中文摘要：

赤芍为临床常用中药,具有清热凉血、散瘀止痛的功效。其主要化学活性成分为芍药总苷,尚含鞣质类、黄酮类、挥发油类等成分。因具有保肝、抗肿瘤、神经保护、心脏保护、抗血栓、抗氧化等多种显著的药理作用而成为近年研究的热点。查阅近10年国内外文献,就赤芍的化学成分、药理作用等方面进行综述,以期能对赤芍的研究和临床应用提供参考。但针对赤芍开发出安全有效的药物仍相对较少,明确赤芍的作用机制和推广赤芍的临床应用仍是赤芍研究的主要任务。

英文摘要：

Paeoniae Rubra Radix（PRR） with the function of clearing heat and cooling blood, dissipationg blood stasis and relieving pain, has been widely used in clinics. PRR, containing total glucosides of paeony, tannins, flavones, and volatile oil, is the current research focus because its significant hepatoprotective, antitumor, neuroprotective, and cardio-protective effect thus far, as well as its antithrombosis and anti-oxidative activities. According to vast information from literatures in the last decade, we summarize the chemical compositions and pharmacological actions, in hopes of offering more clues for further research as well as clinical application of PRR. Meanwhile, despite of enormous progress has been made all over the international research on PRR, the development of relevant safe and effective agents is still needed. At present, the definition of the mechanism and the extension of the clinical application remain as the primary tasks of the exploration of PRR.