Asian Journal
Of Traditional Medicines

Apium graveolens, an annual herb belonging to the family of Apiaceae, is widely distributed in North and South America,  Southern Europe, Africa and Asia. Apium graveolens seeds have a rich history in traditional Chinese medicine for treating  hypertension, headaches, vertigo and epilepsy. N-butylphthalide, originally extracted from Apium graveolens seeds, represents  a first-in-class drug developed independently in China. Its broad pharmacological activities on nervous system disorders have  garnered significant attention from researchers globally. This review focuses on the pharmacological research of n-butylphthalide  on central nervous system diseases, including ischemic stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral  sclerosis. The purpose is to pave the way for future study on the mechanistic targets of n-butylphthalide.