|  Botany
A stout annual herb
growing to a height of 30-60 cm , with terete and sparingly branched
stems. Leaves are alternate, oblong-lanceolate, with entire margins,
and narrowed at the base. Blade is green on both sides. Flower head
is terminal, up to 6 cm across, golden yellow, pink, orange to ivory
white, enclosed by strawlike imbricated bracts of varying colors of
red, yellow, brown and white.
Distribution
Thrives best in the
high altitudes, ie, Baguio and Tagaytay .
Constituents
and chemical properties
• Studies have
yielded flavonoids with a predominance of apigenin and luteolin along
with 7-glucoside. source
• Study yielded four flavones and five flavanols. (See
Studies below)
Parts
used
Flowers, aerial parts.
Uses
Folkloric
No reported folkloric
use in the Philippines.
Others
• A
favorite decorative or altar flower, as it lasts indefinitely when dried.
• Scentless when fresh, but said to repel moths when dried.
Studies
• A
2007 study yielded a new gamma- pyrone, sterols and triterpenes from
H. bracteatum. Of seven compounds isolated, 4 were from aerial parts,
3 from flowers. Gamma-pyrone compounds were considered potential anti-cancer
drugs.
• Antiinflammator / Hepatoprotective:
Study yielded four flavones, five flavonols, six caffeoyl derivatives
of quinic acid from the flowers and aerial parts of Helichrysum bracteatum.
The flavonol bractein was the most potent anti-inflammatory
and antipyretic and the flavonol 3,5-dicaffreoylquinic acid was the
most potent analgesic. The flowers showed significant hepatoprotective
effect.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
Ornamental cultivation.
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