The genus Sida includes about 200 species worldwide. Its history in folk medicine is extensive, as it has been used to treat various conditions such as inflammation, pain, and nervousness. Pharmacologically, preclinical studies have attributed antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and sedative properties to Sida, related to the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, and coumarins. A relevant point of this review is that, despite the number of Sida species, only 17 of them have pharmacological reports, emphasizing their great potential, such as S. rhombifolia, which requires further research to conduct clinical trials, since only S. cordifolia has undergone clinical trials with arthritis patients. The objective of this review was to conduct a literature search across different databases, to update the available information on the ethnomedical use, phytochemistry, and pharmacological potential of 17 Sida species. The information compiled in this review aims to highlight the therapeutic importance of Sida species, whether they have been researched or not. This genus is a promising field for scientific advances in chemistry and pharmacology. It also has the potential to create appropriate conditions for obtaining plant material in a systematic and sustainable manner, to prevent overexploitation and encourage clinical studies leading to pharmaceutical formulations for therapy.
Keywords: Sida spp.; alkaloids; ethnobotany; pharmacology; secondary metabolites; traditional medicine.