[Research status of Periplaneta americana with analyses and prospects of key issues].

Periplaneta americana is one of the common traditional Chinese medicines, which has a long application history. It can tonify spleen, promote blood circulation, induce diuresis to alleviate edema, and promote granulation. It is clinically used for the treatment of alimentary canal diseases, chronic heart failure, cutaneous lesion, periodontitis and other diseases. There are some representative prescriptions, such as Kangfu Xinye, Xinmailong injection, Ganlong capsule, and Xiaozheng Yigan tablet. This paper reviewed the chemical components, pharmacological effects and clinical applications of P. americana, firstly summarized standards for the quality control of P. americana, found out and analyzed the key problems in the research. The aim of this paper is to provide the references for the further development and application of P. americana. Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.