Vernonia galamensis is an oilseed plant known for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, chest pain, gastrointestinal diseases, malaria, eye infections, skin infections and as an insecticide. Extracts of V. galamensis are known to have sedative, analgesic, larvicidal activity, antidiabetic, insecticidal, anti-ulcer and aqueous extracts of the leaves showed no toxicity. The phytochemical constituents of the leaves, roots, flowers and seeds of V. galamensis include flavonoids, coumarins, triterpenes, sterols, sesquiterpene lactones, epoxidized fatty acids and adenosine. This review summarizes the ethnobotanical, pharmacological, phytochemical and toxicity studies of V. galamensis (Cass) Less