In the whole world, a large number of plants have therapeutic potential and used in the treatment of various dise-ases in different populations. Heliotropium (Boraginaceae) is a widely spread genus of plants found in the tempe-rate and the tropical regions of both hemispheres and used for the treatment of diseases from ancient times. In folk medicine history, the plants of genus Heliotropium include treatments of inflammations, gout, rheumatism, skin diseases, menstrual disorder, and poisonous bites. Phytochemical reports on genus Heliotropium revealed the presence of many bioactive components especially pyrrolizidine alkaloids, terpenoids and flavonoids. A large num-ber of extracts and bioactive constituents of different species of genus Heliotropium revealed significant biological activities such as antimicrobial, antitumor, antiviral, antiinflammatory, wound healing, cytotoxicity and phyto-toxicity. Different parts of plants of genus Heliotropium are examined for valuable pharmacognostic properties. Although its medicinal importance is recognized worldwide, this review artifact will thus, comprehensively describe the various medicinal effects of the plants, isolation of a large number of secondary metabolites and important pharmacognostic characteristics of genus Heliotropium of Boraginaceae family.
Keywords: Genus Heliotropium, Biological activities, Secondary metabolites, Pharmacognostic characters, Boraginaceae.