An updated review on Eupatorium adenophorum Spreng. [Ageratina adenophora (Spreng.)]: traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities and toxicity

Abstract

Introduction: Eupatorium adenophorum Spreng. (E. adenophorum) [also known as Ageratina adenophora (Spreng.)] is a perennial and herbaceous invasive plant native to Mexico. Then, in the 1940s, it entered Yunnan Province of China and spread in China, South and South-East Asia. Now it is distributed in different regions of the world. Despite its invasive nature, this plant is used as a traditional medicine in many parts of the world; hence further research works and studies have been conducted to explore potential therapeutic uses of this plant. The main focus of this review is to discuss the existing information of the phytochemistry, pharmacology, traditional uses, as well as toxicity and highlight the prospects for the sustainable use of E. adenophorum. Method: Literature survey was accomplished by using the database including ResearchGate, Science Direct, Web of Science, Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and online books along with some botanical websites. Results: Pharmacological studies of E. adenophorum showed that it poses a wide range of pharmacological properties including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, insecticidal, larvicidal, and cytotoxic, as well as acaricidal properties based on both in vivo and in vitro studies. More than 95 therapeutically active phytochemical compounds have been screened from the plant. Amongst them, only a small number of phytochemicals have been reported to be pharmacologically active. Conclusion: This review can widen the understanding regarding E. adenophorum and highlight its prospects for further research.

Keywords

• Eupatorium adenophorum
• Ageratina adenophora
• traditional uses
• pharmacological activities
• phytochemical compounds