Search Results (832)

The effects of progressive drought stress were examined in four economically important plant species belonging to the Lamiaceae family: catnip (Nepeta cataria L.), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.), holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum L.), and perilla mint (Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton). Plants were grown in a controlled pot experiment under three soil water capacity levels: 70% (control), 50% (moderate stress), and 30% (severe stress), and the drought stress lasted for 30 days. The study evaluated a comprehensive set of leaf micromorphological parameters, including the density and diameter of glandular trichomes, stomatal density and size, and the thickness of the lamina, mesophyll, epidermis, cuticle, and parenchymal layers. In addition, essential oil (EO) content, total flavonoid content (TFC), and elemental composition were analyzed. Drought responses were strongly species-specific. O. tenuiflorum, P. frutescens, and N. cataria showed high sensitivity characterized by reduced biomass and thinning of leaf tissues. These changes were accompanied by typical xeromorphic adaptations, such as increased stomatal and glandular trichome density, and reduced stomatal size. L. angustifolia exhibited pronounced cuticle thickening, suggesting an effective structural mechanism to minimize water loss. Secondary metabolism also responded differently among species. In some cases, drought shifted metabolic allocation toward flavonoid accumulation at the expense of essential oils, whereas in others, moderate stress promoted the co-accumulation of both compounds. These patterns indicate distinct adaptive strategies linking anatomical plasticity with metabolic regulation. Overall, moderate drought supported adaptive responses, while severe water limitation impaired growth and metabolic production. From a practical perspective, maintaining moderate soil water availability appears critical to optimize both plant performance and the accumulation of valuable secondary metabolites in Lamiaceae species. Full article

Background/Objectives: Lamiaceae species are valuable sources of bioactive natural products, often associated with anti-infective properties. This study investigated chemical composition and bioactivities of dry hydroethanolic extracts and essential oils from Micromeria nervosa (Desf.) Benth. aerial parts from two localities. Methods: Extracts and essential oils were analyzed using LC-DAD-QTOF-MS/MS and GC-FID/MS, respectively. Antimicrobial activity was assessed against 14 strains (microdilution method), and antiviral activity against three viruses by determining cytopathic effects, viral titers (end-point dilution assay) and viral loads (qPCR/RT-qPCR). Cytotoxicity was evaluated on three cancer cell lines (MTT assay) and antioxidant potential using three colorimetric tests. Composition–activity correlation was statistically analyzed; in silico molecular docking/dynamics simulations were performed. Results: Thirty-five compounds were annotated in extracts, including 30 reported for the first time in this species, with rosmarinic acid as the main component. Essential oils contained 31 constituents, dominated by carvacrol. Newly detected phenolics included lithospermic acid and several salvianolic and clinopodic acids. Extracts and oils exhibited notable antibacterial activity, especially against five Gram-positive strains (MIC = 0.313–2.5 mg/mL), and oils showed marked anticandidal effects (MIC = 0.313–0.625 mg/mL) and enhanced cytotoxicity against colon, gastric and hypopharyngeal cancer cells (selectivity indices ≥ 1.66). Extracts displayed potent antiviral activity against human herpesvirus 1 (HHV-1) and adenovirus Ad5, reducing cytopathic effects and viral titers, with qPCR revealing decreased HHV-1 load. In silico analysis suggested HHV-1 glycoprotein D binding. Extracts also showed strong antioxidant potential. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that M. nervosa is a rich source of compounds with antimicrobial/antiviral, cytotoxic and antioxidant activities, warranting further research. Full article

