The medicinal parts of Hovenia include the branches, leaves, seeds and fruits with inflorescence axis. This plant has been used with a long history as traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of alcoholism and liver protection. Modern pharmacological research shows that the crude extracts or pure compounds from Hovenia have anti-alcoholism, hepatoprotective, anti-hyperuricemia, anti-viral and anti-tumor activities, etc. Previous phytochemical studies have indicated that flavonoids, triterpenoid saponins, phenylpropanoids and polysaccharides are the major constituents in this plant. In this paper, we systematically summarized and analyzed the chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Hovenia, providing the scientific evidences for the rational use and comprehensive development of Hovenia.
Keywords: Hovenia; anti-alcoholism and hepatoprotective; anti-viral; flavonoids; phenylpropanoids; triterpenoid saponins.