Abstract: Ilex cornuta is a kind of traditional Chinese medicine with the same origin of medicine and food.Its main active component triterpenoid saponins have important pharmacological effects such as lowering blood lipid, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-tumor and so on.At present, there are many reports on the extraction process, content determination, qualitative analysis and identification of triterpenoid saponins from Ilex cornuta.Based on the review of literature at home and abroad, the extraction process, content determination, qualitative analysis and identification of triterpenoid saponins from Ilex cornuta and their biosynthesis pathway were summarized.The advantages and disadvantages of content determination methods and the research situation of triterpenoid saponin biosynthesis mechanism of Ilex cornuta was summarized.We analyzed the development trend of triterpenoid saponins research in Ilex cornuta,and summarized the methods and ideas for further research on the biosynthetic mechanism of triterpenoid saponins.This review can provide reference for the effective development and utilization of triterpenoid saponins from Ilex cornuta.