Recent Advances in Bioactive Compounds, Health Functions, and Utilization of Rose (Rosa spp.)

Our review systematically outlines the bioactivity and industrial applications of key functional compounds in roses, with a particular focus on their potential in food and pharmaceutical industries from technical, economic, and commercialization perspectives. We summarize the evidence supporting the efficacy of rose-derived polyphenols, flavonoids, and essential oils in areas including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and neuroprotective effects, which provide a scientific basis for their use in functional foods and preventive medicines. We further evaluated the commercial viability of processing rose by-products. Additionally, we analyze current and potential applications of rose bioactive compounds in natural food preservatives, functional dietary supplements, herbal medicines, and cosmetic products. Finally, we discuss the remaining challenges and future directions for the industrial utilization of roses, including standardization, efficacy validation in humans, and scalable economic models, to facilitate the transition from experimental research to commercially sustainable applications.