AN APPROACH TO THE GENUS TANACETUM L (COMPOSITAE) - PHYTOCHEMICAL ANDPHARMACOLOGICAL REVIEW

In view of the importance in folk medicine of some species of Tanacetu m L. (Compositae), e.g. T. partheniun, this paper reviews reports of t he past two decades on their phytochemistry and pharmacological action s. The facets of phytochemical composition to be reviewed concern main ly the compounds with a chemosystematic interest in the tribe: terpeno ids, especially sesquiterpenes and sesquiterpene lactones and flavonoi d. The pharmacological activities which make it possible to corroborat e their use as a herbal remedy have also been reviewed.