Abstract: Mesona chinensis also named Hsian- tsao,Herb Jelly and Mesona chinensis benth,is an annual herbaceous plant from Lamiaceae family. In China,it has been used as an medical and edible plant resource for many years.In recent years,domestic and foreign scholars had done extensive studies on active ingredients and biological activities of Mesona chinensis. Mesona chinensis mainly contains polysaccharides,flavonoids,terpenoids,and polyphenols and it has biological activities of antioxidant,antidiabetics,antilipidemic,antihypertension,antiviral and anti- hypoxic. In this paper,the main active ingredients and biological activities of Mesona chinensis were systematically reviewed. The aim of this paper was to provide a scientific basis for expanding the application of Mesona chinensis.