A Phytochemical and Pharmacological Review on Cynomorium songaricum as Functional and Medicinal Food

Cynomorium songaricum Rupr. (CSR) has a long history of being widely used as a functional food and medicine by different ethnic groups worldwide; CSR is used to treat impotence and premature ejaculation and traditionally used as natural source of tonic food. Numerous bioactive compounds linked with human health were recently identified. In this work, all available information on CSR were retrieved from NCBI PubMed and CNKI database, and the recent findings about the compositions and functions of CSR were summarized. At least 76 bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, organic acids, saccharides, glycosides, and phloroglucinol adducts, were isolated and identified in CSR. These compounds render CSR with pharmacological functions, such as anti-aging, anti-oxidation, anti-fatigue, and anti-HIV activities, and the effects of CSR on immune system, nervous system, reproductive system, and other bioactivities were well reviewed; results serve as valuable data for further research and for development of human health-related products. However, studies on CSR were far from perfect, and further research is warranted. This paper highlights the components and pharmacological functions of CSR, with the aim to provide a comprehensive review and useful data for future studies and for the development of relevant food products.