Codonopsis is a genus of flowering plant within the family Campanulaceae. It is allied to Campanumoea and Leptocodon, and some authors suggest that Codonopsis should include these genera. Without them, Codonopsis includes 55 species endemic to East Asia.
The perennials grow to a height of approximately 2 meters. Codonopsis tangshen has simple leaves. The leaves are arranged opposite one another. They are mid green and lanceolate with toothed margins. The flowers are bell-shaped and yellow. The plants bloom from June to August. The flowers are arranged solitary. Codonopsis tangshen prefers a sunny to half shady site and can withstand temperatures down to -34,4º C. It grows best in sandy or pebbly, loamy soil that is moist. Codonopsis tangshen is used medicinally.
The isolation and strucutral determination of tangshenosides III and IV, new neolignan glycosides, and four hexenyl and hexyl glycosides from the roots of Codonopsis tangshen are reported.