Hovenia acerba Lindl.: An insight into botany, phytochemistry, bioactivity, quality control, and exploitation

Hovenia acerba Lindl. is not only a popular fruit with rich nutrients, but also a traditional Chinese medicine with multiple clinical values. It possesses therapeutic properties of clearing away heat and diuresis, relieving alcohol, protecting liver, quenching thirst, and eliminating annoyance. There are structurally diverse components of H. acerba Lindl., which mainly including flavonoids (1–39) (58.2%), triterpenoid saponins (40–47) (12.0%), organic acids (48–60) (19.4%), other compounds (61–67) (10.4%), and their structural characteristics were summarized and analyzed in this review. The extracts or monomer compounds of H. acerba Lindl. had been reported to exert various pharmacological activities, such as anti-alcoholism, hepatoprotective, anti-oxidant, hypoglycemic, immunomodulatory, and other activities are summarized and discussed in this review. In addition, the quality control, present exploitation, and developed products of this plant have also been analyzed and summarized, which provide valuable references for in-depth research and development of H. acerba Lindl. in this review. Practical applications Hovenia acerba Lindl. is an edible and medical fruit with many functional properties. An insight into botany, phytochemistry, bioactivity, quality control, and exploitation study of H. acerba Lindl. was carried out to summarize and analyze in this review. This review will provide a strong foundation for the further studies of H. acerba Lindl. focusing on its development and utilization.