The chemistry and pharmacology of Edelweiss: a review

Leontopodium nivale ssp. alpinum (syn. Leontopodium alpinum) is a perennial herb commonly known as Edelweiss, which has a long tradition in Alpine countries and adjacent regions as a medicinal plant. This review discusses current knowledge on the traditional uses, chemistry, biological activities and toxicology of this species. Several different classes of compounds such as terpenoids (analogues of sesquiterpenes, bisabolenes), phenylpropanoids (phenolic acids, flavonoids, coumarins, lignans), fatty acids and polyacetylenes were previously isolated from various parts of Edelweiss. Different types of extracts and compounds derived from this plant have been found to possess a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities on the cardiovascular and nervous systems. Furthermore, the plant have known anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant and chemo-protective effects. The observed pharmacological activities as well as toxicological profile of preparations and isolated compounds of Edelweiss support the view that these might be used in the development of agents with therapeutic benefit in various human diseases. Some suggestions for further research on chemical characterization and pharmacological properties are also given in this review.