The genus Scutellaria (Lamiaceae) is a phytochemically rich and medicinally important group of plants. Scutellaria species have been characterized by biologically active flavonoids such as baicalin, baicalein, and wogonin. In the present study, the essential oils of S. angustifolia, S. baicalensis, S. barbata, and S. lateriflora, cultivated in eastern Oregon, were obtained by means of hydrodistillation and analyzed using gas chromatographic methods. We hypothesize that the essential oils have compositions that may play a role in the traditional uses and biological activities of the genus. The major components in S. angustifolia essential oils were germacrene D (32.5–58.3%), (E)-β-caryophyllene (4.9–29.2%), and β-bourbonene (2.8–9.4%). Scutellaria barbata essential oil was dominated by 1-octen-3-ol (59.9%), with lower concentrations of linalool (9.5%) and (2E)-hexenal (5.1%). The major components in the essential oil of S. lateriflora were 1-octen-3-ol (28.3%), acetophenone (24.8%), benzaldehyde (7.5%), limonene (6.0%), (E)-benzalacetone (5.9%), and β-phellandrene (5.1%). The major components of the essential oil of S. baicalensis were 1-octen-3-ol (22.3%), (E)-β-caryophyllene (22.3%), and germacrene D (28.3%). This study demonstrates that Scutellaria can be cultivated in eastern Oregon. Additionally, S. angustifolia essential oil has been characterized for the first time. Full article

Oyamel forest, Abies religiosa (Kunth) Schltdl. et Cham., is a high-mountain ecosystem that contains abundant biodiversity, contributes to supporting traditional medicine, and represents a reservoir of medicinal plants. Despite this medicinal relevance, the potential of the flora of the Mexican Oyamel forest from Santuario del Agua Presa Corral de Piedra (SAPCP), Mexico, has been scarcely studied. This review focused on identifying the flora of the SAPCP which has been reported as medicinal resource in the literature through the recovery of ethnomedicinal uses and their proven pharmacological effects. In addition, phytochemical reports of the SAPCP medicinal flora and their pharmacological activities were integrated and analyzed to estimate their medicinal potential. The results showed that the SAPCP forest represents an important source of medicinal plants, with 39% of the total species reporting at least one ethnomedicinal use belonging to different taxonomic families, but mainly included Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Rosaceae, and Solanaceae. The most commonly observed ethnomedicinal uses among all the species were against inflammation, infections, diarrhea, and diabetes, while antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory effects were predominantly proven as pharmacological effects. The phytochemical results revealed a great diversity of secondary metabolites, although flavonoids, phenolic acids, and triterpenes were observed in a major number of species, many of which have been proven to exert anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and antibacterial effects through several action mechanisms. In conclusion, these results highlight the importance of sustainable management and the conservation of forest species, as they provide a reservoir of medicinal species that produce bioactive metabolites. Full article

Phlomis L., with more than 100 species belonging to the Lamiaceae family, is a genus encompassing a diverse group of plants known for their rich phytochemical profiles and important medicinal properties. Phlomis kurdica Rech. fil. is a member of this genus widely distributed in the Middle East, especially in Iran, Iraq and Türkiye. In traditional medicine, Phlomis species have been employed in the treatment of various disorders, particularly skin conditions such as wound healing, as well as diabetes, hemorrhoids, inflammation, and gastric ulcers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the biological activities of Phlomis kurdica on skin-related enzymes and to evaluate its phytochemical properties using HPTLC, LC-MS/MS. Additionally, an emulgel formulation was developed with methanolic extract of the plant and characterized in terms of spreadability, textural profile analysis, pH, viscosity, and content quantification determination. In vitro release and rheology studies were carried out following the characterization investigations. According to our investigations, P. kurdica may be a useful component of wrinkle prevention and skin-regenerating products. Full article

Species of the genus Stachys (Lamiaceae) are recognized for their ethnobotanical importance and chemical diversity. In this study, the essential oil (EOS) and solvent extracts of the endemic species Stachys sparsipilosa were investigated using integrated GC–MS and LC–ESI–QTOF/MS approaches. GC–MS analysis showed that identified constituents accounted for 94.62% of the total oil, with caryophyllene oxide, kauran-16-ol, and cubebol as major components. Targeted LC–MS analysis quantified prominent phenolic compounds, including chlorogenic acid, rutin, and hesperidin, while untargeted metabolomics tentatively annotated 168 metabolites belonging to phenolics, terpenoids, and other classes. Antioxidant capacity was evaluated using complementary in vitro assays, and enzyme inhibitory activities against α-amylase, α-glucosidase, tyrosinase, acetylcholinesterase, and butyrylcholinesterase were assessed in comparison with standard inhibitors. The extracts demonstrated measurable but generally moderate activities relative to the corresponding positive controls. The essential oil exhibited moderate, non-selective cytotoxic effects at relatively high concentrations, whereas solvent extracts showed limited activity within the tested range. Molecular docking analyses were performed as supportive tools to explore possible enzyme–ligand interactions. Overall, S. sparsipilosa displays a chemically diverse metabolite profile associated with composition-dependent bioactivities, providing a basis for further mechanistic and in vivo studies. Full article

