Ageratum conyzoides L.: A review on its phytochemical and pharmacological profile

Abstract

Ageratum conyzoides L. (AC) is an annual herbaceous plant with a long history of traditional medicinal uses in many countries in the world, especially in the tropical and subtropical regions. Th e weed has been known since ancient times for its curative properties and has been utilized for treatment of various ailments, such as burns and wounds, for antimicrobial properties, for many infectious conditions and bacterial infections, arthrosis, headaches and dyspnea, pneumonia, analgesic, anti-infl ammatory, antiasthmatic, antispasmodic and haemostatic eff ects, stomach ailments, gynaecological diseases, leprosy and other skin diseases. A wide range of chemical compounds including alkaloids, cumarins, fl avonoids, chromenes, benzofurans, sterols and terpenoids have been isolated from this species. Extracts and metabolites from this plant have been found to possess pharmacological and insecticidal activities. Th is contribution provides a comprehensive review of its ethnomedical uses, chemical constituents and the pharmacological profi le as a medicinal plant. Particular attention has been given to analgesic and anti-infl ammatory, antibacterial and wound healing properties, radioprotective, antifungal, anthelmintic and nematicidal, insecticidal eff ects presented in this review such that the potential use of this plant either in pharmaceutics or as an agricultural resource can be evaluated. Key words: Ageratum conyzoides, alkaloids, benzofurans, bioactivity, chromenes, fl avonoids, terpenoids