Abstract: Phenolic compounds are the most important group of secondary metabolites widely distributed in plants, playing important roles in diverse physiological processes such as plant quality, coloring, flavor and stress resistance. The natural antioxidant activities of phenolic compounds become a hot spot in terms of research and utilization at present. In this review, the structural characterization, distribution, composition and diverse functions of phenolic compounds in plants and human bodies were summarized, and the preparation methods and progress in phenolic compounds biosynthesis genes and their regulation modes were concluded as well in order to elucidate the physiological, nutritional and antioxidant functions of different phenolic compounds in plants and human．

Key words: phenolic compounds, classification, function, preparation, biosynthesis