86THE CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS AND PHARMACOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF CAPSELLA BURSA-PASTORIS- A REVIEWHerbal medicine is the oldest form of healthcare known to mankind. Herbs had been used by all cultures throughout history. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 80 percent of the world populations presently use herbal medicine for some aspect of primary health care. Capsella bursa-pastoris is one of the plants commonly used in the traditional medicine in many countries. It contained a wide range of chemicals including flavonoids, polypeptides, choline, acetylcholine, histamine, tyramine, fatty acids, sterols, organic acids, amino acids, sulforaphane, many trace elements, vitamins and many other compounds. Capsella bursa-pastoris exerted antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cardiovascular, reproductive, anticancer, hepato-protective, sedative and other pharmacological effects. The present review will highlight the chemical constituents and the pharmacological and therapeutic effects of Capsella bursa-pastoris.aboahmad61@yahoo.comReview522015Capsella bursa-pastoris, Chemical constituents,pharmacologyAli Esmail Al-SnafiDepartment of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Thiqar University, Nasiriyah, PO Box 42, Iraq.