Abstract: Gastrodia elata Bl., a traditional Chinese medicinal and edible herb, is rich in active ingredients such as gastrodin, polysaccharides, p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, and parishin. It possesses various physiological activities, including neuroprotection, antioxidation, anti-cancer, and immunomodulation. This paper reviews the chemical structures and pharmacological effects of the major active ingredients of G. elata Bl., and the effects of harvesting, initial processing, drying, storage, and transportation on their stability. Then, optimization of initial processing parameters, integration of modern drying technologies, and improvement of storage, transportation and preservation strategies are proposed to maximize the retention of active ingredients in G. elata Bl., which provides theoretical support for the development and industrialization of G. elata Bl. in the fields of health foods and medicine.

Key words: Gastrodia elata Bl.; active ingredients; health benefits; processing stability; stabilization strategy