Helichrysum italicum: THE SLEEPING GIANT OF MEDITERRANEAN HERBAL MEDICINE.

The article presents Helichrysum italicum, an iconic plant of the Mediterranean area and outlines its ethnopharmacology given the modern molecular investigations of its constituents and their pharmacological targets. H. italicum is known and valued for its scent, referred to as rosy, exotic and spicy reminiscent of the perfume of licorice, Indian curry and roses. The plant has culinary uses and is the source of an expensive and highly sought-after European honeys, miele di spiaggia.