Gleditsia

Other Names

Acacia villaregalisBlack locustBồ KếtCaesalpiniodes heterophyllumCaesalpiniodes macracanthumCaesalpiniodes sinensisCaspian locustChinese honey locustChinese honeylocustCommon honey locustDa Zao JiaoGleditschiaGleditsia amorphoidesGleditsia aquaticaGleditsia australisGleditsia brachycarposGleditsia bujotiiGleditsia caspicaGleditsia delavayiGleditsia elegansGleditsia feraGleditsia feroxGleditsia fontanesiiGleditsia heterophyllaGleditsia horridaGleditsia indicaGleditsia japonicaGleditsia macracanthaGleditsia macranthaGleditsia nanaGleditsia officinalisGleditsia sinensisGleditsia sinensis var. inermisGleditsia sinensis var. majorGleditsia sinensis var. pendulaGleditsia sinensis var. purpureaGleditsia triacanthosGleditsia triacanthos f. brachycarposGleditsia triacanthos f. elegantissimaGleditsia triacanthos f. inermisGleditsia triacanthos var. brachycarposGleditsia triacanthos var. bujotiiGleditsia triacanthos var. feroxGleditsia triacanthos var. horridaGleditsia triacanthos var. inermisGleditsia triacanthos var. laevisGleditsia triacanthos var. polyspermaGleditsia xylocarpaGleditsia × texanaGleditsiae Fructus AbnormalisGleditsiae Sinensis FructusGymnocladus williamsiiHoney locustHoney shucksHoney shucks locustHoneylocustJapanese honey locustMelilobus heterophylaPersian honeylocustSoap beanSoap podSpina GleditsiaeSweet bean treeSweet locustTexas honey locustThornless honey locustThornless honeylocustThorny honey locustThorny honeylocustThorny locustThree-thorned acaciaVachellia villaregalisWater locustZào jiáZao JiaZao Jia YeZao Jia ZiZao JiaoZao Jiao CiZao Jiao Gen PiZhu Ya Zao皂荚皂莢

Synopsis

Gleditsia: A Comprehensive Reference

1. Identity and Botanical Description

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

Gleditsia is a genus of leguminous trees belonging to the subfamily Caesalpinioideae of the family Fabaceae (Leguminosae). The two most medically prominent species worldwide are the North American Gleditsia triacanthos L. (honey locust) and the Asiatic Gleditsia sinensis Lam. (Chinese honey locust). Zao jia is one of 14 species in the Gleditsia genus within the Caesalpinioideae subfamily. Additional species of pharmacological relevance include Gleditsia japonica Miq., Gleditsia caspica Desf., and Gleditsia aquatica Marshall. Of these, Gleditsia caspica is the closest phylogenetic relative of G. sinensis.

Common Names and Synonyms

Gleditsia sinensis is commonly known in China as zào jiá (皂莢; simplified: 皂荚), with English equivalents including Chinese honey locust, soap bean, and soap pod. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) texts, the dried thorn is recorded as Spina Gleditsiae or Zao Jiao Ci, the mature fruit as Da Zao Jiao, and an anomalous small fruit as Zhu Ya Zao. Gleditsia is a leguminous tree, very characteristic for its tufts of thorns growing straight from the trunk and branches.

Morphology and Geographic Distribution

Gleditsia sinensis, known as zào jiá, is a species of flowering plant native to Asia. The tree grows up to 30 m tall. Spines are often branching, robust, terete, conical, and up to 16 cm in length. Leaves are pinnate. Flowers are yellowish-white and polygamous, with male flowers being 9–10 mm in diameter and bisexual flowers being 10–12 mm in diameter with slightly longer petals and sepals; they have 4 petals and 4 sepals.

G. sinensis is a perennial shrub native to China and widely grows in the basin of the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers, as well as Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, and Yunnan provinces of China. The genus can be found as part of wild flora in many regions of southern and eastern Asia, both Americas, and Africa.

