A Review of Chemical Compounds and Bioactivity of Conyza Species

Abstract

A large proportion of the African population's primary healthcare requirements are still mostly met by traditional medicine. Previous studies have demonstrated the potential of plant extracts disease management. Conyza species are traditionally used for a variety of pharmacological applications including treatment of malaria, smallpox, chickenpox, sore throat, ringworm and other skin related infections, toothache and wounds. The aim of this study was to provide a review of the chemical compounds from Conyza species and their bioactivities. Extracts from Conyza species have a wide range of bioactivities including antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antimicrobial, antitumor, analgesic, antiplasmodial, wound healing, insecticidal, allopathic, antidiabetic, antiviral, anticonvulsant and anti-amnesic effects. These bioactivities are attributed to the bioactive secondary metabolite including terpenoids, phenolic acids, flavonoids and tannins, saponins and steroids which are biosynthesized by the plants. Previous phytochemical test have shown that Conyza species are rich in alkaloids. However, the information about the alkaloids previously isolated from Conyza species is scanty in literature. Further studies should be done isolate and characterize the alkaloids from the plants.