Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Activities of (F.A. Wolf) Ryvarden & Gilb.

is the dried sclerotium of  (F.A. Wolf) Ryvarden & Gilb., which was the current accepted name and was formerly known as  (Schwein.) I. Johans. & Ryvarden,  (Schwein.) Fr.,  F.A. Wolf and  Schwein. It is one of the most important crude drugs in traditional Chinese medicine, with a wide range of applications in ameliorating phlegm and edema, relieving nephrosis and chronic gastritis and improving uneasiness of minds. Its extensive pharmacological effects have attracted considerable attention in recent years. However, there is no systematic review focusing on the chemical compounds and pharmacological activities of . Therefore, this review aimed to provide the latest information on the chemical compounds and pharmacological effects of , exploring the therapeutic potential of these compounds. We obtained the information of from electronic databases such as SCI finder, PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang DATA and Google Scholar. Up to now, two main active ingredients, triterpenes and polysaccharides of , have been identified from . It has been reported that they have pharmacological effects on anti-tumor, anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulation, and liver and kidney protection. The review summarizes the phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of , which suggest that researchers should focus on the development of new drugs about to make them exert greater therapeutic potential.