Common mullein, pharmacological and chemical aspects

Bioassay-guided fractionation of Verbascum thapsus extract and its combination with polyvinyl alcohol in the form electrospun nanofibrous membrane for efficient wound dressing application

Verbascum thapsus (V. thpsus), family Scrophulariaceae, has considerable importance in traditional medicine worldwide because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. V. thpsus was used in traditional medicines as a useful drug for lung disease, sore throat, wound healing, and treatment of whooping cough. The aim of this study was to extract of V. thpsus bioactive fraction using antibacterial assay guided fractionation methodology and develop a system based on electrospun nanofibrous membrane (NFM) that can be effective by releasing the extract of V. thapsus for antibacterial and wound healing applications. For this purpose, the fractionation of total extract was done using Liquid-Liquid extraction method. The selected fraction based on its anti-bacterial activity was then subjected to the silica gel column chromatography for further purification. Since electrospinning is an economical and relatively simple method to produce continuous and uniform nanofibers, and due to its high specific surface area, adjustable pore size, and flexibility, special attention has been paid to loaded the most effective fraction on PVA nanofibers for applications such as wound dressings. The obtained result showed that, the purified V. Thapsus extract has a concentration-dependent antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The phytochemically analyses of bioactive fraction by High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) proved the presence of 6 phenolic acids, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, and flavonoid, rutin, as the major compounds. Also, physicochemical characterization of PVA-selected extract loaded electrospun nanofibrous membranes (NFM) were analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR). MTT and hemolysis assays were done to affirm the biocompatibility of fabricated scaffolds. Release profile of extract loaded- NFM showed continues release of extract from mat during 90h. Moreover, the capability of these NFM in wound healing application was evaluated in-vitro and in-vivo. The cell viability test (MTT), cell adhesion images, antioxidant, antibacterial, hemolysis assays and in-vitro and in-vivo wound healing assays confirmed that fabricated NFM containing 5 % butanolic extract were the most biocompatible scaffold for wound dressing applications and accelerates the rate of wound closure. The obtained outcomes confirmed that V. thpsus/PVA NFM can be considered as promising scaffold for potential wound dressings.

Optimization of induction and hairy root culture establishment in two mullein species, Verbascum erianthum and Verbascum stachydiforme

The genus Verbascum, belonging to the family Scrophulariaceae, has a significant center of diversity in Iran. Two of its species, V. erianthum and V. stachydiforme, originate in the Iranian-Turanian region, but no studies have been conducted on the induction of their hairy roots. This genus is a valuable source of biologically active compounds such as iridoid glycosides and flavonoids. Hairy root culture is a suitable technique for the production and accumulation of secondary metabolites. Three different studies were conducted to optimize the induction and establishment of hairy roots. In the first experiment, the influence of explant type (leaf and hypocotyl), six infection methods, and co-culture time (48 and 72 h) on the efficiency of hairy root induction was investigated. The results showed that the highest hairy root induction (68.18%) was observed in the leaf explants inoculated by direct infection with three wounds within 72 h co-culture time. In the second experiment, the effect of four Agrobacterium rhizogenes strains (ATCC 15834, A4, A7, and A13) and leaf age (14, 21, and 28 days) on transformation efficiency and some morphological traits examined in both species were studied. The high transformation efficiency of hairy root (80.55%) was detected in the 21-day-old leaf explant of V. erianthum species that was inoculated with the A13 strain. The transformed hairy root colons were confirmed by PCR using rolB gene-specific primers. To optimize hairy root growth and avoid tissue browning, hairy roots were cultured in various media containing different antioxidants and improver agents (including ascorbic acid, citric acid, and NAA). The results showed that the highest fresh growth index (20.42) and the lowest tissue browning (9%) as well as total phenol (8.51 mg GA/g DW), and total flavonoid content (4.42 mg QUE/g DW) were obtained in medium B5 with 1.5 mg/l NAA.

