Senecio scandens Buch. - Ham.: A comprehensive review of botany, phytochemistry, biological activity, toxicity, quality control, application, and practical domain.
Wang X, Wang P, Wang Z, Ma J, Song S, Kong L, Zhang X, Ma W, Liu X.
Medicinal Plants
Climbing groundsel herbal preparations sold at markets worldwide carry the same pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can silently damage your liver — so this safety review is directly relevant to anyone buying, growing, or recommending it as a natural remedy.
Climbing groundsel is a flowering plant long used in traditional medicine to treat eye diseases and skin problems. Researchers combed through 50-plus years of studies and found it harbors over 200 active compounds — some genuinely useful for fighting bacteria, inflammation, and even tumors, but others capable of harming the liver and kidneys if misused. The review maps both the promise and the danger, pushing for clearer safety rules around how it's prepared and dosed.
Key Findings
Over 200 chemical constituents identified from S. scandens, dominated by flavonoids, terpenoids, and alkaloids spanning literature from 1972 to 2025.
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in the plant cause hepatorenal (liver and kidney) toxicity, prompting gradual establishment of safety guidelines and regulated clinical dosage forms.
Confirmed biological activities include anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-tumor effects, with applications spanning medicine, agriculture, animal husbandry, and cosmetics.
chevron_right Technical Summary
A systematic review of climbing groundsel (Senecio scandens) synthesizes over 50 years of research, cataloging 200+ active compounds behind its medicinal uses — while flagging serious liver and kidney toxicity risks from its pyrrolizidine alkaloids that require careful safety management.
Abstract Preview
<h4>Ethnopharmacological relevance</h4>Senecio scandens Buch.-Ham., a medicinal herb from the Asteraceae family, contains flavonoids, terpenoids, and alkaloids as its primary bioactive compounds. I...
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