MEDICINAL USES, BIOLOGICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF HELICHRYSUM FOETIDUM (L.) MOENCH. (ASTERACEAE)

Helichrysum foetidum is a medicinal plant species with various medicinal applications among different ethnic groups in Africa, Asia, and Europe. This review was aimed at providing a critical appraisal of the existing medicinal uses, biological activities, and phytochemical components of H. foetidum. Literature search for information on medicinal uses, biological activities, and phytochemical components of H. foetidum was conducted using various online search engines such as Scopus, Google Scholar, Mendeley, and Web of Science. Additional information on these aspects was sourced from the university library. Literature studies revealed that H. foetidum is mainly used to induce trances and as herbal medicine against wounds, sores, dysmenorrhea, eye infections, influenza, and as a sedative. Phytochemical compounds identified from the species include chalcones, diterpenoids, flavanols, flavonoids, phenolics, phenols, and proanthocyanidins. Pharmacological studies revealed that H. foetidum extracts and compounds have antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant, protease-inhibiting, and cytotoxicity activities. There is a need for advanced phytochemical and pharmacological evaluations and clinical trials aimed at evaluating the therapeutic potential of H. foetidum in Africa, Asia, and Europe.