Planta Med 2010; 76 - P268
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1264566

Ligusticum mutellina (L.) Crantz: a pharmacognostic overview

C Peev 1, S Cupara 2, L Vlase 3, S Feflea 1, T Corina 1, M Munteanu 4
  • 1Faculty of Farmacy, Pharmacognosy, Eftimie Murgu Square no.1, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
  • 2Medical Faculty University of Kragujevac, Svetozara, Serbia, Svetozara, Serbia, Republic of
  • 3Faculty of Pharmacy, UMF Cluj Napoca Iuliu Hatieganu, Department of Biofarmacy Cluj-Napoca, Romania
  • 4West University of Vasile Goldis Arad, Romania

Mountain lovage represents the plant Ligusticum mutellina (L.) Crantz or Meum mutellina (L.) Gaert, Apiaceae. It naturally grows in alpine areas, and is known as an antitumoral ethnobotanic remedy. Also, the roots are used in the production of a type of Schnapps in Bayern, Germany [1]. The present study consists of an analysis of some pharmacognostic parameters describing the aerial part of the plant, harvested from mountains in northern Serbia. Polyphenolic compounds were determined in the methanolic extract performing HPLC MS analysis. Microelements and heavy metals were quantified through the SAA technique [2,3]. The antimicrobial activity of an ethanolic extract was estimated and an evaluation of the antiproliferative potential was done by the phytobiologic test on Lepidium sativum. Effects on the angiogenic process were determined by performing the chick chorioallantoic membrane assay [4]. 6 polyphenolic structures were revealed in the nonhydrolyzed sample; rutoside was found in high concentration (79.23ug/ml). In the hydrolyzed sample 4 polypheolic compounds were evidenced with quercetin being the most concentrated compound (13.83ug/ml). The vegetal product is in conformity with the official quality parameters concerning the content of heavy metals. The ethanolic extract proved to be active on the selected bacterial cultures. The aqueous extracts in concentrations between 0,35% and 6% expressed an inhibitory effect of 70–89%. The CAM assay showed possible antiangiogenic activity, dependent on the concentration of the extractive solution. The results obtained indicate an antimicrobial and a possible antiproliferative effect of different extracts of Ligusticum mutellina (L.) Crantz.

References: 1. Peev, C. et al. (2007) Chem. Nat. Comp. 43(3): 259–262.

2. Peev, C. et al.(2006) Tim. Med. J. 56(2): 233–36.

3. Peev, C. (2007) Mugurii foliari, materii prime in gemoterapie. Mirton. Timisoara. 29–42.

4. Feflea, S.et al. (2009) Rev. Med. Farm.55(3), 346–349.