Research Progress in Chemical Compositions and Healthy Functions of Genus Camellia sect. Chrysantha

The genus sect. Chrysantha Chang, a group of deciduous shrub with golden-yellow flowers in the family of Theaceae, Camellia, belongs to the first class of national protected plant in China. It has also been used traditionally as food and medicinal materials. The species in the genus Camellia sect. Chrysantha are valuable ornamental plants with medicinal and health beneficial effects, due to the high content of nutritional and bioactive components in their flowers, leaves and seeds, e.g., polysaccharides, polyphenols, flavonoids, and saponins. The utilization, chemical compositions of the genus Camellia sect. Chrysantha and its bioactivities including antioxidant, antineoplastic, prevention of cardiovascular disease, anti-diabetics, enhancing immunologic, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, as well as antibacterial effects, were reviewed in this paper. It would provide theoretical evidence for the development and utilization of the genus C. sect. Chrysantha.