Plant Parts Used

Different parts of G. sinensis, named Da Zao Jiao (fruit), Zhu Ya Zao (anomalous fruit), Zao Jia Zi (seed), Zao Jia Ye (leaf), Zao Jiao Ci (thorn), and Zao Jiao Gen Pi (radix cortexes), have long been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Among them, Gleditsiae Sinensis Fructus (Da Zao Jiao), Gleditsiae Fructus Abnormalis (Zhu Ya Zao), and Spina Gleditsiae (Zao Jiao Ci) are officially recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia.

Common Preparations and Dosage Forms

Fructus Gleditsiae is produced in northeastern, midwestern, and mideastern China; it is collected in autumn when the fruit is ripe, dried in sunlight, sliced, and used unprepared. Traditional preparations include water decoctions, powders, honey-fried preparations, vinegar pastes for topical use, and nasal insufflations. Honey-fried Zao Jia is a traditional preparation in which stir-frying with honey moderates the herb's nature and makes it better suited for cough treatment. Herbal prescriptions such as Gleditsia ointment, Gleditsia pulvis, Gleditsia pill, "Zao Jia Tong Luo Pian," and "Liu Wei Tong Luo Yin" — which are mainly composed of G. sinensis — are recognized preparations used for specific conditions in Chinese clinical practice. The seeds of G. triacanthos are also processed to yield a galactomannan gum that has attracted interest as a pharmaceutical and food-grade hydrocolloid.

2. Traditional and Historical Use

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Gleditsia sinensis is one of the "50 fundamental herbs" used in traditional Chinese medicine. It has been used in China for at least 2,000 years as a detergent. The herbal name of Spina Gleditsiae was first documented in Tu Jing Ben Cao by Su in about 1061 AD.

In China, Spina Gleditsiae is traditionally used by TCM doctors as a source of drugs for treating symptoms associated with acute mastitis, skin ulcer, inflammation of the sublingual soft tissue, acute tonsillitis, and cancer. According to the Compendium of Materia Medica, one of the most authoritative TCM encyclopedias, Spina Gleditsiae is able to treat scrofula, dysuria, acute mastitis, and retained afterbirth.

The thorns of Gleditsia sinensis (Leguminosae) have been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory diseases including swelling, suppuration, carbuncle, and skin diseases. In TCM pharmacology the fruit is characterized as pungent in flavor, warm in property, and slightly toxic, acting on the Lung and Large Intestine channels. Its attributed functions include eliminating phlegm, opening the orifices, and awakening the spirit.

In China through the centuries, Spina Gleditsiae has been traditionally used as a source of drugs for anticancer, detoxication, detumescence, apocenosis, and antiparasitic effects. In China through the centuries it has been traditionally used for anticancer, detoxication, detumescence, apocenosis, and antiparasites effects. The fruit in powdered or decocted forms has been employed to treat constipation and to expel intestinal parasites, as well as applied externally as a paste with vinegar for boils and abscesses.

G. sinensis is documented in various editions of the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China from 1965 to 2015, and is also used as a local medicine in Korea.

Japanese and Korean Traditions

G. japonica, which grows in many areas of China such as Hunan, Jiangxi, Liaoning, Shandong, and Jiangsu provinces, as well as Korea and Japan, has long been known as a diuretic and expectorant. It has been an important herbal medicine with various medicinal properties in traditional and folk medicinal systems of East Asian countries, such as China, Korea, and Japan.

North American Indigenous Use

G. triacanthos has also been used as a local medicine for treatment of whooping cough, aches, measles, smallpox, and difficult labor among Native Americans. Prior to European classification, Native American communities utilized Gleditsia pods for food and medicine, harvesting the dried pulp as a supplementary sweetener and minor food source, while bark decoctions treated ailments like whooping cough.

Detergent and Cosmetic Use

Gleditsia has high economic, medicinal, and ecological value, and has been used as a detergent in China for thousands of years. The saponin-rich pods of G. sinensis generate a lathering foam when mixed with water and were historically used across China in lieu of soap for washing clothing, hair, and skin.

3. Key Constituents and Active Compounds

Overview of Phytochemistry

More than 60 compounds including triterpenes, sterols, flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolics and their derivatives were isolated from Gleditsia japonica Miq., Gleditsia sinensis Lam., Gleditsia caspica Desf., and Gleditsia triacanthos L. Among these compounds, triterpenoid saponins were the main constituents of Gleditsia species.

