Verbesina persicifolia DC: del Conocimiento Ancestral a las Fronteras de la Farmacología Moderna

Verbesina persicifolia DC, commonly known as huichín, is a plant mainly used in Mexican traditional medicine, recognized for its property to treat a wide range of gastrointestinal, inflammatory, renal, and metabolic disorders. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the ethnobotanical, phytochemical, and pharmacological literature related to this species, including studies published from 1980 to 2025 retrieved from international databases and specialized sources. Phytochemical investigations have revealed the presence of several bioactive metabolites, including eudesmane-type sesquiterpenes, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds, all of which are associated with diverse biological activities. Experimentally, both crude extracts and isolated compounds have demonstrated hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, antimicrobial, wound-healing, and anxiolytic effects in cellular and animal models, thus corroborating the ethnobotanical knowledge accumulated through generations. In recent years, nanotechnology has enabled the development of zinc oxide nanocomplexes combined with V. persicifolia extracts (ZnO-Vp), which have enhanced its therapeutic efficacy and achieved outcomes comparable to conventional drugs such as glibenclamide, naproxen, and diazepam. Nevertheless, significant challenges remain regarding in the standardization of extracts, the characterization of underlying molecular mechanisms, and necessity of run clinical trials in humans. The available scientific evidence positions V. persicifolia as a promising candidate for the development of innovative phytopharmaceuticals, needed to solve health necessities in mexican society.