Abstract:
Hetian rose (
Rosa damascena Mill. ‘Hetian’) is a species of the genus
Rosa in the family Rosaceae, representing a unique rose variety adapted to the extreme arid environment of Xinjiang. This review systematically summarizes its genetic background, bioactive profile, functional properties, and industrialization, elucidating the mechanisms between environmental stress and its superior quality. Current research indicates that Hetian rose represents an independent genetic lineage. Under the combined effects of long-term drought, intense radiation, large temperature fluctuations, and localized saline-alkali stress, it has developed an adaptive mechanism characterized primarily by water conservation and retention, enhanced antioxidant defense, and secondary metabolism remodeling. This adaptation promotes the enrichment of volatile oils, flavonoids, polyphenols, and polysaccharides, with contents significantly superior to conventional varieties such as Kushui and Fenghua roses, demonstrating excellent antioxidant activity and glucolipid metabolism regulatory effects. Although it has shown potential in essential oil extraction and specialty food primary processing, its industrialization faces dual constraints of compliance and technical depth due to limitations arising from its exclusion from the new food raw material catalog and the absence of a standardization system. This review aims to provide a basis for the transformation of Hetian rose from a regional characteristic resource to a high-value, compliant functional food ingredient, and to offer references for the construction of relevant standard systems and cross-disciplinary applications.