More than eighty compounds belonging to flavonoids, triterpenoidal saponins, alkaloids, lignans, or coumarins were isolated from G. triacanthos L., G. sinensis Lam., G. caspica Desf., G. aquatica Marshall, and G. japonica Miq. during the period from 2015 to 2021 alone.

Triterpenoid Saponins

Triterpenes, alkaloids, and sterols were isolated from Gleditsia species. Among them, triterpenoid saponins are very important metabolites owing to their various pharmacological activities. Six bisdesmosidic triterpenoidal saponins — gleditsiosides H–K and gleditsia saponins C' and E' — were isolated from the anomalous fruits of Gleditsia sinensis, with their structures established by a combination of extensive NMR studies and chemical degradation. Over 30 compounds of triterpenoid saponins were identified in the tissues of G. sinensis. The specific gleditsioside designations span letters A through Q, each with distinct structural features and, in some cases, distinct biological activities.

Flavonoids

The largest group of flavonoids found in the genus Gleditsia is flavone glycosides. In 2007, three flavones were isolated and identified from G. sinensis. Eight flavone glycosides and two flavone aglycones — vicenin-I, vitexin, isovitexin, orientin, isoorientin, luteolin-7-O-ß-glucopyranoside, luteolin-7-O-ß-galactopyranoside, apigenin-7-O-ß-glucopyranoside, luteolin, and apigenin — were isolated from the aqueous ethanol extract of G. triacanthos L. leaves. Fisetin, a key bioactive compound found in Gleditsiae Spina, has been demonstrated to play a significant role in the treatment of pancreatic cancer according to network pharmacology analyses.

Phenolic Compounds and Ellagic Acid Derivatives

Two ellagic acid glycosides — 3-O-methylellagic acid-4′-(5′′-acetyl)-α-L-arabinofuranoside and 3-O-methylellagic acid-4′-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside — and three phenolic acid relatives (ethyl gallate, (–)-epicatechin, and caffeic acid) have been reported from the spines of G. sinensis. Additionally, one alkaloid, cytochalasin H, was obtained through activity-guided fractionation on Spina Gleditsiae.

Flavonoids in Heartwood: Fisetin, Fustin, and Gledistin

Wood raspings from the heartwood of G. japonica were extracted with methanol or ethyl acetate; in these extracts, fisetin, fustin, and gledistin were identified as components of the heartwood. Similarly, the wood of G. triacanthos contains fustin and fisetin.

Galactomannans (Seed Polysaccharides)

Galactomannans — storage polysaccharides isolated from the seed endosperm of some Leguminosae — are composed of a linear mannan main chain with side chains of a single galactose. Seeds of Gleditsia species have alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, and galactomannan as the main carbohydrate. The pods of G. triacanthos have a mannose-to-galactose (M/G) ratio of 2.81:1. This ratio distinguishes the Gleditsia galactomannan from guar gum (M/G ~1.8:1) and traditional locust bean gum from Ceratonia siliqua (M/G ~3.5:1), giving it unique rheological properties.

Lignans and Coumarins

A new aromatic glycoside and a new natural product, neolignan, along with twenty-three known compounds, were isolated from the thorns of Gleditsia sinensis. The dried spines of Gleditsia sinensis Lam. (Gleditsiae Spina) mostly contain flavonoids, phenolic acids, terpenoids, steroids, and other chemical components.

4. Mechanisms of Action

Anti-tumor Mechanisms

The possible mechanisms of antitumor action described in the literature include causing cytotoxicity to cancer cells, inhibition of proliferation of cancer cells by affecting their growth, regeneration and apoptosis, inhibition of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and nitric oxide (NO), and modulation of oncogenic expression and telomerase activity.

In vitro, the saponin fraction of G. sinensis (SFGS), at concentrations of 1, 3, and 10 µg/mL without significant cytotoxicity on endothelial cells, significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and tube formation of HUVECs induced by bFGF (10 ng/mL). It moderately arrested the cell cycle to G1 phase but greatly induced cell apoptosis and increased the expressions of caspases-3, caspase-8, and Fas but not caspase-9 in HUVECs. Moreover, SFGS did not affect the bFGF-induced autosecretion of VEGF from endothelial cells.

