苍术为菊科植物茅苍术Atractylodes lancea或北苍术A.chinensis的干燥根茎，具有燥湿健脾、祛风散寒的功效。药理研究显示苍术及其提取物具有抗炎、抗肿瘤和免疫调节等作用。其对细胞免疫、体液免疫和非特异性免疫都有增强作用；对肺癌细胞、消化系统肿瘤细胞、白血病细胞、黑色素瘤细胞、宫颈癌细胞和肉瘤生长均有抑制作用；苍术烯内酯、苍术酮、茅术醇、β-桉叶醇、苍术多糖可能是苍术的重要活性成分。

Atractylodis Rhizoma is the dry rhizome of composite Atractylodes lancea or A. chinensis, and has the efficiency of drying wetness and invigorating spleen, and antirheumatism. Pharmacological studies show that Atractylodis Rhizoma and its active fractions have anti-inflammation, antitumor, and immunoregulation: the promoting effects on cellular immunity, humoral immunity, and nonspecific immunity; the growth inhibitory effects on lung carcinoma cells, tumorous cells in digestive system, leukemia cells, melanoma cells, cervical carcinoma cells, and sarcoma. Atractylenolides, atractylon, hinesol, β-eudesmol, and polysaccharides may be major active constituents of Atractylodis Rhizoma.