Evaluation of Marrubium vulgare Growing Wild in Tunisia for Its Potential as a Dietary Supplement

Marrubium vulgare L., known as horehound, is a widespread and widely known plant that is used in beer breweries and also as a traditional remedy in Tunisia. In this study, methanolic extracts of plants harvested from five different locations were investigated for their antioxidant activities using three assays (ferric reducing power, radical scavenging activity, and β-carotene-linoleic acid bleaching assay) as well as the total phenolic content. The mineral composition of the plant was also investigated concerning the following elements: Fe, Mg, Ca, Cu, Zn, Mn, K, and three heavy metals, Ni, Pb, and Cd. Marrubiin, the major bioactive diterpenoid lactone, was quantified by NMR in the samples. The essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation, and their radical scavenging activity was investigated. The toxicity of essential oils was evaluated against Artemia salina (the brine shrimp larva). The essential oil showed a weak radical scavenging activity and low toxicity. Data obtained from the five different locations showed that the antioxidant activity, as well as the total phenolic and marrubiin content, were strongly affected by the harvest sites. The metal content in the samples showed differences with the harvest location, but there was always a great abundance of calcium, magnesium, and potassium.

Chemical Characterization of Marrubium vulgare Volatiles from Serbia

Marrubium vulgare is a cosmopolitan medicinal plant from the Lamiaceae family, which produces structurally highly diverse groups of secondary metabolites. A total of 160 compounds were determined in the volatiles from Serbia during two investigated years (2019 and 2020). The main components were E-caryophyllene, followed by germacrene D, α-humulene and α-copaene. All these compounds are from sesquiterpene hydrocarbons class which was dominant in both investigated years. This variation in volatiles composition could be a consequence of weather conditions, as in the case of other aromatic plants. According to the unrooted cluster tree with 37 samples of Marrubium sp. volatiles from literature and average values from this study, it could be said that there are several chemotypes: E-caryophyllene, β-bisabolene, α-pinene, β-farnesene, E-caryophyllene + caryophyllene oxide chemotype, and diverse (unclassified) chemotypes. However, occurring polymorphism could be consequence of adaptation to grow in different environment, especially ecological conditions such as humidity, temperature and altitude, as well as hybridization strongly affected the chemotypes. In addition, this paper aimed to obtain validated models for prediction of retention indices (RIs) of compounds isolated from M. vulgare volatiles. A total of 160 experimentally obtained RIs of volatile compounds was used to build the prediction models. The coefficients of determination were 0.956 and 0.964, demonstrating that these models could be used for predicting RIs, due to low prediction error and high r².

Phytochemical screening, polyphenols, flavonoids and tannin content, antioxidant activities and FTIR characterization of Marrubium vulgare L. from 2 different localities of Northeast of Morocco

Chemical compositions, biological and antioxidant activities of plants are widely affected by several parameters and conditions, such as geographical and climatic conditions, type of extract (aqueous or organic), as well as the polarity of the extracting solvent. Therefore the present study was the first one designed to study the phytochemical composition, the content of polyphenols, tannins and flavonoids, the antioxidant activities and the chemical composition analysis by FTIR spectroscopic of organic (ethanol, methanol, ethyl Acetate, petroleum ether) and aqueous extracts of Marrubium vulgare L. leaves, collected from two different sampling localities in the North-East of Morocco: Oulad Daoud Zkhanine and the Cape Three Forks. A phytochemical screening was carried out by specific coloring and precipitation reactions. The colorimetric method Folin- Ciocalteu was used for the quantification of total phenolic content. The method of aluminum chloride was employed for the quantification of total flavonoid content and the method of vanillin for the determination of tannins. The antioxidant power was evaluated by the DPPH and ABTS methods. The chemical composition of the organic extracts was analyzed by the FTIR spectroscopy method. Depending on the sampling location of M.vulgare L., the type of extract (aqueous or organic), the polarity of the extracting solvent, and the phytochemical screening revealed the presence of the following secondary metabolites: catechic tannins, terpenoids, polyphenols and flavonoids. The total concentrations of total polyphenols, flavonoids and tannins varied respectively between 0.27 ± 0.1 and 86.91 ± 1.22 μg gallic acid equivalents/mg,6.08 ± 0.17 and 33.82 ± 0.90 μg quercetin equivalents/mg and 2.73 ± 1.15 and 252.68 ± 4.50 μg catechin equivalents/mg. The antioxidant activity that was evaluated by DPPH and ABTS method showed that ethanol extract, methanol and ethyl acetate extract had the highest percentages of inhibition, unlike petroleum ether extract. The inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) ranged from 324.55 ± 0.66 to 980 ± 0.62 μg/ml for DPPH and from 107.85 ± 0.19 to 890.74 ± 0.17 μg/ml for ABTS. FTIR spectroscopic analysis has revealed different characteristic peak values with various functional groups in the extracts such as amide, alcohol, phenol compounds. In general, the organic and aqueous extracts of M.vulgare L. that were harvested from Oulad Daoud Zkhanin were richer in secondary metabolites, and showed higher concentrations of polyphenol, flavonoids and tannins. In addition, they revealed a higher antioxidant capacity than the extracts of M. vulgare L.from the Cape Three Forks.