How Do Herbal Cigarettes Compare To Tobacco? A Comprehensive Review of Their Sensory Characters, Phytochemicals, and Functional Properties

Herbal cigarettes, known as tobacco-free or nicotine-free cigarettes, are those recognized as being-tobacco free, being composed of a mixture of various herbs claimed to lessen the smoking habit hazards. However, controversial data regarding its properties occur in the literature with no comprehensive overview or analysis of its effects. Like herbal smokeless tobacco, they are often used to substitute for tobacco products (primarily cigarettes) regarded as a "nonsmoking" aid. This review capitalizes on herbal cigarettes with regard to their quality characteristics, sensory attributes, chemical composition, and health properties to rationalize their choice as a nonsmoking aid. Furthermore, the impacts of heat and/or pyrolysis that occur during smoking on its chemical composition are presented for the first time. Some herbal smokes may produce notable metabolic problems that increase the risk of several chronic metabolic diseases. In general, burning substances from plants can have a variety of negative effects on the body attributed to toxic chemicals such as carbon monoxide, polyaromatics, nicotine, and N-nitrosamines. This review compiles and discusses the phytochemical compositions detected in various herbal cigarettes alongside sensory and quality attributes and health effects.

Phenolic and flavonoid compounds and antioxidant activity in flowers of nine endemic Verbascum species from Iran

BACKGROUND

In this study, flowers of nine mullein species (Verbascum erianthum, V. songaricum, V. speciosum, V. szovitsianum, V. stachydiforme, V. sinuatum, V. haussknechtianum, V. cheirantifolium, and V. saccatum) were collected from Iran. The total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant activity, total carotenoid (TCC), β-carotene content and the amount of phenolic compounds were determined in all of the collected mullein species. Quantitative analysis of phenolic compounds was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD).

RESULTS

Verbascum saccatum and V. songaricum, in particular, were found to be rich in total flavonoids and exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity. The HPLC-DAD analysis revealed that V. erianthum possessed the highest amount of caffeic acid (0.022 g kg^-1 DW), chlorogenic acid (2.649 g kg^-1 DW), p-coumaric acid (0.253 g kg^-1 DW), and apigenin (0.066 g kg^-1 DW). The highest gallic acid (0.134 g kg^-1 DW), rutin (5.254 g kg^-1 DW), quercetin (1.303 g kg^-1 DW), and cinnamic acid (1.031 g kg^-1 DW) content were observed in V. saccatum. Our results demonstrate the considerable variations in the TFC, antioxidant activity, TCC, and β-carotene content among the mullein species.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study provide useful information for breeding strategies, and for choosing the best species with high phenolic compound content to produce natural antioxidants for medical and pharmaceutical use. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Plant-Based Support of Respiratory Health during Viral Outbreaks

Respiratory viruses are linked to major epidemic events that have plagued humans through recorded history and possibly much earlier, ranging from common colds, influenza, and coronavirus infections to measles. However, difficulty in developing effective pharmaceutical solutions to treat infected individuals has hindered efforts to manage and minimize respiratory viral outbreaks and the associated mortality. Here we highlight a series of botanical interventions with different and often overlapping putative mechanisms of action to support the respiratory system, for which the bioactive pharmacophore was suggested and the initial structure-activity relationships have been explored (Bupleurum spp., Glycyrrhiza spp., Andrographis spp.), have been proposed with uncertainty (Echinacea spp., Zingiber spp., Verbascum spp., Marrubium spp.), or remained to be elucidated (Sambucus spp., Urtica spp.). Investigating these metabolites and their botanical sources holds potential to uncover new mediators of the respiratory health outcomes as well as molecular targets for future break-through therapeutic interventions targeting respiratory viral outbreaks.

