Abstract: Cynomorium songaricum Rupr. is a well-known achlorophyllous holoparasite medicinal psammophyte, which is usually parasitic on the roots of Nitraria plants in the family Zygophyllaceae. Cynomorium songaricum, a kind of rare and endangered medicinal plants, was widely used as Chinese, Mongolian and Tibetan herbal remedy for problems such as renal disease, climacteric syndrome, and sexual dysfunction, runchang catharsis and lumbar weakness. In this paper, we reviewed the biological characteristics, genetic diversity, chemical constituents, pharmacological effects and artificial cultivation techniques of C.songaricum and put forward the research focus and hot spots on this basis. What we should focuses on is the pharmacological mechanism of C.songaricum bioactive components, establishing a complete evaluation system of the Herba C.songaricum quality. We need study C. songaricum germplasm resources, protection and regeneration deeply, strengthen the artificial breeding technique of C.songaricum for its protection.

Key words: Cynomorium songaricum, pharmacological activities, biological features, genetic diversity, resource conservation