Abstract: Canscora Lam.(Gentianaceae) were widely used as medicinal plants by local people in many areas of different countries.Many species of this genus were used as herbal medicines to treat epilepsy,neurasthenia,hepatitis,bone fracture,snake bites and insect stings,and various injuries in India and China.Chemical constituents,such as xanthones,triterpenoids,flavones and steroids were isolated from these plants.Pharmacological researches proved that the extracts and compounds of some Canscora species had activities in antimicrobial,anti-inflammation,liver protection and had beneficial in the central nervous system too.This paper summarized the research status of traditional knowledge,chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of this genus,and aimed to provide data basis for further development and utilization of Canscora medicine.

Key words: Canscora, medicinal plant, traditional knowledge, xanthones