ABSTRACT
Calligonum comosum L’Hér of the family Polygonaceae is an evergreen shrub with morphological and anatomical features that provide the plant with unique adaptation mechanisms to tolerate variable environmental conditions, including those in the Middle East. For instance, the phytochemical contents of the plants growing in the Middle East are qualitatively and quantitively variable. Most identified phytochemicals include essential oil, phenolic, terpenoids, flavonoids, and alkaloids. Hence, several traditional uses and medical values have been reported. The plant has been used for abdominal and tooth pain and as an anti-inflammatory. Different plant extracts have been reported with anticancer, antihyperglycemic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties and for gastric ulcer. Although the plant’s essential oil showed significant antimicrobial activity against both bacteria and fungi, it also exhibits significant cytotoxic activity. This indicates that the plant uses the oil as a mobile defensive mechanism against microbes and herbivores for its survival. Interestingly, plant extracts exhibit minimal toxicity compared to essential oil, albeit the components of the plant extracts may provide a certain balance that can provide safer human use in agreement with the traditional use of the plant and the reported medical applications of its extracts in vitro and in vivo.
