The genus Echinops (Asteraceae family, Echinopeae class) consists of ca. 120 species and is native to Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. In Algeria, this genus is represented by the very common species Echinops spinosus L. also known as tesskra, which is used as a diuretic, hypoglycemic, and stomachic effects, liver disorders, and post-partum care. This review summarizes and compares recent data on E. spinosus from North-Africa. In this review we also present various aspects of the ethnopharmacognosy, including the ethnomedicinal uses, chemical constituents, and pharmacological potential. Further investigations are required to evaluate the toxicity and the clinical safety of different species used in Algeria.
Key words: Echinops species, Algeria, E. spinosus, ethnomedicinal, pharmacology.
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