Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Ferula hermonis Boiss. – A Review

Zohreh Sattar; Mehrdad Iranshahi

doi:10.1055/s-0043-109100

Drug Research, Table of Contents

Drug Res (Stuttg) 2017; 67(08): 437-446
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-109100

Review

Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Ferula hermonis Boiss. – A Review

Zohreh Sattar

¹Biotechnology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

,

Mehrdad Iranshahi

¹Biotechnology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

²Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

› Author Affiliations

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

Full Text

References

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