Traditional uses, phytochemistry and biological activities of <i>Cotula cinerea</i> Del: A review

Abstract

Cotula cinerea Del. belongs to the family Asteraceae. It is widely used in the traditional medicinal system for the treatment of various ailments such as colic, cough, diarrhea, digestive disorders, rheumatism, urinary and pulmonary infections, fever and headaches. Cotula cinerea contains a wide range of phytochemical compounds such as saponins, essential oils, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, and terpenoids. This paper reviews information pertaining its traditional uses, phytochemistry and biological activities such as antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, herbicidal, anti-diarrheal and analgesic properties. It is hoped that the information presented here might stimulate further studies that will possibly lead to development of therapeutic agents from this plant.

Structural characterization of bioactive compounds in Cotula cinerea extracts by ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array and high‐resolution time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry detectors

“…The results discussed above indicated that Cotula cinerea extracts contained several phenolic phytochemicals including phenolic acids, flavonoids, and sulfated flavonoids. While the occurrence of phenolic acid derivatives and flavonoids has been previously reported, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of sulfated flavonoids in Cotula cinerea extracts. Given the various biological activities attributed to such compounds in the last decade, including anticoagulant, antiplatelet, antiviral, anti‐inflammatory, immunomodulatory and antitumor properties, their presence in this plant will obviously play an important positive role in its biological activities and will make this plant an open research area for further investigations.…”

“…Among the non-glycosylated detected flavonoids, the quercetin derivatives chrysospenol-D (6), chrysosplenetin (7), oxyayanin-B (8), axillarin (9) and 3-methylquercetin (10), which have all been previously reported in Cotula cinera extracts, 5,6,9 were also detected in these samples. The structures of these compounds were readily assigned through a combination of their UV-vis spectra and highresolution mass spectra in addition to the subsequent MS/MS product ions which were in agreement with the proposed structures and the previously reported data for the proposed compounds.…”

“…From a phytochemical point of view, Cotula cinerea was reported to contain a wide range of phytochemical compounds such as saponins, alkaloids, phenolic acids, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, and terpenoids . Although the phytochemical and the biological activities of Cotula cinerea have been reported in previous studies, the secondary metabolites of the Moroccan plant have not been thoroughly investigated and will be explored in the present work.…”

“…Locally known as "Gartoufa“, the plant is widely used in traditional Moroccan medicine in the form of a decoction, maceration, infusion and inhalation for its biological properties to treat various pathologies. It is thus used against insolation, colic, cough, diarrhea, rheumatism, urinary and pulmonary infections, fever, migraine, headaches, and bronchopulmonary cooling . It is also used for its anti‐inflammatory, analgesic, larvicidal, antiseptic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antipyretic activities .…”

“…It is thus used against insolation, colic, cough, diarrhea, rheumatism, urinary and pulmonary infections, fever, migraine, headaches, and bronchopulmonary cooling . It is also used for its anti‐inflammatory, analgesic, larvicidal, antiseptic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antipyretic activities . The terpenes present in the essential oil are responsible for the characteristic odor of the plant leaves which are used as an infusion or in tea…”