RUDBECKIA HIRTA L.: AN UPDATE REVIEW OF ITS PHYTOCHEMISTRY, TRADITIONAL USES AND ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY

Abstract

The demand for ornamental plants is expected to increase in the future due to the growth of global trade. Nowadays, interactions with urban green infrastructure largely define people’s encounters with nature within cities.Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta L.), a flowering plant with various traditional medicinal uses, has recently garnered interest for its therapeutic properties. However, little is known about the potential therapeutic activities of the plant species.Rudbeckia, a genus within the Asteraceae family, is native to North America. This review aims to examine the literature on the ethnobotany, chemical composition, and bioactivity to date on this genus to provide a basis for future exploration into its medicinal potential.The species has several chemical constituents that are thought to contribute to its potential bioactive properties. These include flavonoids with anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial activities, such as quercetin and its glycosides, kaempferol and quercetagetin derivatives, patuletin and eupatolin. Several polyphenolic acids, such as caffeic and chlorogenic acids, are also known to be present in the plant. Other chemical constituents of R. hirta include terpenes, which are thought to be responsible for the plant’s distinctive taste and smell and its antibacterial properties. Further studies on this plant must be carried out to explore some other important, necessary, and unknown benefits.