Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Essential Oils of Genus Tanacetum - a review

The genus Tanacetum belongs to family Asteraceae or Compositae. Literature review revealed that Tanacetum species have been used as remedies in traditional medicine since ancient times throughout the world. The literature review of photochemical studies on different Tanacetum species had revealed the presence of large number of chemical constituents. The essential oil from Tanacetum species constitutes more than 200 compounds. Tanacetum species have traditionally been used in the manufacturing of cosmetics, insecticides, balsams, medicines, dyes, preservatives and in herbal remedies. Interest is increasing in species of Tanacetum due to its essential oils, the presence of sesquiterpene lactones and bitter substances, which has been exhibited biological activities like growth regulating, cytotoxicity, antimicrobial activity etc. This review study is an effort to collect all information regarding chemical composition and biological activities of genus Tanacetum.