Health-promoting and disease-mitigating potential of Verbascum thapsus L. (common mullein): A review

Medicinal plants represent rich sources of traditional medicines and numerous currently used medicines are either directly or indirectly derived from plants. Verbascum thapsus L. (great mullein or common mullein), a medicinal herb indigenous to northern Africa, western and central Asia, and Europe, has been brought to the Americas and Australia. It has been used as a medicine for lung, skin and throat disorders and has a long history of therapeutic importance, particularly as an astringent and calming agent. Presently, the dried leaves, flowers, various plant extracts and flower oil are used in several formulations within Indian traditional medicine. An extract taken from the roots is useful in minimizing toothache, and it also relieves stiffness and seizures. V. thapsus contains a wide variety of phytoconstituents, such as flavonoids, iridoid, phenylethanoid and phenylpropanoid glycosides, saponins, as well as vitamin C and minerals. The most valuable constituents are coumarin and hesperidin, which possess healing properties. Emerging literature based on experimental studies on V. thapsus demonstrates various biological and pharmacological properties, including antiviral, antioxidant, analgesic, sedative, anti-inflammatory, hypnotic, antibacterial, antifungal, as well as anticancer activities. The present review provides an updated, comprehensive, and critical evaluation of various health-promoting and disease-mitigating properties of V. thapsus.

Searching for Scientific Explanations for the Uses of Spanish Folk Medicine: A Review on the Case of Mullein (Verbascum, Scrophulariaceae)

Verbascum species (common mullein) have been widely used in Spanish folk medicine to treat pathologies related to the musculature, skeleton, and circulatory, digestive, and respiratory systems, as well as to treat infectious diseases and organ-sense illnesses. These applications support the potential anti-inflammatory action of Verbascum phytochemicals. Based on the aforementioned facts, and following a deep bibliographic review of the chemical composition of the 10 species of Verbascum catalogued by the Spanish Inventory of Traditional Knowledge related to Biodiversity, we look for scientific evidences to correlate the traditional medical uses with the chemical components of these plants. To support these findings, in silico simulations were performed to investigate molecular interactions between Verbascum phytochemicals and cellular components. Most of common mullein traditional uses could rely on the anti-inflammatory action of phytochemicals, such as quercetin, and it could explain the employment of these plants to treat a wide range of diseases mediated by inflammatory processes such as respiratory diseases, otitis, arthrosis, and rheumatism among others.

The effect of the Verbascum Thapsus on episiotomy wound healing in nulliparous women: a randomized controlled trial

Background

The pain and discomfort caused by episiotomy affect the quality of life of the mothers, so rapid and complete repair of the episiotomy is very important. Due to the effective ingredients of Verbascum Thapsus, it has been used since ancient times to treat wounds. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of Verbascum Thapsus on episiotomy wound healing.

Methods

The study was designed as a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial. Ninety-three primiparous women who were referred to Fatemeh Zahra Hospital in Saveh in 2015 were randomly divided into two groups of intervention (Verbascum Thapsus) and control (placebo). Both groups covered the episiotomy wound twice a day for 10 days with 2 cm of prescribed creams. Wound healing was assessed using the REEDA scale before the intervention and on days 1,3 and 10 after the intervention.

Results

Before the intervention, there was no statistically significant difference in terms of demographic characteristics, obstetrics, and REEDA scores between the two groups (p < 0.05). The mean scores of REEDA on days 1 and 3 in the intervention group were better than the control group but were not statistically significant. However, on the tenth day after the intervention, the mean scores of REEDA were significantly better in the Verbascum group than the placebo (p = 0.01).

Conclusions

According to the results of this study, it seems that Verbascum Thapsus is effective in repairing episiotomy wounds. The researchers hope that the results of this study can provide clinical evidence for the use of this herbal medicine in the wound healing process.

Trial registration

This study was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT) with the code “IRCT201404073106N15” on 02/12/2015.

