RESUMO
As a commonly used Chinese materia medica, Coptis Rhizoma mainly contains isoquinoline alkaloids, lignans, coumarins, flavonoids, terpenes, steroids, organic acids, volatile oil, polysaccharides and other chemical compositions. Its pharmacological activities are hypoglycemic effect, antibacterial, anti-oxidation, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, hypoglycemic, lipid-lowering, anti-arrhythmic activities and so on. The significantly hypoglycemic activity has led to its earlier use in the treatment of diabetes. In this paper, the chemical constituents, hypoglycemic effects, and other pharmacological activities of Coptis Rhizoma in recent years are reviewed in order to provide a reference for the further development and rational utilization of this plant resource.