Abstract

Bergenia, a genus belonging to Saxifragaceae family, is one of the most important medicinal plants, has high application values for human. Currently, wild Bergenia is becoming lacking, due to destruction of ecological environment and excessive excavation; furthermore, the study on it is not deep enough, many related important problems have not been resolved. To protect and utilize more effectively the elite germplasm resource, this study introduced its germplasm situation and reviewed its application values in medicine, horticulture, food and cosmetic and summarized its research advances in biochemistry, cytology and molecular biology. This review can provide an important reference for further study in Bergenia.

Key words: Bergenia, species, application, biological advance.