Mentha are historically important regarding their volatile oils. Since limited accounts exist for Australian species, we document the variation in volatiles across all Australian Mentha species, using the GC/MS of pentane extractions from leaf samples of replicate populations for all known species. Oil yields were consistently poor (<0.2% w/w) for freshly dried and herbarium specimens. Many species uniformly had high percentages of volatiles characteristically attributed to Mentha (viz. Menthone, Pulegone); yet, others—consistently or variably—lacked them. Mentha australis had the highest concentrations of menthone (25%), isomenthone, (9%) and pulegone (24%), and M. diemenica had menthone (32.5%) and pulegone (29.8%). Extracts from M. grandiflora from herbarium specimens produced weak traces, high in menthone and pulegone. Mentha satureioides had the highest menthone (20–30%) and pulegone (22–28%) in populations across the extent of its range; yet, an entirely different chemotype was identified from eastern New South Wales that contained limonene (17%), 1,8-cineole (19%), and α-terpineol (8%). Mentha laxiflora consistently exhibited limonene (27%); yet, the levels of the other main components (e.g., menthone, β-pinene, germacrene-D, and bicyclogermacrene) varied across populations. Mentha atrolilacina exhibited the most unique oil profile, with main components consisting of linalool (21%), β-caryophyllene (14%), germacrene-D (14%), and bicyclogermacrene (23.7%). Commercial samples of M. satureioides were found only to be the chemotype high in limonene (17%) and 1,8-cineole, which warrants further taxonomic research and caution for the industry seeking mint flavours from Australian sources. Full article

The accelerated pace of urbanization has significant effects on the community composition, structure, regional distribution, and diversity characteristics of vegetation within urban river corridors. Spontaneous plants have strong environmental adaptability, high plasticity, and shorter life cycles; they also operate largely independently of human control. As a result, they are widely distributed throughout urban river corridors, and their ability to respond rapidly to heterogeneous habitats within these corridors makes them an ideal subject for studying the reciprocal mechanisms between rapid urbanization and riverine biodiversity. Based on a survey of 208 plots across six river corridors in Changchun, China, we found that the hydrological gradient was the strongest predictor of spontaneous herbaceous community distribution among the environmental factors examined. A total of 181 native herbaceous plant species, belonging to 55 families and 140 genera, were recorded. The Asteraceae, Poaceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, and Polygonaceae families dominated. TWINSPAN classification divided the native herbaceous plant communities into 11 types, with the dominant species being predominantly low-growing perennial herbaceous plants. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) ordination confirmed this pattern, showing that the community distribution from aquatic to terrestrial habitats primarily aligned along the first CCA axis (defined by water depth and canopy cover), while the second axis reflected gradients in anthropogenic disturbance and slope. Thus, even in intensively managed urban rivers, natural hydrological processes remain pivotal in shaping riparian plant community composition and enhancing biodiversity. This study provides a scientific foundation for the conservation and sustainable utilization of plant resources in urban river corridors. Full article

