Jianmin Zheng , Chuchu Liu

Institute of Life Science, Jiyang College of Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, China
Author    Correspondence author
Biological Evidence, 2026, Vol. 16, No. 5   
Received: 27 Aug., 2026    Accepted: 20 Sep., 2026    Published: 27 Sep., 2026

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Chrysanthemum is a representative medicinal and edible plant resource in China. Its traditional industry has long focused on the harvesting, processing, and commercialization of flower heads, whereas leaves, stems, and processing residues remain underutilized, resulting in insufficient valorization of whole-plant biomass. Taking Hangbaiju chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.) as an example, this study reviews its production and traditional utilization and systematically evaluates the resource characteristics and valorization potential of its flowers, leaves, and stems. Flowers have an established foundation for the development of herbal teas, medicinal products, and functional foods and should therefore remain at the core of the high-value product chain. Leaves are rich in bioactive compounds, particularly polyphenols and flavonoids, and have potential for development as functional ingredients, natural antioxidant sources, and plant extracts. Stems offer opportunities for both the recovery of phenolic compounds and the production of lignocellulosic materials, making them suitable for a sequential valorization strategy of “extraction first, material utilization second, and recycling thereafter.” On this basis, a whole-plant cascade utilization framework is proposed, integrating high-value flower products, functional compounds from leaves, sequential stem valorization, bioconversion of residual biomass, and recycling into agricultural production. Future efforts should strengthen the evaluation of non-floral tissues, promote tiered product development and whole-process standardization, and establish a circular Hangbaiju chrysanthemum industry that integrates cultivation, processing, utilization, and agricultural recycling.

Hangbaiju chrysanthemum; Whole-plant valorization; cascade utilization; Agricultural by-products; Functional compounds; Circular bioeconomy