Food applications and health benefits of bioactive constituents in Eucommia ulmoides: a review

Eucommia ulmoides is an important economic forest tree species in China, of which the different tissues and organs are widely used in traditional medicine for their abundant bioactive ingredients. Previous studies always focused on the Eucommia gum, a potential alternative to natural rubber because of its “rubber plastic duality”. In recent years, Eucommia has increasingly attracted more attention and interest for its excellent nutritional and economic value, with the deepening of research and the development of products involving in the application of bioactive ingredients. However, the dietary health effects and future application prospects of the bioactive components of E. ulmoides have not been systematically summarized. Therefore, we firstly reviewed the main bioactive ingredients category, structural characteristics, extraction methods and nutritive value. Furthermore, we also summarized the wide application of bioactive ingredients in food and medicine fields. Finally, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the safety and future development of products derived from E. ulmoides, as well as exploring potential applications for its bioactive constituents, aiming to facilitate further extensive investigation into its utilization.