
  • Vascular Function Support
  • Hormonal Signaling Context
  • NF KB Modulation
  • Nrf2 Activation

Active Compounds

Key constituents studied in Paeonia Suffruticosa, with full pharmacology and safety profiles.

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Explore botanicals with similar chemistry, effects, or safety considerations in the Botanical Activity Atlas.

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Compare & Sourcing

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Safety first · Harm reduction

This information is educational and not medical advice. Start low, avoid risky combinations, and consult a licensed clinician before making health decisions—especially if you use medications, have diagnosed conditions, or are pregnant/breastfeeding.

Learn how we evaluate confidence, safety, and intensity on the methodology page.

Editorial Review

Checked against primary sources, cited evidence, and contraindication language before publication. Evidence claims, safety language, and affiliate modules are reviewed independently. Not personal medical advice.

Editorial Standards →

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