TY  - EJOU
AU  - Ma, Ruikang 
AU  - Huang, Ziying 
AU  - Zhang, Zexiu 
AU  - Lu, Ruohui 
AU  - Li, Menghan 
AU  - Luo, Zhiyi 
AU  - Li, Mengni 
AU  - Zhang, Pengyue 
AU  - Lin, Xiaohong 
AU  - Zhang, Guozhuang 
AU  - Dong, Linlin 

TI  - Traditional Uses, Polysaccharide Pharmacology, and Active Components Biosynthesis Regulation of <i>Dendrobium officinale</i>: A Review
T2  - Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany

PY  - 2025
VL  - 94
IS  - 11
SN  - 1851-5657

AB  - <i>Dendrobium officinale</i> (<i>DO</i>) is a well-recognized medicinal and edible plant with a long history of application in traditional medicinal practices across China and Southeast Asia. Recent studies have demonstrated that <i>DO</i> is abundant in diverse bioactive compounds, including polysaccharides (DOP), flavonoids, alkaloids, and bibenzyls thought to exert a range of pharmacological effects, such as anti-tumor and immunomodulatory effects. However, our comprehensive understanding of two key aspects—pharmacological functions and biosynthetic mechanisms—of <i>DO</i>’s major constituents remains limited, especially when considered within the clinical contexts of traditional use. To address this gap, this study reviews <i>DO</i>’s historical applications, clinical effects, and related formulations through an analysis of ancient texts spanning nearly two millennia—with special attention to region-specific traditional medical texts. This provides a historical and empirical foundation for further exploration of its modern pharmacological potential. Given the central role of DOP in <i>DO</i>’s biological activities, this paper further summarizes its therapeutic applications across various diseases and the underlying mechanisms, with special emphasis on structure–activity relationships. This focus is particularly important because the structural characteristics of DOP are highly dependent on extraction and analytical methods, which have contributed to inconsistencies in pharmacological findings over the past two decades. Finally, the review highlights recent advances in the understanding of the in vivo biosynthesis and regulatory mechanisms of the major bioactive components in <i>DO</i>, with a particular focus on molecular regulation and responses to agricultural interventions. These factors are critical for the production of high-quality <i>DO</i>. Overall, this study develops a comprehensive knowledge framework that connects <i>DO</i>’s traditional applications of <i>DO</i> to its two key research areas: pharmacological functions and quality formation. We anticipate this framework will offer clear guidance for future research from a clinical perspective.
KW  - Food and medicine applications; <i>Dendrobium officinale</i>; bioactive components; polysaccharides; biosynthetic regulation

DO  - 10.32604/phyton.2025.072062