Helichrysum conglobatum (Asteraceae) is an important economic and medicinal plant. The proximate composition of different plant parts was determined. Sugars, amino acids, and lipids have been analyzed using HPLC, Amino Acid Analyzer and GLC respectively. Seasonal changes in plant moisture content, ash, organic matter, crude fiber, carbohydrate, nitrogen, protein and lipid were monitored. Ash content, (acid soluble, acid insoluble, water-soluble, water-insoluble) and crude fiber contents gradually increased from winter to summer. Water content, organic matter, total carbohydrates, soluble and insoluble carbs, total nitrogen, total protein and total lipids decreased gradually from winter to summer. Drought decreased photosynthesis consequently reduced the total carbohydrates. The decrease in total nitrogen and total protein is possibly linked to the buildup of some amino acids (like proline), that regulates cell osmoregulation. High content of lipids in winter can probably be accredited to the augmented metabolic rate, which elevated carbohydrate content, which converted to lipids by oxidation reaction. Glucose was the highest free sugar detected while ribose and rhamnose were the highest combined sugars. Serine was the major free amino acid. Phenylalanine, aspartic and arginine were the major protein amino acids. The physical and chemical properties of lipids, saponifiable, unsaponifiable matter fractions, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were investigated.
