Abstract
Wedelia calendulacea (L.) Less. is a perennial herb of the family Asteraceae (Asteraceae), native to eastern Asia. Its distribution area includes China, Japan, Taiwan, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Sri Lanka.
The leaves and stems of W. calendulacea are used in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, particularly for the treatment of liver diseases. The herb is also used to treat coughing, headaches, respirátory infections, bleeding, indigestion, diarrhoea and some skin diseases.
The flowers and fruits are also used for therapeutic purposes. The plant contains high quantities of biologically active compounds.
The main contained substances are the coumestans wedelolactone (7-methoxy-5,11,12-trihydroxy-coumestan) and demethylwedelo-lactone. Wedelolactone is a natural polyphenolic substance isolated besides W. calendulacea also from the plant Eclipta prostrata.
In several types of cancer cells, the antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects of wedelolactone have been demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo. Recently, W. calendulacea has become the subject of interest of modern medicine, and its healing effects are confirmed by a large number of studies.
Especially perspective is the hepatoprotective effect of the plant's leaf extract, as it protects against the harmful effects of hepatotoxins. In addition, it has been determined that it also has antitumor, neuroprotective, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiandrogen effects.
Intensive research is being devoted to the use of the substances contained in the plant for the treatment of tumors. The results are promising, so the substances contained in Wedelia calendulacea might provide health benefits even in modern medicine.