Biology and chemistry ofLitsea cubeba, a promising industrial tree in China

Litsea cubeba (Lour.) Pers. (Lauraceae) is a promising industrial crop. The plant is rich in valuable essential oil, which is widely used as an ingredient in ionone flavors, botanical insecticides, food spices and personal-care products, and the plant extract has been used in traditional Chinese medicine. Furthermore, the potential for producing biodiesel through transesterification of L. cubeba kernel oil holds great promise as a low-cost bioenergy. Based on the investigation of L. cubeba genetic resources in the main distribution in China, the article presents an overview of current advances and future perspectives in the study and use of L. cubeba, including basic biology, chemistry and various industrial uses. We intend to provide data and guidance for future large-scale cultivation and creation of deep processing techniques to meet the growing commercial demands for L. cubeba.