A review on ethnobotanical uses, geographical distribution, phytochemistry, quality control and pharmacology of Anemone L. plants distributed in the northeastern region of China

This review synthesises current knowledge on the distribution, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of six Anemone L. species in Northeast China. Our findings indicate that these species are primarily distributed in the mountainous regions of Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning provinces, with distinct morphological traits. A total of 267 compounds have been identified, predominantly saponins, volatile oils, and amino acids. Among these, raddeanoside R3 is the most studied saponin and serves as a key quality control marker for Anemone raddeana Regel in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Pharmacological studies reveal that these compounds exhibit significant anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and analgesic activities. Notably, raddeanoside R3 induces apoptosis in osteosarcoma, glioblastoma, gastric cancer, and breast cancer cells. Despite these advances, further research is needed to elucidate the anti-rheumatic properties of these species and to establish comprehensive quality control standards for all six species.