Santolina chamaecyparissus L.: a brief overview of its medicinal properties

Santolina chamaecyparissus, also known as cotton-lavender, is a small, compact ever green plant with greyish leaves and yellow inflorescences that bloom in the summer. It is part of the Asteraceae family. This plant can be found locally on both the European and American Continents as well as the western and central Mediterranean regions. It is regarded as an aromatic plant and has been used in folk medicine for a variety of medical conditions, including the relief of premenstrual syndrome, the treatment of infection diseases and digestive disorders. A better understanding of this plant's chemical composition has revealed novel properties that can be used in modern medicine. This plant's extracts have been shown to provide a variety of therapeutic effects, including antineoplastic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifungal, CNS depressant, and anti-cholinergic. In order to further our understanding of the potential health effects of this species, it is therefore worthwhile to invest in clinical research of this plant's extracts. This work reviews the current research on Santolina chamaecyparissus that shows its potential application as a novel treatment approach in modern medicine, making it a functional food and nutraceutical.