Phthalides,a class of ester derivatives bearing a benzene ring fused a five-membered lactone ring,belong to o-hydroxymethylbenzoic acid lactone.They were mainly found in plants of Umbelliferae family,and a small amount of them distributed in plants of Pittosporaceae,Fumariaceae,Asteraceae and Piperaceae families.The phthalides were also isolated from bacteria and fungi.The structures of phthalide are various diversity including simple phthalide,phthalide polymer and phthalide alkaloid hybrid.These compounds showed a variety of biological activities,such as anticancer,antibacterial,insecticidal and sedative,which had been used to treat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.Herein,the structure and biological activity of phthalides were summarized from 2015 to 2021,which will provide some ideas to the development and utilization of phthalides.