Pharmacognostic and Pharmacological Properties of Eriodictyon crassifolium benth: A Review

Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon crassifolium) is a shrub which have large and wooly leaves. It has an attractive cluster of flowers. Native Americans use leaves of this plant to make tea or syrups. It is found in Southern California up to 4000 feet. It is also known as Felt leaved yerba santa which is a dicot angiosperm belonging to the family Boraginaceae. It is used to treat cold, cough and fever. Several species of Eriodictyon showed anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective activities. The presence of flavanones sterubin, homoeriodictyol and eriodictyol measured by mass spectrometry method. It is also used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. It has shown its potential for antioxidant and anticancer benefits. The Kawaiisu tribe used tea of yerba santa to treat gonorrhea. The tribe community known as ‘chumash’ used its leaves for the purpose of treating diseases like asthma, pneumonia. The whole plant is used in the medicinal purpose including leaves, flowers and stems. Chief chemical constituent is flavanones. Other than flavanones, it also contains flavonoids, tannins and volatile oils.