Biological properties and resistance reversal effect of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don

E. Guinoiseau, V. Lorenzi, A. Luciani, A. Muselli, J. Costa, J. Casanova and L. Berti Université de Corse, UMR CNRS 6134, Laboratoire Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire du Végétal, Campus Grimaldi, BP 52, 20250 Corte, France Université de Corse, UMR CNRS 6134, Laboratoire Chimie des Produits Naturels, Campus Grimaldi, BP 52, 20250 Corte, France Université de Corse, UMR CNRS 6134, Laboratoire de Chimie et Biomasse, Route des Sanguinaires, 20000 Ajaccio, France *E-mail address of corresponding author: [email protected] Helichrysum italicum, which belongs to the family Asteraceae, is an evergreen plant native to the Mediterranean area. Since older times, extracts and essential oils (EOs) from the aerial parts (leaves, flowering tops) of the plant are used in traditional medicine for herbal remedies. They are known to possess several biological properties, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-viral activities, as well as preventive effects against insects. The chemical variability exhibited by H. italicum extracts and EOs could explain all these health promoting activities. This review summaries the present state of knowledge on chemical constituents of H. italicum and its biological properties.