The genus Calea L.: A review on traditional uses, phytochemistry, and biological activities

Calea L. is a genus of shrubs and perennial herbs belonging to Asteraceae family. It is a very well-known genus, consisting of approximately 125 neotropical species. Calea genus is a rich source of phytochemicals, and some of its species have been used in folk medicine to treat several health problems such as diabetes, arterial hypertension, respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders, gastric ulcers, and inflammation. Many studies have demonstrated the pharmacological potential of this genus, including antinociceptive, antihypertensive, antidiarrheal, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antiproliferative, and cytotoxic activities. Moreover, bioactive constituents related to these properties are mainly sesquiterpene lactones and phenolic derivatives. In this review, we compiled the literature data up to December 2016, furnishing a comprehensive survey about medicinal uses, chemistry, and biological activities from Calea species. Bibliographic search was performed in several search engines using Calea as search keyword. Further, a manual literature search of references found in the selected studies was also conducted. There was no initial time limit.