title: The genus Boschniakia in China: An ethnopharmacological and phytochemical review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As a group of important medicine plants, Boschniakia rossica (Cham. et Schltdl) Fedtsch. and B. himalaica Hook．f．et Thoms, which are the only two species in the genus Boschniakia (Orobanchaceae), have long been used in traditional Chinese medicine for their multiple therapeutic uses related to enhanced renal function, erectile dysfunction, defaecate and hepatoprotective. Additionally, the two species are also used as dietary supplements in wine, cosmetics, and other healthy food.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  By providing comprehensive information and data of genus Boschniakia on botany, traditional medicinal uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological research and toxicology, this review aims to summary the group of natural compounds from Boschniakia discovered so far. The other aims are to reference research findings of their biological activities and functions in medicine, physiology, and cell biology to highlight the compound candidates which can be used for further drug discovery in several pharmaceutical areas including antioxidation, anticancer, anti-inflammation, anti-senile, and immunology.
  
  
  METHODS
  All of the available information on B. rossica and B. himalaica was collected from the electronic resources (such as PubMed, SciFinder Scholar, CNKI, TPL (www.theplantlist.org), Google Scholar, Baidu Scholar, and Web of Science).
  
  
  RESULTS
  After a comprehensive analysis of the literatures from available online sources, the results show that both species of genus Boschniakia are valuable and popular herbal medicines with potentials to cure various ailments. The phytochemical studies revealed that the chemical compositions of this genus were mainly iridoid glycosides and phenylpropanoid glycosides. To date, 112 compounds have been isolated from the genus, while their crude extracts and purified compounds have been found to possess a wide range of biological activities including anti-senile, antitumor and anticancer, anti-inflammatory, protecting liver, boost memory, anti-oxidation, anti-lipid peroxidative, and antiviral activities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The existing traditional uses of the genus Boschniakia have been evaluated, and the properties of the genus are summarized based on botany, phytochemistry, pharmacological research, and toxicology. This review aims to introduce the utilization and application of the genus Boschniakia to modern drug discovery, traditional medicinal plant utilization, herbal species conservation, and the development of medicinal and health-maintaining products.
authors: Baotou Medical College, Baotou, Inner Mongolia 014060, China.
authors: Le
authors: L
authors: Zhang
authors: Baotou Medical College, Baotou, Inner Mongolia 014060, China.
authors: Yunshan
authors: Y
authors: Zhao
authors: Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77840, United States.
authors: Zhipeng A
authors: ZA
authors: Wang
authors: Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning 530023, China.
authors: Kunhua
authors: K
authors: Wei
authors: Yunnan Institute of Materia Medica, Kunming 650111, China.
authors: Bin
authors: B
authors: Qiu
authors: Baotou Medical College, Baotou, Inner Mongolia 014060, China.
authors: Chunhong
authors: C
authors: Zhang
authors: Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FIBL), CH-5070 Frick, Switzerland. Electronic address: qiyan.wang-mueller@fibl.org.
authors: QiYan
authors: Q
authors: Wang-Müller
authors: Baotou Medical College, Baotou, Inner Mongolia 014060, China; Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning 530023, China; Inner Mongolia Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010000, China. Electronic address: prof_liminhui@yeah.net.
authors: Minhui
authors: M
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D020834:Ethnopharmacology / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000379:methods; D031670:Orobanchaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D064209:Phytochemicals; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Boschniakia; Pharmacology; Phytochemistry; Traditional uses