The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Rehmanniae Radix (RR)
refers to the fresh or dried root tuber of the plant Rehmannia
glutinosa Libosch of the family Scrophulariaceae. As a traditional
Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), it possesses multiple effects, including
analgesia, sedation, anti-inflammation, antioxidation, anti-tumor,
immunomodulation, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular regulation, and
nerve damage repair, and it has been widely used in clinical practice.
In recent years, scientists have extensively studied the active
components and pharmacological effects of RR. Active ingredients mainly
include iridoid glycosides (such as catalpol and aucuboside),
phenylpropanoid glycosides (such as acteoside), other saccharides, and
unsaturated fatty acids. In addition, the Chinese patent medicine (CPM)
and Chinese decoction related to RR have also become major research
subjects for TCM practitioners; one example is the Bolus of Six Drugs,
which includes Rehmannia, Lily Bulb and Rehmannia Decoction, and Siwu
Decoction. This article reviews recent literature on RR; summarizes the
studies on its chemical constituents, pharmacological effects, and
clinical applications; and analyzes the progress and limitations of
current investigations to provide reference for further exploration and
development of RR.