Nardostachys, also called nard or nardin, is a flowering plant of the Valerianaceae family that grows in Nepal, India, and China. It is found in mountain areas, especially at high altitudes. The roots and rhizomes are used to manufacture an intensely aromatic essential oil, which has been used as a perfume and medicine since ancient times. Traditional herbal remedies in Korea and China have been used as sedative and analgesic agents for a long time.

N. chinensis is generally considered a synonym of N. jatamansi, and both plants have been used for the same medicinal purpose in traditional medicine for treating fungal infections, cardiac problems, and headaches. Sesquiterpenoids, which were found to have therapeutic activities, are rich in rhizomes and roots of N. chinensis. Many phytochemical constituents were isolated from the extract of N. chinensis, such as guaiane, aristolane and nardosinane-type sesquiterpenoids, neolignan, and lignans. It was demonstrated N. chinensis suppresses melanin synthesis in melanoma cells and nitric oxide production in macrophage in recent research articles.