Abstract: As the main active diterpenoid compound in Rabdosia rubescens, oridonin has been widely concerned in recent years due to its antitumor and anti-inflammatory effects. In the studies on the biosynthesis pathway and regulation mechanism, several genes encoding the key enzymes have been cloned. This paper focused on the new progresses in the biosynthesis pathways of oridonin and the key enzymes genes. In addition, the newly cloned and functionally identified genes encoding those key enzymes in the biosynthesis pathway of oridonin were introduced in detail.

Key words: Rabdosia rubescens, oridonin, biosynthesis, key enzyme, gene