Abstract: Cordycepin is one of the active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine Cordyceps sinensis and Cordyceps militaris. It has antibacterial,antiinflammatory,antitumor,immune regulation and anti-oxidation effects. It can also be used to treat diseases such as the lungs,kidneys and stomach. And it can also be used as a nutritional supplement. With the deepening of research,the pharmacological effects of cordycepin have been gradually excavated,and its mechanism of action has gradually become clear. In this paper,recent advances in the pharmacological effects of cordycepin against anti-tumor,anti-bacterial,anti-inflammatory,immunomodulatory,anti-oxidative and neuroprotective,and regulatory were reviewed and summarized. It laid a foundation for further study on the role of cordycepin pharmacology.