Platycodon grandiflorus is a widely used edible, traditional Chinese medicinal herb. It is rich in saponins, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and other compounds. It contains a large number of fatty acids such as linoleic acid (up to 63.24%), a variety of amino acids, vitamins, and multiple essential trace elements. P. grandiflorus has several biological applications, such as in hypotension, lipid reduction, atherosclerosis, inflammation, relieving cough and phlegm, promoting cholic acid secretion, and as an antioxidant. Further, P. grandiflorus is often used in the development of cold mixed vegetables, canned vegetables, preserved fruit, salted vegetables, and cosmetics in northeast China, South Korea, Japan, and Korea. In this paper, the active chemical components and the health benefits of P. grandiflorus have been reviewed, providing new ideas for the further development of nutraceutical products to prevent and manage chronic diseases.

Salvia species find widespread application in food and pharmaceutical products owing to their large polyphenol content. The main polyphenols in Chinese Salvia species are phenolic acids and flavonoids, which exhibit anti-oxygenation, anti-ischemia-reperfusion injury, anti-thrombosis, anti-tumour, and other therapeutic effects. However, there are few peer-reviewed studies on polyphenols in Chinese Salvia species, especially flavonoids. This review is a systematic, comprehensive collation of available information on the biosynthesis, chemistry, and pharmacology of Chinese Salvia species. We believe that our study makes a significant contribution to the literature because this review provides a detailed literary resource on the currently available information on various polyphenolic components of Chinese Salvia species, including their bioactivities and structures. In addition, the study provides information that would encourage further investigation of this plant material as a natural resource with potential for a broad range of applications in various industries, such as the food and pharmaceutical industries.

The Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) are important bioactive components of Astragali Radix, the dry root of Astragalus membranaceus, which has been used in traditional Chinese medicine. In this review, the extraction conditions and extraction rates of APS are first compared for water, microwave-assisted, ultrasonic wave, and enzymatic hydrolysis extraction methods. Some studies have also shown that different methods can be combined to improve the extraction rate of APS. Subsequently, the chemical composition and structure of APS are discussed, as related to the extraction and purification method. Most studies have shown that APS is mainly composed of glucose, in addition to rhamnose, galactose, arabinose, xylose, mannose, glucuronic acid, and galacturonic acid. We also reviewed studies on the modification of APS using chemical methods, including sulfated modification using the chlorosulfonic acid–pyridine method, which is commonly used for chemical modification of APS. Finally, the pharmacological activities and mechanisms of action of APS are summarized, with a special focus on its immunoregulatory, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral effects. This review will serve as a valuable resource for the research on APS.