Research Progress of Paeonol in the Treatment of Respiratory Diseases

Abstract Paeonol is a natural phenolic compound found in plants of the Ranunculaceae family, such as Mudanpi (Moutan Cortex) and Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix). It possesses a wide range of pharmacological activities. Modern research confirms that paeonol exhibits various pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, and immunomodulatory activities, demonstrating unique application value in the treatment of respiratory diseases. With the recent development of nanodelivery systems and derivatives, issues such as low oral bioavailability, poor stability, and short half-life of paeonol have been significantly improved. This article systematically reviews the role and mechanisms of paeonol in treating respiratory diseases such as asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, allergic rhinitis, and pneumonia, analyzing existing application problems and potential solutions, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for its clinical application and further research and development.