From Ethnobotany to Pharmacology: A Comprehensive Review of Selected Asteraceae Species Highlighting Phytochemical Composition, Traditional Uses, and Diverse Pharmacological Activities
Abstract
Medicinal plants are widely used in the Mediterranean region, where they have long been employed in traditional medicine as well as in the food and beverage industry. At the same time, people in developed countries are increasingly dissatisfied with modern healthcare due to the side effects and complications associated with chemical drugs, prompting a growing interest in more natural alternative treatments. The Asteraceae family is one of the largest flowering plant families, containing many species with medicinal properties. It comprises over 1600 genera and approximately 25,000 species worldwide. Silybum marianum, Picnomon acarna, Glebionis segetum, and Carduus pycnocephalus are invasive species in the Mediterranean region belonging to the Asteraceae family. Although they have been used traditionally to treat certain diseases, their biological and pharmacological potential has not yet been fully explored. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the phytochemical components, geographical and botanical characteristics, traditional uses, pharmacological activities, and potential applications of these species in green nanotechnology and the food industry.
Related
- Phytochemical Diversity, Extraction Strategies, Pharmacological Activities of Larix sibirica: A Comprehensive Review
- Phytochemical Profiling and Safety Assessment of Maerua crassifolia Forssk. Aerial Parts Infusion With Pharmacological Validation of Its Analgesic and Anti‐Inflammatory Activities
- Cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.): Phytochemical Constituents and Biological Potential from a Pharmacological Perspective.
- Phytochemical Screening, Pharmacological Evaluation, and Exploratory In Silico Analysis of Emilia sonchifolia Extract and Solvent Fractions.
- Organ-dependent phytochemical and pharmacological specialization in the endemic Adenocarpus decorticans Boiss.
BibTeX
@article{khoury2026from,
title = {{From Ethnobotany to Pharmacology: A Comprehensive Review of Selected Asteraceae Species Highlighting Phytochemical Composition, Traditional Uses, and Diverse Pharmacological Activities}},
author = {Joy Khoury and Magda Lena El Dada and Heba Hellany and Ghosoon Albahri and Rola Abdallah and Raya I Hage and Mikhael Bechelany and Elias Baydoun},
journal = {Pharmaceuticals},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.3390/ph19081220},
url = {https://hal.umontpellier.fr/hal-05795363v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - From Ethnobotany to Pharmacology: A Comprehensive Review of Selected Asteraceae Species Highlighting Phytochemical Composition, Traditional Uses, and Diverse Pharmacological Activities
AU - Joy Khoury
AU - Magda Lena El Dada
AU - Heba Hellany
AU - Ghosoon Albahri
AU - Rola Abdallah
AU - Raya I Hage
AU - Mikhael Bechelany
AU - Elias Baydoun
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/03
JO - Pharmaceuticals
DO - 10.3390/ph19081220
UR - https://hal.umontpellier.fr/hal-05795363v1
AB - Medicinal plants are widely used in the Mediterranean region, where they have long been employed in traditional medicine as well as in the food and beverage industry. At the same time, people in developed countries are increasingly dissatisfied with modern healthcare due to the side effects and complications associated with chemical drugs, prompting a growing interest in more natural alternative treatments. The Asteraceae family is one of the largest flowering plant families, containing many species with medicinal properties. It comprises over 1600 genera and approximately 25,000 species worldwide. Silybum marianum, Picnomon acarna, Glebionis segetum, and Carduus pycnocephalus are invasive species in the Mediterranean region belonging to the Asteraceae family. Although they have been used traditionally to treat certain diseases, their biological and pharmacological potential has not yet been fully explored. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the phytochemical components, geographical and botanical characteristics, traditional uses, pharmacological activities, and potential applications of these species in green nanotechnology and the food industry.
SN - 1424-8247
ER -