Overall this study highlighted the potential benefits and richness of M.vulgare L. harvested from the two study areas and suggested it as a potential source of natural antioxidants that could be used in the food and pharmaceutical fields.

Marrubium vulgare L.: A Phytochemical and Pharmacological Overview

Marrubium vulgare is a plant with high bioactive potential. It contains marrubiin, a labdane diterpene that is characteristic for this genus, as well as a complex mixture of phenolic compounds. According to numerous studies, M. vulgare acts as a good antioxidant agent, and due to this, it could potentially be useful in treatments of cancer, diabetes mellitus, and liver diseases. In addition, its anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, antihypertensive, hypolipidemic, and sedative potential are discussed. Apart from that, its antimicrobial activity, especially against Gram+ bacteria, fungi, herpes simplex virus, and parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Plasmodium berghei-berghei was recorded. Additionally, it could be used as a chicken lice repellent, herbicide, and natural insecticide against mosquito larvae and natural molluscicide. In veterinary medicine, M. vulgare can be used as an anthelmintic against the eggs and larvae of bovine strongyles parasites, and as an antibiotic against bovine mastitis caused by resistant bacterial strains. Due to the mentioned benefits, there is a tendency for the cultivation of M. vulgare in order to ensure high-quality raw material, but more firm scientific evidence and well-designed clinical trials are necessary for the well-established use of M. vulgare herb and its preparations.

Spray Drying of a Subcritical Extract Using Marrubium vulgare as a Method of Choice for Obtaining High Quality Powder

White horehound (Marrubium vulgare L.), is a grey-leaved perennial herb, belonging to Lamiaceae family, distributed in Eurasia and northern Africa. Despite the fact that M. vulgare has been used since ancient times in treating diverse diseases, it is only in the last decade or so that scientists have been able to lay the foundation for its potential pharmacological actions from the results observed through the prism of ethnopharmacological use of this species. The novelty of this study was that subcritical water extraction, acknowledged as a powerful extraction technology to recover phenolic compounds, was coupled with spray drying. The subcritical horehound extract, obtained using optimal process parameters, was used as a liquid feed in spray drying. Maltodextrin was used as a carrier in a concentration of 10%. Thus, two M. vulgare powders, carrier-free and 10% MD, were produced. Comprehensive powders characterization was conducted in order to evaluate their quality. Results confirmed that spray drying can be used as a method of choice for obtaining high quality horehound powders which kept the amorphous structure constant after 6 months.

The Diterpenoids of the Genus Marrubium (Lamiaceae)

The occurrence and chemical structures of labdane diterpenoids from the genus Marrubium are reviewed and the published 13C NMR spectroscopic data for these compounds is presented. The pharmacological activities and biogenesis of these diterpenoids are also reported.

An Insight into a Blockbuster Phytomedicine; Marrubium vulgare L. Herb. More of a Myth than a Reality?

Aerial parts and the root of Marrubium vulgare L. (white horehound) have been traditionally used in Europe and in southern and eastern Mediterranean countries. During colonization, the plant was introduced in America to great levels of popularity because of the simplicity of its growing; it was especially popular in Mexico and Brazil, where it has been known as 'maromba', 'marroio' or 'marroio-branco'. Ethnopharmacological uses of M. vulgare include treating respiratory diseases such as acute or chronic bronchitis, colds and asthma. The plant is also used in cases where there is a lack of appetite or dyspepsia and for diagnosed type II diabetes. It has even been used for antihypertensive therapy. For decades, scientists have carried out extensive research trying to explain these and other pharmacologic actions. It is time to systematize and critically analyse the quality of results found to date. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Inhibitory Effects of Physalis alkekengi L., Alcea rosea L., Bunium persicum B. Fedtsch. and Marrubium vulgare L. on Mushroom Tyrosinase

BACKGROUND

The key enzyme in the process of melanin biosynthesis is tyrosinase. Skin hyperpigmentation and browning of foods are undesirable phenomena which tyrosinase represents. Therefore, tyrosinase inhibitors have been used increasingly for medicinal and cosmetic products.

OBJECTIVES

In this study, inhibitory effects of four plants including: physalis alkekengi L., Alcea rosea L., Bunium persicum B. Fedtsch. and Marrubium vulgare L. on diphenolase activity of mushroom tyrosinase were evaluated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The inhibitory activities of hydroalcoholic extracts of plants against oxidation of L-Dopa (as a substrate) by mushroom tyrosinase were investigated.

RESULTS

The hydroalcoholic extract of P. alkekengi showed the most tyrosinase inhibitory effect with IC50 of 0.09 mg/mL vs. 0.38, 0.38 and 2.82 mg/mL of B. persicum, A. rosea and M. vulgare, respectively. M. vulgare exhibited uncompetitive inhibition and other plants showed mixed type inhibition on mushroom tyrosinase.

