Figure 1.

Traditional uses and observed biological effects of A. scoparia and its constituents. Illustration of the ethnopharmacology of A. scoparia, experimental models used in the study of its bioactivity, and its principal observed effects in pathophysiological conditions. Center: A photograph of A. scoparia is shown along with a diagram of the plant parts used in traditional medicine and in modern studies. For use or study of SCOPA, extracts, fractions, or isolated bioactive compounds have been obtained from its flowers, leaves, stems, roots, and seeds, as well as the whole plant. Left: Traditional folk medicine indications and formulations as documented in ethnobotanical studies. Right: Modern scientific studies have included numerous model systems, such as humans, rodents, and microorganisms; in vitro studies in differentiating and mature adipocytes, immune cells, and cancer cells; and cell-free assays of antioxidant or enzymatic activities. Data from scientific studies support some of the ethnopharmacology claims and reveal additional pathophysiologies that may benefit from use of SCOPA extracts or its isolated bioactive constituents.