Withania adpressa Coss. ex Batt: A comprehensive review on its chemical composition, traditional uses, and biological activities.

The plant kingdom is estimated to produce at least 250,000 distinct natural products, a significant proportion of which remain structurally and biologically uncharacterized, representing a vast, underexplored reservoir of chemical diversity. Withania adpressa Coss. ex Batt is an endemic species of the Moroccan Sahara and a member of the Solanaceae family. Traditionally, nearly all parts of the plant, including roots, leaves, flowers, and fruits have been used to treat digestive disorders, gastritis, colds, rheumatoid arthritis, and for their purported diuretic and aphrodisiac effects. The plant is notably rich in bioactive secondary metabolites, particularly withanolides, which are largely responsible for its diverse pharmacological properties, including antitumor, anticancer, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities. Despite promising findings supporting its anticancer potential, no W. adpressa based-extract has yet been developed into a commercially available traditional medicine. In this line, further studies and clinical trials are needed to confirm the plant's therapeutic potential and explore additional applications. This review consolidates, for the first time, current chemical, and biological research on W. adpressa, with a focus on its most bioactive extracts, fractions, and compounds, aiming to support their development into phytopharmaceutical development.