[Advances in studies on chemical constituents of Senecio]

The large cosmopolitan genus Senecio, a perennial medicinal herb of the family compositae, has been utilized as a anthmicrobial agent. A variety of pyrrolizidine alkaloids and furanoeremophilanes are widespread in the genus Senecio, which are responsible for the hepatotoxic and carchnogenic effects. Some of them have been screened for anti-tumour activity, but their liver toxicity renders their use in chemotherapy. This article reviews the recent advances in chemical constituents, identification methods and pharmacological activities of it.