OBJECTIVE:To provide reference for development and application of Korean medicine Atractylodes japonica. METHODS:Using"Guancangsu""Huaxue chengfen""Yaoli zuoyong""Atractylodes japonica""Chemical constituents""Pharmacological effects"as Chinese and English key words,relevant literatures published during 1983-2017 were retrieved from CNKI, PubMed, ScienceDirect full-text database, the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of A. japonica were reviewed. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS:As of June 21,2017,a total of 226 literatures were collected,including 43 valid literatures. A. japonica mainly contains terpenoids,aliphatic,aromatic in volatile oil,glycosides active constituents in roots,and shows anti-inflammatory and analgesic,cardio cerebral vascular protection,contianaphylaxis,antibacterial,antiviral and anti-ulcer effects. Currently,the research of A. japonica on the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects has achieved initial results, however, reports of its toxicity are rare. Therefore, the safety evaluation should be taken into account in the study of its pharmacological effects.