Melissa officinalis L. (lemon balm) is a Lamiaceae species widely used in traditional and contemporary herbal practice, yet its reported bioactivities are strongly preparation-dependent, reflecting variability between polyphenol-rich extracts and volatile essential-oil fractions. This integrative review links phytochemistry with recent preclinical findings and available clinical evidence. Across model systems, lemon balm most consistently shows antioxidant and anti-inflammatory signatures, with additional domain-specific signals reported in neurobehavioral, cardiometabolic, gastrointestinal, and dermatological models; however, comparability is limited by heterogeneous plant parts, extraction procedures, and chemical standardization. Preclinical findings were organized by biological domain, whereas clinically, the most consistent signals are observed for symptom-oriented endpoints, particularly anxiety/stress and sleep-related outcomes reported in controlled trials, including aromatherapy studies, while evidence for other indications remains mixed or insufficiently confirmed. Overall, the evidence supports continued development of chemically characterized, standardized preparations and mechanism-informed trials with harmonized outcomes and robust safety reporting to improve translational interpretability. Full article

Mentha deleoi is described from Isola Grande, an islet in the Stagnone of Marsala (Trapani, NW Sicily), included within the homonymous Regional Oriented Nature Reserve. It is a perennial herb with an ephemeral annual cycle; in several morphological characters, it shows affinity with M. pulegium, a Eurimediterranean hemicryptophyte widely distributed in Sicily from coastal areas to high mountain habitats. Diagnostic and differential characters are provided, together with analyses of the biology, ecology, and chemistry of this new Sicilian endemic species. Owing to its extremely restricted distribution, small population size, and the potential impacts affecting the islet and its fragile habitat, resulting from centuries saliculture, a conservation plan is proposed, aimed at both in situ and ex situ protection. Full article

Essential oils (EOs), complex volatile compounds synthesized by plants, represent a vital class of natural products that are increasingly significant in scientific research due to their diverse biological properties and broad-spectrum medicinal applications. This study provides a comprehensive overview of EOs, commencing with a historical perspective and detailing their applications. It systematically catalogs their primary botanical sources, with specific examples of the most common and important plant families, including Lamiaceae (e.g., sage, oregano, thyme), Verbenaceae (vervain), Magnoliaceae (magnolia), Rutaceae (lemon), Myrtaceae (eucalyptus) and Lauraceae (cinnamon). A key focus is their antifungal activity, including the bioactive constituents involved and their mechanisms of action, with particular emphasis on their defense against pathogenic postharvest fungi. This includes an analysis of the key bioactive constituents responsible for these bioeffects and an exploration of their possible mechanisms of action against phytopathogenic fungi, with particular emphasis on postharvest pathogens infecting several crops. The discussion further highlights the role of EOs as sustainable alternatives to synthetic fungicides for controlling plant diseases that avoid the negative ecological and public health impacts associated with conventional agrochemicals. The study addresses these objectives by describing methods for testing antimicrobial efficacy, including kill-time studies, LD₅₀ determination, growth-curve analysis, the poisoned food technique, Spore-germination assays, and metabolic CO₂ measurement. The current review also highlights some recent studies reviewing the in vitro and in vivo antifungal performance of specific EOs against postharvest diseases. Full article

Leucas nubica Benth. (Lamiaceae) is an annual herbaceous plant, native to east and northeast tropical Africa. The whole plant is renowned for the treatment of jaundice. The present study aimed at an in-depth phytochemical profiling and evaluation of in vitro antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory potential of methanol–aqueous extract from L. nubica aerial parts. The liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) experiment revealed more than 70 secondary metabolites, including carboxylic and phenolic acids, phenylethanoid, iridoid, and lignan glycosides, and flavonoids. The L. nubica extract profile was dominated by the phenylethanoid glycoside verbascoside. All annotated compounds are reported for the first time in the species. The extract actively scavenged DPPH and ABTS radicals (38.8 ± 0.1 and 36.8 ± 0.4 mg TE/g) and showed high CUPRAC (71.1 ± 1.1 mg TE/g) and moderate FRAP (44.9 ± 2.6 mg TE/g) reducing power. The L. nubica extract exhibited high inhibition towards acetylcholinesterase (2.23 ± 0.02 mg GALAE/g), butyrylcholinesterase (2.38 ± 0.04 mg GALAE/g), and tyrosinase (60.7 ± 0.6 mg KAE/g). The obtained results highlight L. nubica extract as a rich source of phenylethanoid glycosides and flavonoids with significant bioactivity and shed light into the phytochemical composition and pharmacological potential of the plant. Full article

