Helichrysum caespititium (DC.) Harv.: Review of its medicinal uses, phytochemistry and biological activities

Abstract

Helichrysum caespititium is a valuable and well-known medicinal plant in south and central Africa. The current study examined ethnomedicinal uses, chemical and biological properties of H. caespititium. Information on medicinal uses, phytochemistry, and biological activities of H. caespititium were assembled from several internet sources which included Scopus, Google Scholar, Elsevier, Science Direct, Web of Science, Pubmed, SciFinder, and BMC. Additional information was sourced from journal articles, scientific reports, theses, books, and book chapters gathered from the University library. The current study showed that H. caespititium is used for treating several medical conditions, particularly respiratory infections, sexually transmitted infections, nausea, headache, wounds, ulceration, and used as an aphrodisiac. The pharmacological research showed that H. caespititium extracts and compounds isolated from the species have antibacterial, antigonorrhea, antimycobacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, and cytotoxicity activities. This research showed that H. caespititium is an integral part of indigenous pharmacopeia in southern Africa, but there is lack of alignment between the ethnomedicinal uses and existing biological screening. Therefore, future research should focus on evaluation of the chemical and pharmacological properties of H. caespititium extracts and compounds isolated from the species.