Phytochemical Variation within Aerial Parts of Ferula cupularis Populations, an Endangered Medicinal Plant from Iran

Comparison monoterpene and sesquiterpene, herbage yield of Satureja hortensis, Thymus vulgaris, and Salvia officinalis from the Fars province of Iran

Recently, numerous side effects of synthetic drugs have led to using medicinal plants as a reliable source of new therapy. Pain is a global public health problem with a high impact on life quality and a huge economic implication, becoming one of the most important enemies in modern medicine. The medicinal use of plants as analgesic or antinociceptive drugs in traditional therapy is estimated to be about 80% of the world population. The lamiaceae family, one of the most important herbal families, incorporates a wide variety of plants with biological and medical applications. In this study, the main active compounds of Thymus vulgaris (thymol (51.59%), p-cymene (15.41%), carvacrol (4.52%) and γ-terpinene (12.63%), Salvia officinalis; cis-thujone (38.05%), camphor (16.08%), 1,8-cineole (11.97%), trans-thujone (5.88%), camphene (4.79%), α -pinene (4.69%) and carvacrol (50.68%), γ-terpinene (34.44%) and α-terpinene (3.72%) in Satureja hortensis was determined. The highest EO contents (w/w %) was obtained in the plants of summer savory (2.05%), followed by the garden thyme (1.83%) and common sage (0.55%). It is necessary to identify the most effective compounds in order to extract or synthesise in pure form for future use in the pharmaceutical industry. Also, might be used for isolation of potentially active compounds from some of these medicinal plants in future and formulation of commercial therapeutic agents.

Spasmolytic, Gastroprotective and Antioxidant Activities of Dry Methanol Extract of Ferula heuffelii Underground Parts

Dry MeOH extract of Ferula heuffelii (Apiaceae) underground parts was tested for spasmolytic, gastroprotective and antioxidant activities. HPLC analysis revealed that chlorogenic acid (CGA; 34.6 mg/g) was its main constituent. Extract in vitro exhibited notable total antioxidant activity (FRAP value=1.0 μmol Fe²⁺ /mg), and scavenging of DPPH (SC₅₀ =62.5 μg/ml) and ^• OH radicals (49.5 % at 20 μg/ml in 2-deoxyribose assay). In vitro on isolated rat ileum, extract exhibited significant spasmolytic activity, i. e., it showed 124.6 % of maximal atropine effect on spontaneous contractions (at 100 μg/ml), and reduced spasmogenic effect of KCl (80 mm) to 44.4 % (at 60 μg/ml) and of highest applied concentration of ACh to 26.3 % (at 120 μg/ml). In parallel experiments, spasmolytic effect of CGA was also demonstrated. In acute EtOH-induced gastric ulceration model in rats, extract (100 mg/kg p.o.) showed significant gastroprotective effect (gastric damage score 0.50), similar to ranitidine (20 mg/kg p.o.). Obtained results showed that tested F. heuffelii polar extract represents new herbal preparation with potential use against some gastrointestinal complaints.