In vitro haemostatic efficacy of aqueous, methanol and ethanol plant extracts of three medicinal plant species in Palestine

Abstract The haemostatic efficacy of different extract types of Satureja thymbra L., Thymbra spicata L. (Lamiaceae) and Verbascum fruticulosum Post. (Scrophulariaceae) was evaluated in this study via the Prothrombin time (PT) and Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) analysis. Aqueous, methanol and ethanol extracts of the examined plant species leaves were prepared to a final concentration 50 mg/mL. In vitro PT and aPTT assays were conducted on normal platelet poor plasma blood samples by a digital coagulation analyzer. The obtained results revealed anticoagulation activity of all investigated plant species with observed variations among them. The aqueous and ethanol extracts of T. spicata as well as the aqueous extract of S. thymbra prolonged PT values significantly (p < 0.05). While, all V. fruticulosum extract types have had no significant effect on the PT values. The recorded aPTT data showed that all aqueous extracts have had a significant effect on the blood haemostasis as they increased aPTT values in all plant species under study. Out of which, both the ethanol and methanol extracts of T. spicata and methanol extract of S. thymbra showed similar effect. Of great concern, it was clearly noticed that the aqueous and ethanol extract of T. spicata and the aqueous extract of S. thymbra possess the strongest anticoagulation effect as they increased both PT and aPTT values significantly relative to the control (p < 0.05). The variable anticoagulation bioactivity among the studied plant species could be referred to the various solvents degrees of solubility of different phyto-constituents. Thus, the efficacy of the plant species extracts evaluation as anticoagulants or coagulants were related to the plant species and to the solvent of extraction.

Phytochemistry of Verbascum Species Growing in Iraqi Kurdistan and Bioactive Iridoids from the Flowers of Verbascum calvum

Traditional medicine is still widely practiced in Iraqi Kurdistan, especially by people living in villages on mountainous regions; medicinal plants are also sold in the markets of the large towns, such as at Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Autonomous Region. About a dozen of Verbascum species (Scrophulariaceae) are commonly employed in the Kurdish traditional medicine, especially for treating burns and other skin diseases. However, the isolation of bioactive secondary metabolites from these plants has not been the subject of intense scientific investigations in Iraq. Therefore, the information reported in the literature about the species growing in Kurdistan has been summarized in the first part of this paper, although investigations have been performed on vegetable samples collected in neighbouring countries, such as Turkey and Iran. In the second part of the work, we have investigated, for the first time, the contents of a methanol and a hydromethanol extract of V. calvum flowers. The extracts exhibited weak antimicrobial activities, whereas the methanol extract showed significant antiproliferative effects against an A549 lung cancer cell line. Moreover, both extracts exhibited a significant dose-dependent free radical scavenging action against the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, comparable to that of ascorbic acid. In the subsequent phytochemical study, a high phenolic content was determined in both extracts by the Folin–Ciocalteu assay and medium-pressure liquid chromatographic (MPLC) separation led to the isolation of iridoid glucosides ajugol and aucubin from the methanol extract. In conclusion, the high anti-inflammatory effects of aucubin and the remarkable antioxidant (antiradical) properties of the extracts give scientific support to the traditional use of V. calvum flowers for the preparation in Kurdistan of remedies to cure skin burns and inflammations.

A comprehensive review on ethnomedicine, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicity of Tephrosia purpurea (L.) Pers

Tephrosia purpurea (L.) Pers. is a well-known plant in Ayurveda and named "Sarwa wranvishapaka" for its property to heal wounds. Traditionally, it is practiced for impotency, asthma, dyspepsia, hemorrhoids, syphilis gonorrhea, rheumatism, enlargement of kidney and spleen. It is an important component of herbal preparations like Tephroli and Yakrifti used to cure liver disorders. Various phytocompounds including pongamol, purpurin, purpurenone, tephrosin, bulnesol, tephrostachin, β-sitosterol, and so on have been reported. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that the plant have wound healing, antileishmanial, anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antifertility, antispermatogenic, anti-diarrheal, diuretic, and insecticidal properties. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory action reported from this plant aids its utilization for the development of drugs for Alzheimer's and dementia neurological disorders. Among the known active compounds of T. purpurea, tephrostachin is responsible for antiplasmodial activity, tephrosin, pongaglabol, and semiglabrin exerts antiulcer activity while quercetin, rutin, β-sitosterol, and lupeol are mainly responsible for its anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. From different toxicological studies, concentrations up to 2,000 mg/kg were considered safe. The present review comprehensively summarizes the ethnomedicine, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of T. purpurea. Further research on elucidation of the structure-function relationship among active compounds, understanding of multi-target network pharmacology and clinical applications will intensify its therapeutic potential.

