Document Type
Journal Article
Department/Unit
School of Chinese Medicine
Title
Chemistry, bioactivity and quality control of Dendrobium, a commonly used tonic herb in traditional Chinese medicine
Language
English
Abstract
The fresh or dried stems of many Dendrobium species are well known as one of the most expensive tonics in traditional Chinese medicine. Documented as a "superior grade" herbal medicine in the ancient text "Shen Nong's Herbal Classic", Dendrobium has been used for thousands of years and is now a popular health food worldwide. The main chemical components of Dendrobium are alkaloids, aromatic compounds, sesquiterpenoids and polysaccharides, with multiple biological activities, including immunomodulatory, neuroprotective and anti-tumor effects, etc. Various qualitative and quantitative methods have been developed for the quality evaluation of Dendrobium. In this review, the research progress since the 1930s relating to the chemistry, bioactivity and quality control of Dendrobium is summarized, existing problems and prospects are also discussed. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.
Keywords
Bioactivity, Chemistry, Dendrobium, Quality control
Publication Date
2013
Source Publication Title
Phytochemistry Reviews
Volume
12
Issue
2
Start Page
341
End Page
367
Publisher
Springer Verlag
DOI
10.1007/s11101-013-9310-8
Link to Publisher's Edition
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11101-013-9310-8
ISSN (print)
15687767
ISSN (electronic)
1572980X
Recommended Citation
Xu, Jun, Quan-Bin Han, Song-Lin Li, Xiao-Jia Chen, Xiao-Ning Wang, Zhong-Zhen Zhao, and Hu-Biao Chen. "Chemistry, bioactivity and quality control of Dendrobium, a commonly used tonic herb in traditional Chinese medicine." Phytochemistry Reviews 12.2 (2013): 341-367.