Anti-inflammatory Mechanisms

Western blot analysis and immunostaining showed that AKT phosphorylation increased by exposure to LPS was significantly decreased by the presence of G. sinensis extract. Additionally, p65 intracellular transport was critically inhibited by G. sinensis extract. These findings indicate that the NF-κB signaling pathway is a key target. Transcription of genes encoding pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1β, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in mesenteric lymph nodes and the spleen were increased by DSS treatment, whereas they were inhibited by the presence of G. sinensis extract in animal studies.

Cardiovascular and Lipid-Modifying Mechanisms

Research into the cardiovascular effects of G. sinensis thorn extract has demonstrated that it can inhibit vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and TNF-α-induced MMP-9 expression. Findings from an animal study suggest that G. sinensis fruit aqueous extract (GAE) can effectively attenuate atherosclerotic lesions at least through anti-hyperlipidemic activity, suggesting therapeutic potential in treating hyperlipidemia-related cardiovascular diseases.

Anti-adipogenic Mechanisms

During the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells (an in vitro model of adipogenesis), G. sinensis fruit ethanol extract (GFE) significantly reduced lipid accumulation and downregulated master adipogenic transcription factors, including CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-α and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), at both mRNA and protein levels.

Galactomannan: Physicochemical Mechanisms

The galactomannan isolated from G. triacanthos seeds is a non-conventional hydrocolloid exhibiting shear-thinning behaviour across a range of concentrations and shear rates. These findings lead to the conclusion that G. triacanthos galactomannan can be used as an efficient thickening hydrocolloid as an alternative to conventional galactomannans.

5. Scientific Evidence by Area of Use

5.1 Oncology / Anti-tumor Activity

Evidence level: Predominantly preclinical (in vitro and animal models); no completed randomized controlled trials in humans identified.

According to a systematic mini-review of Spina Gleditsiae published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2016), Spina Gleditsiae contains bioactive phytochemical components accounting for a variety of medicinal values including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiatherogenic, antimicrobial, antiallergic, and antivirus activities.

Using a rat HCC model implanted with cancerous Walker-256 cells, the therapeutic effects of G. sinensis extract (GSE) were assessed, as well as its regulatory effects on miRNAs. GSE significantly restored liver morphology and dramatically induced cell apoptosis in HCC rats. In addition, miR-21/181b/183 was upregulated in the HCC liver, and the elevation of these miRNAs could be alleviated by both GSE and sorafenib. PTEN/TIMP3/PDCD4 downregulation was consistent with the targets of miR-21/181b/183 in the HCC liver, and the alteration of these target genes was restored by both GSE and sorafenib. This was a rodent study and not a human clinical trial.

Several compounds isolated for the first time from G. sinensis thorns showed cytotoxic effects on human ovarian cancer (SKOV-3) cells, with IC50 values ranging from approximately 15 to 80 µM depending on the compound.

The ethanol extract of G. triacanthos leaves demonstrated potent cytotoxic activity against larynx, breast, cervix, liver, and colon cancer cell lines in vitro. This supports folk medicine use as an anticancer agent but remains in vitro evidence only.

In a published in vitro study, SFGS at concentrations of 1, 3, and 10 µg/mL without significant cytotoxicity on endothelial cells significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and tube formation of HUVECs induced by bFGF. It moderately arrested the cell cycle to G1 phase but greatly induced cell apoptosis and increased the expressions of caspases-3, caspase-8, and Fas but not caspase-9 in HUVECs.

A 2023 study used network pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations to systematically reveal the potential active components and molecular mechanisms of Gleditsiae Spina for treating pancreatic cancer. Gleditsiae Spina has been traditionally used as a herbal remedy or formula for the treatment of colon, lung, and liver cancers. This type of analysis is computational and hypothesis-generating rather than clinical evidence.

Further phytochemical evaluation, safety verification, and clinical trials are expected to be necessary to progress Spina Gleditsiae-based development and finally transform the traditional TCM herb into a valuable authorized drug.