Antimicrobial, Cytotoxic, and Antioxidant Potential of a Novel Flavone "6,7,4'-Trimethyl Flavone" Isolated from Wulfenia amherstiana

Wulfenia amherstiana belongs to the Scrophulariaceae family and various plants of this family are known for their biological activities. The present study was focused on the isolation of bioactive compounds including a novel flavone 6,7,4'-trimethyl flavone (TMF) along with three known flavonoids such as quercetin, rutin, and a steroid β-sitosterol which were isolated from the ethanolic extract of W. amherstiana (Himalayan Wulfenia) through column chromatography and purified by using HPLC. Their structures were identified and elucidated through electron ionization mass spectroscopy (EIMS), 1DNMR (1H-NMR and 13C-NMR), and 2DNMR (COSY, HMQC, and HMBC) spectroscopy. The antimicrobial activities of this novel compound were evaluated through agar well diffusion method, while antioxidant and cytotoxic activities were assessed through 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free-radical scavenging assay and brine shrimp lethality assay, respectively. The NMR data revealed that TMF is a novel compound. TMF showed potential antibacterial and antifungal activities against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 128 μg/ml) and Candida albicans (MIC = 128 μg/ml). The cytotoxic potential of TMF was determined from brine shrimp lethality assay with LD50 of 127.01 μg/ml. The free-radical scavenging potential of TMF at various concentrations implicated its strong antioxidant activity in vitro. The results revealed that TMF demonstrated substantial antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and C. albicans, strong antioxidant activity, and moderately cytotoxic activity.

Do recent research studies validate the medicinal plants used in British Columbia, Canada for pet diseases and wild animals taken into temporary care?

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

There are insufficient safe and effective treatments for chronic pain in pets. In cases such as osteoarthritis there is no commercially available cure and veterinarians use NSAIDs to manage pain. Pet owners may have to plan for a lifetime of plant-based treatment for the conditions that lead to chronic pain in pets. Phytopharmacotherapies have the advantage of being less toxic, cheap or free, readily available, are more likely to be safe for long-term use and have the potential to reset the immune system to normal functioning.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To examine the recently published medicinal plant research that matches unpublished data on ethnoveterinary medicines (EVM) used for pets in Canada (British Columbia) to see if the EVM data can provide a lead to the development of necessary drugs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In 2003 semi-structured interviews were conducted with 60 participants who were organic farmers or holisitic medicinal/veterinary practitioners obtained using a purposive sample. A draft manual prepared from the data was then evaluated by participants at a participatory workshop that discussed the plant-based treatments. A copy of the final version of the manual was given to all research participants. In 2018, the recently published research matching the EVM data was reviewed to see if the EVM practices could serve as a lead for further research.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Medicinal plants are used to treat a range of conditions. The injuries treated in pets in British Columbia included abscesses (resulting from an initial injury), sprains and abrasions. Dogs were also treated with medicinal plants for rheumatoid arthritis, joint pain and articular cartilage injuries. More than 40 plants were used. Anal gland problems were treated with Allium sativum L., Aloe vera L., Calendula officinalis L., Plantago major L., Ulmus fulva Michx., Urtica dioica L. and Usnea longissima Ach. Arctium lappa, Hydrangea arborescens and Lactuca muralis were used for rheumatoid arthritis and joint pain in pets. Asthma was treated with: Linum usitatissimum L., Borago officinalis L., Verbascum thapsus L., Cucurbita pepo L., Lobelia inflata L., and Zingiber officinale Roscoe. Pets with heart problems were treated with Crataegus oxyacantha L., Cedronella canariensis (L.) Willd. ex Webb & Berth, Equisetum palustre L., Cypripedium calceolus L., Pinus ponderosa Douglas ex Lawson, Humulus lupulus L., Valeriana officinalis L., Lobelia inflata L., Stachys officinalis (L.) Trev., and Viscum album L. The following plants were used for epilepsy, motion sickness and anxiety- Avena sativa L., Valeriana officinalis, Lactuca muralis (L.) Fresen., Scutellaria lateriflora L., Satureja hortensis L., and Passiflora incarnata L. Plants used for cancer treatment included Phytolacca decandra, Ganoderma lucidum, Lentinula edodes, Rumex acetosella, Arctium lappa, Ulmus fulva, Rheum palmatum, Frangula purshiana, Zingiber officinale, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Ulmus fulva, Althea officinalis, Rheum palmatum, Rumex crispus and Plantago psyllium. Trifolium pratense was used for tumours in the prostate gland. Also used were Artemisia annua, Taraxacum officinale and Rumex crispus. This review of plants used in EVM was possible because phytotherapy research of the plants described in this paper has continued because few new pharmaceutical drugs have been developed for chronic pain and because treatments like glucocorticoid therapy do not heal. Phytotherapuetic products are also being investigated to address the overuse of antibiotics. There have also been recent studies conducted on plant-based functional foods and health supplements for pets, however there are still gaps in the knowledge base for the plants Stillingia sylvatica, Verbascum thapsus, Yucca schidigera and Iris versicolor and these need further investigation.

