AUTHOR=Tian Meng , Huang Yuwen , Wang Xin , Cao Maosheng , Zhao Zijiao , Chen Tong , Yuan Chenfeng , Wang Nan , Zhang Boqi , Li Chunjin , Zhou Xu 

TITLE=Vaccaria segetalis: A Review of Ethnomedicinal, Phytochemical, Pharmacological, and Toxicological Findings

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Chemistry

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/chemistry/articles/10.3389/fchem.2021.666280

DOI=10.3389/fchem.2021.666280

ISSN=2296-2646

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Vaccaria segetalis</italic> is a dry mature seed of Vaccaria hispanica (Mill.) Rauschert, which belongs to the genus <italic>V. segetalis</italic> (Neck.) Garcke. There are multiple medicinal parts of <italic>V. segetalis</italic>, according to the records, including roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and seeds, which should be used together. Currently, <italic>V. segetalis</italic> is most frequently used in the treatment of menstruation, dysmenorrhea, breast milk stoppages, and chylorrhea. Numerous studies present historical evidence of the use of <italic>V. segetalis</italic> to treat several diseases and describe its beneficial effects including prolactin- (PRL-) like, estrogen-like, antitumor, antiangiogenesis, and antioxidant activity. We summarized the period from January 1980 to December 2019 regarding <italic>V. segetalis</italic>. This review paper indicates that <italic>V. segetalis</italic> has promising clinical applications. The main active ingredients of the plant have been elucidated in recent years. We summarized the previously and newly discovered pharmacological effects of <italic>V. segetalis</italic> in addition to its active ingredients, ethnopharmacological uses, and toxicological properties, and provided a focus for future research.</p>