Plants　from　the　genus　Sanguisorba　have　been　treated　as　medicinal　ingredients　for　over　2000　years.　This　paper　reviews　advances　in　the　botanical,　phytochemical　and　pharmacological　studies　of　the　genus.　To　date,　more　than　120　chemical　constituents　have　been　isolated　and　identified　from　these　plants,　especially　from　S.　officinalis　and　S.　minor.　Among　these　compounds,　triterpenoids,　phenols　and　flavonoids　are　the　primary　biologically　active　constituents.　Triterpenoids　can　be　used　as　quality　control　markers　to　determine　the　quality　of　medicinal　materials　and　their　preparations.　In　vivo　and　in　vitro　studies　have　shown　that　plants　from　the　genus　Sanguisorba　exhibit　a　wide　range　of　pharmacological　properties,　including　hemostatic,　antibacterial,　antitumor,　neuroprotective　and　hypoglycemic　activities.　In　Chinese　medical　practice,　many　drugs　(e.g.,　tablets　and　powders)　that　contain　S.　officinalis　roots　have　been　used　to　treat　leukopenia,　hemorrhaging　and　burns.　However,　there　is　still　a　multitude　of　Sanguisorba　species　that　have　garnered　little　or　no　attention.　Indeed,　there　are　few　reports　concerning　the　clinical　use　and　toxic　effects　of　these　plants.　Further　attention　should　be　focused　on　the　study　of　these　species　in　order　to　gather　information　on　their　respective　toxicology　data,　any　relevant　quality-control　measures,　and　the　clinical　value　of　the　crude　extracts,　active　compounds,　and　bioactive　metabolites　from　Genus　Sanguisorba.