title: Chaenomeles speciosa: A review of chemistry and pharmacology.
abstract: Chaenomeles speciosa(Sweet) Nakai (C. speciosa, Rosaceae family) is an effective medicinal plant, which has long been used in China to treat various diseases, such as rheumatism, cholera, dysentery, enteritis, beriberi and vitamin C deficiency syndrome. A series of chemical constituents, including triterpenoid, phenolic and phenylpropionic acids, flavonoids, saccharides, essential oils and alkaloids, have been isolated from this plant and some have already been evaluated for their biological activities. Pharmacological investigations demonstrated thatC. speciosapossesses anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antimicrobial, antioxidant, immunoregulatory, antiparkinsonian, hepatoprotective and antitumor properties. The objective of this review was to summarise available up-to-date and comprehensive information onC. speciosaand provide a relevant reference for further investigations.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Shu-Ya
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Li-Ya
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hai-Liang
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Xin
keywords: Chaenomeles speciosa; chemical composition; pharmacological activity