Ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Ageratum conyzoides Linn (Asteraceae)

In the present review, an attempt has been made to congregate the traditional, phytochemical and pharmacological studies done on an important medicinal plant, Ageratum conyzoides Linn. (Family Asteraceae) which is widely spread all over the world, especially in the tropical and subtropical region. There are many reports on folk and traditional uses that include wound dressing, skin diseases, ophthalmic, colic, ulcers treatment, diarrhoea, dysentery, fever, gynecological diseases, sleeping sickness, mouthwash, anti-inflammatory, insecticides, etc. Phytochemical investigations have revealed that many components are bioactive due to the presence of broad range of secondary active metabolites such as terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, and chromene. The plant has been examined on the basis of the scientific in vitro, in vivo or clinical evaluations possessing the major pharmacological activities that includes analgesic activity, antimicrobial activity, anti-inflammatory activity, spasmolytic effects, gamma radiation effects, anti cancer and radical scavenging activity, antimalarial activity and others activities. The information summarized here is intended to serve as a reference tool to practitioners in the fields of ethnopharmacology, natural product chemistry and drug discovery related research.