Junqing Wang, Ruizhen Liu, Kaiyuan Wu, Jinli Xing, Xia Lei, Xiaoliang Li
P. chinensis is a medicinal and edible plant with rich bioactive constituents and diverse pharmacological activities, and its traditional medicinal value is supported by modern pharmacological research. Although recent research has made progress, there are still some deficiencies in P. chinensis, including limited isolation studies of new compounds, incomplete elucidation of some pharmacological mechanisms, and the need for toxicological and safety evaluation. Future research should address these issues to fully realize its medicinal potential and value.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: P. chinensis, a perennial evergreen epiphytic herb belonging to the genus Pholidota (Orchidaceae), is a medicinal and edible homologous plant with a long history of folk medicinal use. It exhibits traditional therapeutic effects, including nourishing Yin and clearing heat, promoting diuresis and dissipating stasis, and reducing swelling and pain due to traumatic injuries. As a nutrient-rich plant with various bioactive constituents, it has important research value for the excavation and utilization of ethnic medicinal resources.
AIM OF THE STUDY: This paper reviews the research progress on the phytochemistry, pharmacology, traditional use, and applications of P. chinensis to provide a scientific basis for its rational utilization and further research.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The information on P. chinensis was obtained from books related to traditional Chinese medicine and electronic databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wanfang. Visualization analysis of studies on P. chinensis was conducted using VOSviewer.
RESULTS: P. chinensis is rich in a variety of bioactive constituents, including fatty acids, minerals, trace elements, as well as phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, phenanthrenes, stilbenes, and bibenzyls. Among these, phenanthrenes, stilbenes, and bibenzyls are its characteristic components. These bioactive constituents endow P. chinensis with multiple pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antitumor (in vivo and in vitro), and analgesic (in vivo and clinical research). In addition, the plant has been widely used in folk medicine, and its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and analgesic properties are highly consistent with its traditional medicinal uses.
CONCLUSION: P. chinensis is a medicinal and edible plant with rich bioactive constituents and diverse pharmacological activities, and its traditional medicinal value is supported by modern pharmacological research. Although recent research has made progress, there are still some deficiencies in P. chinensis, including limited isolation studies of new compounds, incomplete elucidation of some pharmacological mechanisms, and the need for toxicological and safety evaluation. Future research should address these issues to fully realize its medicinal potential and value.