The rhizomes of Cyperus rotundus is a traditional chinese medicine for the treatment of dispersing the depressed liver-energy

regulating vital energy

dysmenorrhea

and menstrual disorders and so on. Modern pharmacological studies have proven the broad range of biological activities

such as antidepressant

anti-cancer

acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity

anti-diabetic. Previous phytochemical investigations have described the presence of more than 100 compounds in it

among of which about 70 ones are sesquiterpenes with diverse skeletons such as eudesmane

patchoulane

copane

rotundane and so on. This paper reviews the progress of the constituents of it which provides references for further development and utilization of it.