Viola kunawarensis Royle,a characteristic ethnic medicinal herb in Xinjiang,has a long history of traditional use.It is primarily distributed in Xinjiang,Tibet,Qinghai and Sichuan Province of China.Modern pharmacological studies have demonstrated that V. kunawarensis exhibits various biological activities,including immunomodulatory,antibacterial,anti-inflammatory,antiviral,antidiabetic,and antioxidant effects.These pharmacological properties are attributed to its rich chemical composition,which has been extensively studied by researchers.Identified constituents include flavonoids,phenylpropanoids,terpenoids,steroids,alkaloids,and megastigmanes,among others.Since this herb is predominantly wild-harvested,its quality significantly impacts its therapeutic efficacy.Therefore,this review summarizes the chemical composition,pharmacological effects,and quality assessment of V. kunawarensis,aiming to provide a foundation for its further development and utilization.