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Drug Res (Stuttg) 2017; 67(08): 437-446
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-109100
Review
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Ferula hermonis Boiss. – A Review

Zohreh Sattar
1   Biotechnology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
,
Mehrdad Iranshahi
1   Biotechnology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
2   Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 12 December 2016

accepted 12 April 2017

Publication Date:
18 May 2017 (online)

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Abstract

Ferula hermonis, a well-known species of the genus Ferula found in Lebanon and Syria, has a brilliant history in traditional medicine as it has been used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in men and menopausal disturbances in women. Thanks to modern pharmacological and clinical investigations, F. hermonis is a valuable medicinal and condimental plant that may be used for the treatment of impotence and diabetes, the prevention of osteoporosis, and possesses anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties. Phytochemical investigations have shown that this plant contains daucane aryl esters such as ferutinin, which has exhibited various biological activities including hypoglycemic and estrogenic activities. Ferutinin is one of the strongest natural phytoestrogen which has agonistic activity on estrogen receptors, particularly α receptor. It seems that ferutinin and its derivatives play an important role in F. hermonis biological activities, mainly the beneficial effects of this plant on impotence, diabetes and osteoporosis. The present review discusses the available data on the active constituents and biological activities of F. hermonis and their possible underlying mechanisms of action.

Key words

Ferula hermonis - aphrodisiac - sesquiterpenes - ferutinin - teferin - teferidin
 

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