Bupleurum
0 foods contain this ingredient
This is an alphabetical list, not a ranking. Add KL+ to rank foods for your pet in the Food Finder.
About Bupleurum
Bupleurum is a Chinese medicine root added to some pet supplements for purported liver and digestive support, not used as a nutrient source.
Bupleurum is an herbal botanical (used in traditional Chinese medicine) sometimes added to pet supplements or functional diets for its purported liver-supporting, anti-inflammatory and digestive-regulating properties rather than as a nutrient source. Evidence in dogs and cats is limited, so any benefits are theoretical; bupleurum can interact with medications, may cause gastrointestinal upset or rare adverse liver reactions, and should be used only under veterinary guidance—especially in pregnant animals or pets on concurrent drugs.
- Derived from
- Bupleurum spp. root
- Primary role
- traditional liver-supportive and anti-inflammatory botanical
Why it's used
Bupleurum root is a longstanding component of traditional Chinese and Japanese herbal formulas, typically combined with other botanicals for colds, fever, digestive complaints, and chronic liver conditions. Its saikosaponin compounds are the focus of laboratory research into anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating activity, which is why veterinary herbalists have extended its use to pets as a liver-support ingredient, though this rationale is extrapolated rather than established in companion animals.
Common concerns
- Liver injury reports Human case reports describe liver injury associated with high-dose bupleurum or bupleurum-containing formulas such as Sho-saiko-to (Xiao Chai Hu Tang), and rodent studies found dose-dependent liver cell damage from bupleurum saponin extracts.
- Immunosuppressant and corticosteroid interaction Bupleurum is described as potentially increasing immune activity and inhibiting corticosteroid metabolism, which herbal-interaction references flag as a concern alongside drugs like cyclosporine, tacrolimus, or prednisolone.
- Cytochrome P450 enzyme effects Animal studies indicate bupleurum can induce CYP2E1, CYP2D6, and CYP3A4 enzymes, which are involved in metabolizing many other medications, raising the possibility of altered drug levels when combined.
- No dog- or cat-specific pharmacology data A veterinary trade publication notes that pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies of bupleurum in cats and dogs do not exist, so appropriate dosing and interaction risks in those species remain unresolved.
Also relevant
Veterinary commentary has also pointed out that supplement labels often lack warnings about bupleurum content, which can make it easy for owners to omit mentioning it when a vet is evaluating a jaundiced or ill pet.
3 sources cited
- Traditional uses, saikosaponin mechanism, human case reports of liver injury, and cytochrome P450 enzyme interactions
- Lack of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic data in cats and dogs, rodent hepatotoxicity findings, saikosaponin as the likely toxic agent, and label warning gaps for clinicians
- Interaction with immunosuppressants and corticosteroids via 11-beta-HSD inhibition and immune stimulation
Common Questions
What category is Bupleurum?
Bupleurum is categorized as a herb ingredient in the KibbleLab database.
Is Bupleurum part of an allergen group?
No allergen group is linked to Bupleurum in the KibbleLab database.
Which foods contain Bupleurum?
0 foods in the KibbleLab database contain Bupleurum.
Foods with Bupleurum
Alphabetical by brand. Scores run 0 to 10, higher is better, on published veterinary science.
No foods in the KibbleLab database contain Bupleurum right now.
Find the right food for your pet
Sign in free to sort and filter by score, and avoid or require Bupleurum in the Food Finder. Add KL+ to see these foods ranked for your pet's breed, age, and health focus.
Continue with Google
Continue with Facebook