Dicoma capensis less: a review of its botany, ethno medicine, phytochemistry and pharmacology

Dicoma capensisis widely used as traditional medicine in southern Africa. The potential of D. capensisas herbal medicine, its botany, phytochemistryand biological activities are reviewed. The literature relevant to the botany, phytochemistryand biological activities of D. capensiswas obtained from the main online scientific sites including ScienceDirect, SciFinder, Pubmed, Google Scholar, Medline and SCOPUS. Searches were also undertaken in the University of Fort Hare library, dissertation and thesis search engines like ProQuest, Open-thesis, OATD, and EthOs. Dicoma capensisis used as herbal medicine against colds, fever, influenza, cancer, stomachproblems, high blood pressure, back pain and diarrhoea in southern Africa. The chemical composition of D. capensisis made up of melampolides, germacranolides, eudesmanolides, steroids, terpenoids, saponins, flavonoids, alcohol precipitable solids (APS), amino acids and phenolic acids. The biological activities demonstrated by the species include antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer and bitterness properties. The traditional ethnomedicinal usage of D. capensishighlights the importance of detailed information on botanical, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and toxicological reports on the species.