5.2 Anti-inflammatory Activity

Evidence level: In vitro and animal studies; no published controlled human trials identified.

A published study investigated the synergic anti-inflammatory activity of G. sinensis extract (GS) and Lactobacillus brevis KY21 both in vitro and in vivo, using a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced mouse model. Body weight, food intake, and clinical scores were dramatically decreased after treatment with DSS, whereas these effects were alleviated by the addition of GS extract. This was a murine study, not a human trial.

Phytochemical studies carried out on Gleditsia fruits indicated the presence of triterpenoidal saponins, which possess anti-inflammatory activity.

5.3 Cardiovascular and Lipid-Lowering Activity

Evidence level: Animal studies only; no human clinical trials identified.

To evaluate the effects of Gleditsia sinensis Lam. fruit aqueous extract (GAE) on hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis, Japanese white rabbits on a high-fat diet were used. Rabbits were divided into four groups: a normal control with a normal diet, a high-fat diet-fed model group, and GAE-treated groups supplemented with GAE at 6 or 12 mg/kg/day (orally). The serum lipid profile, including triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), was determined at weeks 0, 4, 8, and 14. The findings suggest that GAE can effectively attenuate atherosclerosis at least through anti-hyperlipidemic activity. This was an animal study with no human data.

G. sinensis is also used in a traditional Chinese medicine formulation — "Zao Jia Tong Luo Pian" (≥40% of the entire preparation) — as an antithrombosis agent.

5.4 Anti-adipogenic Activity

Evidence level: In vitro cell culture only.

G. sinensis has been used in Oriental medicine for tumor, thrombosis, inflammation-related disease, and obesity. The pharmacological inhibitory effects of fruits of G. sinensis (GFE) on hyperlipidemia have been reported, but its inhibitory effects on adipogenesis and underlying mechanisms were evaluated in a 3T3-L1 cell study. Results showed downregulation of PPARγ and C/EBPα, demonstrating potential anti-fat-accumulation activity at the cellular level.

5.5 Antimicrobial Activity

Evidence level: In vitro only.

Pharmacological studies revealed that crude extracts and purified molecules of Gleditsia species possess a wide spectrum of biological activities, involving anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-hyperlipidemic, analgesic, antimutagenic, anti-HIV, antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal activities, confirmed by various in vivo animal and in vitro studies. Antibacterial activity has been demonstrated for phenolic compounds isolated specifically from the spines of G. sinensis, and anti-HIV activity has been attributed to a lupane-type triterpene acid isolated from G. sinensis. These remain laboratory findings.

5.6 Antiallergic Activity

Evidence level: In vitro and animal model studies.

The ethanol extract of G. sinensis has been investigated for antiallergic and anti-inflammatory properties in cell-based studies. Spina Gleditsiae extracts or their isolated constituents have been known to demonstrate antimutagenic, antimicrobial, anti-HIV, anti-inflammatory, antitumour, and cardioprotective activities in published laboratory studies.

5.7 Pharmaceutical Excipient Use (Galactomannan Gum)

Evidence level: In vitro pharmaceutical technology studies — this represents material science rather than clinical efficacy.

Honey locust gum (HLG) obtained from Gleditsia triacanthos beans has been investigated as a hydrophilic matrix material in tablets prepared at different concentrations (5% and 10%) by wet granulation method. Theophylline was chosen as a model drug, and the matrix tablets containing hydroxyethylcellulose and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose as sustaining polymers at the same concentrations were prepared and compared to a commercial sustained-release tablet containing 200 mg theophylline. This line of investigation concerns the use of G. triacanthos galactomannan as a controlled-release excipient in oral dosage forms, not as an active medicinal agent.

