ABSTRACT
The Chinese folk medicinal herb Hypericum japonicum, also known as Tianjihuang or Diercao in Chinese, has been widely used for clearing heat and removing toxin, hemostasis and detumescence, and for the treatment of acute and chronic hepatitis, and gastrointestinal disorders. In recent decades, several main types of chemical constituents such as phloroglucinols, flavonoids, xanthonoids, pyranones, and dipeptides have been reported. Modern pharmacology studies have shown that the extracts or secondary metabolites of the herb possess a variety of bio-activities such as hepatoprotective, antioxidant, anti-tumorous, antiviral, anti-bacterial, and anti-malarial activities as well as effects on cardiovascular diseases. In this paper, we presented the main metabolites and pharmacological activities of the plant in recent 30 years, which should be helpful for the further development and utilization of the herb resources of H. japonicum.