Abstract

Pluchea is a genus of flowering plant in the Asteraceae family. Members of this genus might be known as camphorweeds, Plucheas, or less uniquely "fleabanes". Some (like  P. carolinensis and P. odorata) are called sourbushes. There are at least 40 species in the genus. They are native to tropical and warm temperate areas. Most take the form of resinous, bushy shrubs. This genus was named for the French naturalist Noël-Antoine Pluche. The plants of Pluchea genus have been used traditionally used as astringent, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, diaphoretic in fevers, smooth muscle relaxant, nerve tonics, laxatives and for the treatment of dysentery, lumbago, leucorrhoea, dysuria, haemorrhoids, gangrenous ulcer and disorders causing cachexia. The chemical investigations on the genus have shown the presence of triterpenes, sterols, flavonoids, glycosides and sesquiterpene lactones. The present review summarizes the various biological studies done on the extracts and bioactive phytoconstituents from the plants of the genus Pluchea over the past few decades.