Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Sunflower name derives from the Greek work helios, meaning sun; and anthos, for flower.
Sunflower is a coarse, stout and erect annual plant, up to 1 to 3 meters high. Stems are straight, rarely
branched. Leaves are opposite at the lower part of the stem, alternate above, ovate, rough, hairy, with
toothed margins, long-stalked, 10 to 25 centimeters long. Lower leaves are somewhat heart-shaped.
Flower heads are solitary or in clusters, up to 40 centimeters across. Disk flowers are yellow to brown,
with tubular, 5-limbed corolla. Ray flowers are yellow and spreading. Involucral bracts are ovate or
oblong.
Distribution
Constituents
- Plant contains an oleic acid and triacyl glycerol, alkaloids, cyanogenic glycosides, saponins, cardiac
glycosides, tannins, fixed oils, phenolics.
Properties
Parts used
Seeds, flowers, roots, bark.
Uses
Edible
- The oil is low in cholesterol, considered olive-oil quality and used for salads and cooking.
- Tea from flowers, dried or fresh leaves is used for facilitating expectoration, relieving coughs, colds.
- For whooping cough, an infusion of the brown seeds, drink the tea 4 to 5 times daily.
- Decoction of seeds used as diuretic and expectorant; used for bronchial and pulmonary affections,
coughs and colds.
- For diabetes, tea from decocted roots (10 gms to half a glass of water).
- When flowers and leaves are mixed with oil, let stand for 5-10 days before using.
- The bark (boiled) and flowers (steeped) used for fevers, 3- 4 tbsp 3-4 times daily.
- Poultice of leaves used for sores, insect bites and snake bites.
- Tincture of flowers and leaves mixed with balsamics used for bronchiectasis.
- Tincture prepared from seeds, rectified with wine, used for fevers and ague, in lieu of quinine.
- In Brazil, leaves used as substitute for Datura stramonium for treatment of asthma.
- Tincture of bark and flowers employed for intermittent fevers resistent to quinine.
Other uses
- A purple dye is obtained from some varieties.
- Outer part of the stem has a little fiber, when freed from the pith can be made into paper.
- Oil mixed with a drying oil (as linseed) to make soap, candles, varnishes, paint, etc.
Antimicrobial activity of some medicinal plants against some Gram positive, Gram negative and
fungi: Study showed the methanol extracts of HA showed low activity against B subtilis and
pronounced activity against Proteus vulgaris.
Antiasthma:
Study of the aqueous extract of Helianthus annuus seed on an in vivo anti-asthmatic model showed a
decrease of CD4 cells, IL-4/IL-13 expression and IgE secretion levels in the lung. Results suggest the
HAS extract has considerable potential in reducing asthma-like symptoms in a mouse model and
suggests further purification of the extract to determine the factors responsible for antiasthmatic
activity.
Study showed that sunflower pollen has high allergenic potential, especially with close contact, as in
workplace exposure which can result in impairment of lung function.
Antioxidant:
Study showed high antioxidant capacity in the aqueous extract of the sunflower seed and suggests a
potential for preventing in vivo oxidative reactions involved in diseases, such as cancer.
In a study of four edible sprouts in Chinese markets, the sunflower sprout H. annuus exhibited the
strongest inhibitory effects against the formation of glycation end products. The antioxidant capacity
of H. annuus was much stronger than the other samples. Study yielded cynarin (1,5-dicaffeoylquinic
acid), an active ingredient with a novel function of intervening against glycooxidation. Results suggest
sunflower sprouts of H. annuus may have benefits as food supplement in diabetic patients.
Gold nanoparticles have become an important tool in the development of novel biological and
chemical processes. Study showed H. annuus mediated gold nanoparticles could be an effective
antimicrobial agent and present a potential alternative for the development of new antimicrobials for
resistance problems.
Antidiabetic / Seeds:
Study of an ethanolic extract of seeds in STZ-induced T2 diabetic rats showed the potential
antidiabetic property. Chlorogenic acid in seeds is reported to have an antidiabetic effect.
Study showed cadmium exposure induces the formation of phytochelatins in root tissues and leaves.
Phytochelatins may play an important role in removing heavy metals from polluted environments and
bioremediation.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
Cantaloupe Cashew apple Dragon Fruit Durian Fig Jack fruit Jamun