Portuguese Artemisia, Mentha and Thymus species as potential herbal substances

This study aims to contribute to the knowledge of the potential of Portuguese flora species, as a source of herbal substances, with its main focus on endemic species so far little studied belonging to the Lamiaceae and Asteraceae families, recognized by its marked therapeutic potential [1]. Through literature research, data were compiled on Artemisia L., Mentha L. and Thymus L. genus, and organizational forms for its presentation were established. Results showed a considerable number of studies claiming the beneficial pharmacological activities of these botanical genera being anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities the most referred ones. The most important marker compounds biologically active in Artemisia genus are coumarins, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. Most research attention has been directed to the composition of essential oil, its dynamics and variability, however, a number of papers have addressed also alkaloid derivatives, flavonoids and nonvolatile terpenoidsin the genus [2]. In Mentha spp., constituents identified include phenol and triterpenoid derivatives, and essential oil characterized by menthol, limonene and cineole as major marker compounds. M.piperita leaf showed significant in vitro antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant and in vivo anti-allergenic potential [3]. In Thymus spp., namely in T. masthichina, triterpene derivatives of ursolic and oleanolic acids were reported as responsible for in vitro antitumor activity against human colon cancer cells [4]. Overall, a stronger focus on pre-clinical studies and a deep chemosystematics' studies of Artemisia, Mentha and Thymus Portuguese species were found to be essential for sustainable utilization of the Portuguese species of these botanical genera as herbal medicines.

Keywords: Artemisia; herbal substances; Mentha; Portuguese flora; therapeutic potential; Thymus.

References:

[1] Flora-on- flora de Portugal interactiva (www.flora-on.pt) Pesquisa e identificação interactiva das espécies autóctones da flora de Portugal; fotos, informação e mapas de distribuição. Consultado em Fevereiro de 2013

[2] Z. Y. Xie, T. T. Lin, M. C. Yao, J. Z. Wan, and S. Yin. Unusual Guaiane Sesquiterpenoids from Artemisia rupestris. HelveticaChimicaActa 96 (6):1182 – 1187, 2013

[3] Diane L. McKay and Jeffrey B. Blumberg. A Review of the Bioactivity and Potential Health Benefits of Peppermint Tea (Menthapiperita L.) Phytotherapy Research 20, 619 – 633 (2006) Published online 12 June 2006 in Wiley InterScience

[4] J. Gordo, P. Maximo, E. Cabrita, A. Lourenco, A. Oliva, J. Almeida, M. Filipe, P. Cruz, R. Barcia, M. Santos, and H. Cruz. Thymus mastichina: Chemical Constituents and their Anti-cancer Activity. Natural Product Communications 7 (11):1491 – 1494, 2012