Comparative volatile composition, antioxidant and cytotoxic evaluation of the essential oil of Zhumeria majdae from south of Iran

Pharmacological and toxicity effects of Zhumeria majdae and its bioactive constituents: A review

Zhumeria majdae Rech. F. & Wendelbo. traditionally has been used in several remedies, as a carminative agent especially for children, as an antiseptic agent, and it is used in treating diarrhea, stomach irritations, headaches, colds, convulsions, spasms, dysmenorrhea, and healing wounds. According to clinical studies, it is highly effective for reducing inflammation and pain, treating bacterial and fungal infections, morphine tolerance, morphine dependence, withdrawal syndrome symptoms, convulsions, and diabetes. The goal of this review is to find therapeutic opportunities by analyzing the traditional uses and pharmacological effects of the chemical constituents of Z. majdae. The information on Z. majdae in this review was gathered from scientific databases or search engines (PubMed, Wiley Online Library, Scopus, SID, Google Scholar, and Microsoft Academic). The literature cited in this review dates from 1992 to 2021. Several bioactive components including linalool, camphor, manool, and bioactive diterpenoids are presen in different parts of Z. majdae. Various properties were observed such as antioxidant, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, larvicidal, anticonvulsant, antidiabetic, and anticancer properties. Also, the effect of Z. majdae on morphine tolerance, morphine dependence, and withdrawal syndrome as well as its toxicology has been established. Although there are in vitro and animal studies on several pharmacological effects of Z. majdae, the lack of clinical studies is significant. Therefore, further clinical trials should be performed to confirm the in vitro and animal findings.

Phytochemical and biological activities of some Iranian medicinal plants

CONTEXT

Due to adverse effects of synthetic compounds, there is a growing interest in utilization of plant-derived natural products in the pharmaceutical and food industries. Iranian endemic medicinal plants widely used in traditional practice have attracted much attention as antibacterial and antioxidant agents.

OBJECTIVE

This review attempts to compile the accessible scientific research pertained to phytochemical compounds, antibacterial and antioxidant effects of essential oils obtained from some of the most widely used and distributed medicinal plants in Iran.

METHODS

This review has been compiled using references via reliable databases (Google Scholar, SID and Science Direct) from 2010 to 2020. This literature review was limited to references published in English and Persian languages.

RESULTS

Based on studies heretofore carried out, essential oils isolated from mentioned medicinal plants exhibited strong antioxidant activity which is attributed to their main phytochemical compounds; thymol, carvacrol, p-cymene and γ-terpinene. In addition, the antibacterial activities of essential oils of most plant species from Apiaceae and Asteraceae families were more susceptible against Gram-positive bacteria; Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus than Gram-negative bacteria; however, essential oils of other studied plant species manifested similar behaviours against both Gram-positive and -negative bacteria.

CONCLUSIONS

As there is rich ethnobotanical knowledge behind Iranian endemic medicinal plants, further scientific research is required to prove their safety and efficacy. This review revealed that there are numerous valuable medicinal plants adoptable in food and pharmaceutical industries in the near future.

An In Vitro Evaluation of the Molecular Mechanisms of Action of Medical Plants from the Lamiaceae Family as Effective Sources of Active Compounds against Human Cancer Cell Lines

It is predicted that 1.8 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed worldwide in 2020; of these, the incidence of lung, colon, breast, and prostate cancers will be 22%, 9%, 7%, and 5%, respectively according to the National Cancer Institute. As the global medical cost of cancer in 2020 will exceed about $150 billion, new approaches and novel alternative chemoprevention molecules are needed. Research indicates that the plants of the Lamiaceae family may offer such potential. The present study reviews selected species from the Lamiaceae and their active compounds that may have the potential to inhibit the growth of lung, breast, prostate, and colon cancer cells; it examines the effects of whole extracts, individual compounds, and essential oils, and it discusses their underlying molecular mechanisms of action. The studied members of the Lamiaceae are sources of crucial phytochemicals that may be important modulators of cancer-related molecular targets and can be used as effective factors to support anti-tumor treatment.