FOOD SCIENCE ›› 2020, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (13): 346-354.doi: 10.7506/spkx1002-6630-20190719-244

• Reviews • Previous Articles    

Recent Progress in Research on Agriophyllum squarrosum (L.) Moq.

XU Haiyan, FENG Xinhong, ZHANG Jinyu, MA Chaomei   

  1. (1. State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Key Laboratory of Forage and Endemic Crop Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010070, China; 2. Inner Mongolia Alashan Cistanche Co. Ltd., Alashanzuoqi 750306, China)
  • Online:2020-07-15 Published:2020-07-29

Abstract: Agriophyllum squarrosum (L.) Moq. is an annual herbaceous plant of the Chenopdiaceae family that is mainly distributed in the desert area of northwest China. It is of important ecological significance and is reputed as “the sand-fixing pioneer”. The aboveground part of A. squarrosum is a traditional Mongolian medicine with heat-clearing and detoxifying effects. Its seeds, called “Shami” in Chinese, are a natural foodstuff rich in nutrients and with anti-obesity activity. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that A. squarrosum contains secondary metabolites, such as flavonoids, triterpenes, coumarins, sterols and alkaloids, and possesses pharmacological activities, such as anti-diabetic, antioxidant and blood lipid-lowering activities. This article mainly reviews recent progress in understanding the chemical components, pharmacological activities and nutritional components of A. squarrosum, in order to provide a reference for the development and utilization of A. squarrosum.

Key words: Agriophyllum squarrosum (L.) Moq., Shami, chemical composition, pharmacological activity, nutritional components

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