Abstract: Chai-Hu is one of the most popular Chinese traditional drugs used ever since the ancient time and is prescribed principally in the treatment of fevers and influenza. In this article, the authors report a new species, Bupleurum luxieuse Y. Li et S. L. Pan which was discovered in Yunnan Province and used as Chinese drug under the name of Chai-Hu. The morphology was analysed and preliminary phytochemical tests of B. luxiense were carried out. The thin layer chromatograms and gas chromatograms of the essential oil and the qualitative analysis of the saikosaponin of this new species are similar to those of Bupleurum chinense DC., a standard material medica of Chai-Hu. Moreover, the roots of B. luxiense is discovered to have saikoside 2 times more than B. chinense. The results suggest that the new species be used as a substitute of high quality for Chai-Hu.

Key words: Bupleurum, Bupleurum luxiense, essential oil, saikosaponin