Abstract: OBJECTIVE To introduce advances in the pharmacological effects of Arctium lappa L., and to provide scientific basis for the further utilization. METHODS Consulted domestic and foreign literatures in recent 20 years and provided an overview of the pharmacological effects of burdock. RESULTS The advances in pharmacological effects such as antitumor, anti-inflammatory, immune modulation, antimicrobial, antiviral, antidiabetic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective effect, anti-fatigue, lipid-lowering and treatment erectile dysfunction of Arctium lappa L. were given. It was universally studied that Arctium lappa L. possess effects of immune regulation, anti-cancer and treatment diabetes with the potential development value. The research on the efficacy of burdock to treat erectile dysfunction in our laboratory provided a new direction for burdock development and utilization. CONCLUSION It’s found that the pharmacological effects of burdock have great development value, especially in the treatment of chronic diseases.