ABSTRACT
The genus Iris belongs to the family Iridaceae and comprises of over 300 species and fifteen species of genus Iris are found in Mongolia. Iris has long history of use in various indigenous systems of medicine as alternative aperients, stimulant, cathartic, diuretic, gall bladder diseases, liver complaints, dropsy, purification of blood, venereal infections, fever and bilious infections and for a variety of heart diseases. Rhizomes of Iris are rich source of secondary metabolites and most of these metabolites are reported to possess anticancer, antiplasmodial, anticholinesterase, enzyme inhibitor and immunomodulatory properties. Approximately more than two hundred compounds have been reported from the genus Iris, which includes flavones, isoflavones, glycocides, benzoquinones, triterpinoids, stilbene glycosides and organic acids. In this article, we reviewed the published results of phytochemical and pharmacological studies of some Iris species which are grown in Mongolia.