Carvone-rich essential oils (EOs), and carvone specifically, exhibit a broad spectrum of protective effects against major agricultural threats. They display strong antifungal and moderate antibacterial effects, effectively inhibiting numerous phytopathogenic fungi. EOs exhibit significant insecticidal, acaricidal, and repellent activity against various insects and mites, and some EOs are highly effective against agricultural nematodes, suppressing mobility and egg hatching. Crucially, the EOs demonstrate a strong capacity to suppress the germination and initial growth of different weed species, highlighting their viability as natural herbicides. This review analyzes the chemical composition, biological effects, and potential agricultural applications of carvone and carvone-rich essential oils, primarily sourced from Mentha spicata (Lamiaceae), Carum carvi (Apiaceae), and Anethum graveolens (Apiaceae). The biological activity of these EOs is significantly influenced by their specific composition, which varies among plant species and chemotypes. While EOs’ inherent volatility limits direct field application, this challenge is being successfully addressed by innovative formulation technologies, such as nanoemulsification and encapsulation, which enhance stability, bioavailability, and targeted delivery. In conclusion, carvone-rich EOs offer effective, environmentally low-risk agents for the integrated management of pathogens, pests, and weeds in sustainable agriculture. They help reduce reliance on synthetic chemicals and minimize the potential for resistance development. Full article

Hyssop is an aromatic plant containing essential oil, used in folk medicine, and also known as a popular spice and ornamental plant. Hyssop essential oil is commonly used in cosmetics, perfumes, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and food additives. It can also be intended for external use as a fragrance ingredient in soaps, perfumes, creams, and other cosmetic products, as well as in aromatherapy. The composition of hyssop essential oil is not uniform and depends on a number of factors, including genetic, ontogenetic, and environmental ones. The hyssop essential oil is rich in oxygenated terpene compounds, the majority of which are represented by monoterpene ketones, i.e., isopinocamphone and pinocamphone. The essential oil yield ranged from 0.22% to 4.4% in different parts of the plant. The highest concentration of essential oil is found during full bloom. Annual plants accumulated the highest contents of volatile compounds, which was significantly influenced by genotype and year of cultivation. In addition, environmental conditions modify the composition of the essential oil of individual hyssop genotypes in different ways. Hyssop essential oil exhibits multi-faceted biological activities, depending on its chemical composition, which in turn depends on the stage of development and growing conditions. Full article

Non-starch polysaccharides, the primary structural component of dietary fiber, play critical roles in metabolic and digestive health through multiple physiological mechanisms, yet their composition in Mediterranean aromatic plants remains poorly characterized, limiting the development of novel functional food ingredients. This study provides the first comprehensive NSP profiling of 22 populations across three Tunisian Satureja species (S. nervosa, S. graeca, and endemic S. barceloi), using enzymatic analysis, gas chromatography, and multivariate statistics. Total non-starch polysaccharides reached exceptional levels (21.5 ± 3.0 g/100 g dry weight (DW)), with several populations exhibiting unprecedented soluble fiber proportions exceeding 50%, including population SG4 achieving 79.7%. Monosaccharide analysis revealed uronic acid dominance (42.9–52.5% of total NSP), indicating pectin-rich cell walls with distinct functional properties. Principal component analysis (explaining 61.5–84.9% of variance) demonstrated that populations cluster by fiber chemotype rather than taxonomic classification. Hierarchical and K-means clustering identified three distinct clusters in the soluble and total fiber fractions, with uronic acid-dominated populations (SG4, SB, SG18, SN8) and arabinose–xylose enriched populations (SN13, SN12, SN22, SG21) as extreme chemotypes. Intraspecific variation (coefficient of variation, CV: 14.0–50.0%) substantially exceeded interspecific differences. These findings establish Tunisian Satureja as an exceptional functional fiber source and demonstrate that population-level chemical screening outperforms taxonomic classification for developing nutraceuticals targeting cholesterol reduction, glycemic control, and gut microbiome modulation. Full article