6. Body Systems and Health Areas

Respiratory system: Many species in the Gleditsia genus have been identified and are used as traditional diuretics and expectorants. The fruit (Zao Jia) is classified in TCM as a phlegm-transforming agent for cough and dyspnea with copious sputum.
Integumentary system (skin): The thorns of G. sinensis have been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory diseases including swelling, suppuration, carbuncle, and skin diseases.
Oncology: The thorns of Gleditsia sinensis are historically used as a traditional Chinese medicine for their anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antitumor properties.
Cardiovascular system: G. sinensis has been used in traditional Chinese medicine as a chief ingredient of many polyherbal formulations for the treatment of obesity and thrombosis.
Gastrointestinal system: Plants in the genus Gleditsia have been used in traditional medicines in many regions, especially in China, for the treatment of measles, indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, hematochezia, and dysentery.
Immune system: The biological activity of chemical compounds from G. sinensis has been shown to be anti-mutagenic, anti-HIV, and anti-tumor.
Nervous system / consciousness: The fruit is used in TCM for resuscitation and restoration of consciousness in emergency states associated with excess phlegm obstructing the orifices.

7. Dosage Forms and Dosages Reported in Studies

The following dosage information reflects what has been recorded in the cited sources and does not constitute a dosage recommendation.

Traditional Chinese decoction (Zao Jia fruit): 1–1.5 grams in decoction; 0.6–1.5 grams in powder form, according to Chen's Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica.
Traditional TCM limit (fruit — hemolytic risk): Doses in excess of 30 grams can lead to hemolytic anemia.
Animal atherosclerosis study (fruit aqueous extract): GAE-treated rabbit groups were supplemented with GAE at 6 or 12 mg/kg/day, given orally.
In vitro anti-angiogenesis study (saponin fraction): SFGS was tested at concentrations of 1, 3, and 10 µg/mL without significant cytotoxicity on endothelial cells.
In vitro anti-angiogenesis (individual gleditsiosides): Among the 13 saponin compounds tested, gleditsiosides B, I, J, O, and Q showed inhibition of tube formation at a concentration of 3 µM, and only gleditsioside B exerted significant inhibition at 1 µM.
Pharmaceutical excipient (honey locust gum tablets): Honey locust gum was incorporated into tablet matrices at concentrations of 5% and 10% by wet granulation.

8. Safety Considerations and Toxicology

Toxicity Classification

The fruit of G. sinensis is pungent in flavor, warm in property, and considered slightly poisonous. This herb is considered toxic. The thorns (Spina Gleditsiae / Zao Jiao Ci) are distinguished from the fruit in their toxicity classification; Zao Jiao Ci (the thorn) should not be confused with the fruit of the same tree. The mature pod (Zao Jia) and the smaller, undeveloped fruit (Zhu Ya Zao) are different medicinal substances with different properties, classifications, and toxicity profiles.

Overdose Effects

Overdose can lead to dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, restlessness, diarrhea, burning sensation of the epigastrum, irritability, and weak extremities. Severe case symptoms include dehydration, shock, tachypnea, palpitations, spasms, delirium, respiratory paralysis, and renal failure due to hemolysis.

Hemolytic Potential

Doses in excess of 30 grams can lead to hemolytic anemia. Triterpenoid saponins as a chemical class are known to have membrane-disruptive properties, and the saponin content of G. sinensis preparations is the primary pharmacological basis for this risk.

Contraindications

The fruit is contraindicated during pregnancy and in patients with Qi and Yin Deficiency. Overdose should be avoided, and the herb is only used in robust constitutions; it should be avoided in those with Qi or Yin deficiency.

Species Substitution Concerns

Thorns from other Gleditsia species, such as G. japonica (Shan Zao Jia), may occasionally be substituted, but they differ in chemical composition and therapeutic strength.

Herb-Drug Interactions

Possible herb-drug interaction results in poor absorption of both herb and co-administered drugs. Specific pharmacokinetic interaction data are not well characterized in the current literature.

Evidence Gaps and Research Limitations

Most of the studies on Zao Jiao Ci were conducted in the lab or in the early stages of research, and thus cannot be used as evidence of clinical facts. A responsible article or product description should not claim that Zao Jiao Ci can cure inflammation, tumors, or replace drugs for treatments.

The active constituents are ambiguous, mostly attributed to crude extracts or saponin fractions, and there is not enough evidence regarding purified molecules and their pharmacological actions. Therefore, further study is required to elucidate the bioactive actions of the exact pure constituents.

References

Health Conditions

Health conditions that Gleditsia may help support.

No conditions available.

Body Systems

Body systems that Gleditsia may help support.

No body systems available.