(SST), also known as minor bupuleurum formula and xiǎocháihútāng (XCHT) (), is a Chinese classic herbal formula. It is treated as a herbal supplement in the west, but is widely prescribed in China and is one of the standard Kampo formulas in Japan. There are currently ongoing clinical trials for SST at University of California, San Diego and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. The active ingredients of SST discovered so far include baicalin, baicalein, glycyrrhizin, saikosaponins, ginsenosides, wogonin, and gingerol.
As an over-the-counter Chinese patent medicine it is listed in the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China. One dried, soluble form lists chai-hu/saiko (dried Bupleurum chinense or scorzonerifolium root), huangqin (dry Scutellaria baicalensis stem), banxia (Pinellia ternata), ginger, licorice, jujube, and Codonopsis pilosula as ingredients. This form is standardized to contain at least 20 mg baicalin per serving. Some formulae use ginseng instead of C. pilosula.方剂学，段富津主编，上海科学技术出版社，1995.6.
It is first recorded in Shanghan Lun , indicated for illness in the "lesser yang" meridian. It has some antidepressant-like effects.Li, F. M., & Gao, Z. G. (1996). 90 cases of xiaochaihutang treatment for depression in clinical. Shanxi J.Traditional Chin.Med., 10-11."Jia et al., 2009 C.X. Jia, K.F. Zhang, L. Yu, G.Q. Sun Antidepressant-like effects of Xiaochaihutang on Post stroke depression in clinical Zhejiang J. Tradit. Chin. Med., 44 (2009), pp. 105–106
Sho-saiko-to has been studied extensively in patients with hepatitis B, but the quality of studies were very low. Key indicators such as mortality, morbidity, and serious adverse events are rarely reported. Many studies do not even have their design and conduct stated clearly.
References
Further reading New York Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. "Sho-saiko-to". Wen, Dan. "Sho-saiko-to, a Clinically Documented Herbal Preparation for Treating Chronic Liver Disease". HerbalGram: The Journal of the American Botanical Council, Issue: 73 Pages: 34–43, 2007.