Phenolic compounds and bioactive properties of Verbascum glabratum subsp. bosnense (K. Malý) Murb., an endemic plant species

Detailed analysis of phenolic composition and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Verbascum glabratum subsp. bosnense (K. Malý) Murb., an endemic species of southeastern Dinaric Alps was performed for the first time. The phenolic composition measured via UHPLC-MS/MS of four extract with different polarity suggested this plant species is very rich in both phenolic acids and flavonoids. Ethanol extract was chemically the most versatile containing 12 compounds with quercitrin and rosmarinic acid as the majors, while water extracts were rich in 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, salicylic acid, morin, and apigenin. All extracts showed high antioxidant potential measured spectrophotometrically with IC₅₀ values ranging 0.139 - 0.021 mg/mL. Antimicrobial testing using agar diffusion test showed that ethanol extract was the most potent against all tested organisms. Also, these activities are correlated with the content of phenolic compounds, which suggest they are active ingredients of the extracts.

Observations on traditional usage of ethnomedicinal plants in humans and animals of Kangra and Chamba districts of Himachal Pradesh in North-Western Himalaya, India

ETHNOBOTANICAL RELEVANCE

Medicinal plants are frequently used by Gaddi and Gujjar tribes of Kangra and Chamba districts of Himachal Pradesh, India to cure various ailments in humans and livestock. Therefore, extensive field work was conducted to document the traditional use of ethnomedicinal plants by these tribes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Direct interviews of 208 informants were conducted. The data generated through interviews was analysed using quantitative tools such as use-value (UV), factor informant consensus (Fic) and fidelity level (Fl).

RESULTS

A total of 73 plant species in 67 genera and 40 families were observed to be medicinal and used to cure 22 ailment categories. The highest number of ethnomedicinal plants was recorded from the family Asteraceae followed by Lamiaceae, Apiaceae, Acanthaceae, Caesalpiniaceae, Polygonaceae, Ranunculaceae, Rosaceae and Rutaceae. Leaves were the most frequently used plant part used to treat various ailments followed by whole plant and roots or rhizomes. Ajuga parviflora, Berberis lycium, Viola canescens, Vitex negundo and Zanthoxylum armatum were the most important medicinal plants used for treating human diseases, whereas Achyranthes bidentata, Aloe sp., Cassia fistula, Podophyllum hexandrum and Pogostemon benghalensis were the most important medicinal plants used for treating animal diseases as per use value. The important ailment categories classified on the basis of factor informant consensus were gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders.

CONCLUSION

The present study revealed that people of the study area are extensively using the ethnomedicinal plants to cure various ailments. Plants with high use value and fidelity level should be subjected to pharmacological investigation for scientific validation.