Research progress in the application of gooseberry——an edible and medicinal physalis plant

Gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) , an annual or perennial herb of family Solanaceae and genera Physalis, is an edible and medicinal plant that is increasingly popular among worldwide-consumers due to its sweet and sour flavor, great nutritional value and potential biological activity.As a potential raw material for preparation of functional food, gooseberry has not been developed and utilized very well although it is cultivated in Southern China.The research advances on gooseberry, including geographical distribution, nutritional ingredients, phytochemical characteristics, functional activity, pharmacology, processing and storage were reviewed with a purpose to possibly contribute to farther research and application of this plant in China.