Sorbus L. sensu lato (Rosaceae family) comprises over 250 trees and shrubs growing in the Northern Hemisphere. Several Sorbus species have found their way into traditonal materia medica, as different leaf, bark or fruit preparations have a long-standing folk use. Ethnomedicine recommends their use not only in respiratory and gastrointestinal system disorders, but also in rheumatism, cancer or diabetes. Chemical composition of the genus Sorbus has been studied since 1960s and until now more than 250 compounds have been identified from thirty-eight species. The most thoroughly investigated substances are phenolic compounds (flavonoids and phenolic acids). Other constituents include triterpenes, sterols, carboxylic acids, coumarins and cyanogenic glycosides. Biological activity studies performed on the representatives of the genus Sorbus have been predominantly conducted on extracts prepared with the use of different solvents, and more rarely on isolated constituents. The majority of these studies were devoted to determination of antioxidant potential of Sorbus extracts. In a few cases targeted studies were conducted to confirm specific folk usage. Two of the fairly well documented medicinal uses are the antidiabetic activity of Sorbus decora and anti-inflammatory activity of Sorbus commixta.

Sorbus L. sensu lato（蔷薇科）由北半球的250余棵树木和灌木组成。由于不同的叶，树皮或水果制品具有悠久的民间使用历史，几种S属已进入传统的本草。人种医学建议其不仅用于呼吸道和胃肠道系统疾病，而且还用于风湿病，癌症或糖尿病。花or属的化学成分自1960年代以来已经进行了研究，到目前为止，已经从38种物种中鉴定出250多种化合物。研究最彻底的物质是酚类化合物（类黄酮和酚酸）。其他成分包括三萜，固醇，羧酸，香豆素和氰基糖苷。对花or属的代表进行的生物活性研究主要是在使用不同溶剂制备的提取物中进行的，很少是在分离的成分上进行的。这些研究大部分被专门用于测定抗氧化能力花楸提取物。在少数情况下，进行了有针对性的研究，以确认特定的民间用法。还算有据可查的医疗用途中的两个的抗糖尿病活性花楸迪科拉和抗炎活性花楸commixta的。