Abstract: Terpenoids, the most diverse secondary metabolites in plants, possess complex structures and a wide range of biological activities, playing an important role in the treatment and prevention of metabolic diseases. These substances and their derivatives have wide applications in the food, agriculture, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. A deep understanding of their properties and extraction methods is crucial for optimizing downstream processing. However, research on terpenoids in plants is limited by their structural complexity and low abundance. This article comprehensively summarizes the current status of terpenoid research, focusing on the extraction, identification techniques, and biological activities of terpenoids. It provides a comparative analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of solvent-free microwave-assisted extraction, hydrodistillation, supercritical fluid extraction, natural deep eutectic solvent extraction and other extraction methods combined with different analytical methods to identify plant terpenes. The anti-inflammatory, anti-infective, anti-allergic, and anti-tumor efficacy of terpenoids are explored, and the target molecules and signaling pathways are elucidated. Furthermore, the applications of terpenoids in the food and pharmaceutical sectors are reviewed. Through a comprehensive analysis of the existing literature and research results, this review aims to establish a comprehensive and systematic knowledge framework for terpenoid research, providing a reference and guidance for future studies.

Key words: terpenoids; extraction and identification; structural features; biological activity; signaling pathways