A plant used in Chinese medicine for a varitety of ailments ranging from the common cold to liver problems. Some research has shown this extract to have anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. There is no research showing extracts of this plant have any benefit when applied to skin, though it may have some wound-healing properties for peptic ulcers. It does contain glucoside and polysaccharide, but whether these can affect skin through topical application of the extract is unknown (Sources: Phytotherapy Research, February 2002, pages 91–93; and British Journal of Pharmacology, December 2000, pages 1,285-1,293). See mucopolysaccharide