CONCLUSIONS

All plants could inhibit mushroom tyrosinase, but more investigations on human tyrosinase and clinical studies are needed.

Juniperus communis Linn oil decreases oxidative stress and increases antioxidant enzymes in the heart of rats administered a diet rich in cholesterol

It has been asserted that consumption of dietary cholesterol (Chol) raises atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases and that Chol causes an increase in free radical production. Hypercholesterolemic diet has also been reported to cause changes in the antioxidant system. In our study, different doses of Juniperus communis Linn (JCL) oil, a tree species growing in Mediterranean and Isparta regions and having aromatic characteristics, were administered to rats; and the levels of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances assay (TBARS) were examined in the heart tissue of rats. In this study, 35 Wistar Albino male adult rats weighing approximately 250–300 g were used. The rats were divided into five groups of seven each. The control group was administered normal pellet chow, and the Chol group was administered pellet chow including 2% Chol, while 50 JCL, 100 JCL, and 200 JCL groups were administered 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg JCL oil dissolved in 0.5% sodium carboxy methyl cellulose, respectively, in addition to the pellet chow containing 2% Chol, by gavage. After 30 days, the experiment was terminated and the antioxidant enzyme activities were examined in the heart tissue of rats. While consumption of dietary Chol decreases the activities of SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT in heart tissue of rats (not significant), administeration of 200 mg/kg JCL oil in addition to Chol led to a significant increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Administering Chol led to a significant increase in TBARS level. Administering 100 and 200 mg/kg JCL oil together with Chol prevented significantly the increase in lipid peroxides. As a result of the study, JCL oil showed oxidant–antioxidant effect in the heart tissue of rats.

The in-vitro evaluation of antibacterial, antifungal and cytotoxic properties of Marrubium vulgare L. essential oil grown in Tunisia

Background

In order to validate its antiseptic and anticancer properties with respect to traditional uses, we have screened for the first time the antimicrobial activity of aerial parts of M. vulgare L. essential oil against different pathogenic microorganisms and the cytotoxic activity against HeLa cell lines.

Methods

The agar disk diffusion method was used to study the antibacterial activity of M. vulgare essential oil against 12 bacterial and 4 fungi strains. The disc diameters of zone of inhibition (DD), the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and the concentration inhibiting 50% (IC₅₀) were investigated to characterize the antimicrobial activities of this essential oil. The in vitro cytotoxicity of M. vulgare essential oil was examined using a modified MTT assay; the viability and the IC₅₀ were used to evaluate this test.

Results

The antimicrobial activity of the essential oil was investigated in order to evaluate its efficacy against the different tested microorganisms. The present results results showed a significant activity against microorganisms especially Gram (+) bacteria with inhibition zones and minimal inhibitory concentration values in the range of 6.6-25.2 mm and 1120-2600 μg/ml, respectively, whereas Gram (-) bacteria exhibited a higher resistance. As far as the antifungal activity, among four strains tested, Botrytis cinerea exhibited the strongest activity with inhibition zones of 12.6 mm. However, Fusarium solani, Penicillium digitatum and Aspergillus niger were less sensitive to M. vulgare essential oil. About the citotoxicity assay, this finding indicate the capability of this essential oil to inhibited the proliferation of HeLa cell lines under some conditions with IC₅₀ value of 0.258 μg/ml.

Conclusion

This investigation showed that the M. vulgare essential oil has a potent antimicrobial activity against some Gram (+) pathogenic bacteria and Botrytis cinerea fungi. The present studies confirm the use of this essential oil as anticancer agent. Further research is required to evaluate the practical values of therapeutic applications.

Composition, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of the Essential Oil of Marrubium deserti

The essential oil from aerial part of Marrubium deserti De Noé (Lamiaceae), obtained by hydrodistillation was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and evaluated for in vitro antimicrobial activity. The antioxidant activity was determined using three in vitro assays: scavenging effect on DPPH, the ABTS test and the phosphomolybdenum method. Thirty-seven compounds were identified in the oil, with germacrene D as the major component (45.7%). This oil was characterized by an important hydrocarbon fraction (78.1%) and by the predominance of sesquiterpenes (67.4%). M. deserti essential oil had no activity on the tested microorganisms ( Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Echerichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Candida albicans and Aspergillus flavus). However the oil presented an antioxidant activity.

Ethnopharmacy of the ethnic Albanians (Arbëreshë) of northern Basilicata, Italy

Intercultural studies about the methods of use and perceptions of traditional remedies in Europe are strategically important in understanding how pharmaceutical means in our multicultural modern societies are differently accepted by diverse ethnic groups. In this survey, we analysed the biological means traditionally used in the ethnomedicine of three Arbëreshë (ethnic Albanians) communities in the Vulture area (northern Lucania, southern Italy). The majority of remedies are represented by plants belonging to 54 botanical taxa. A few of the recorded species have a traditional therapeutic use that has never previously been reported in southern Italy. Other means-especially used in the past-are comprised of mineral, animal and industrial derived materials. In specific cases, some of these materials and even plants are neither applied externally or internally, but are instead utilised as symbolic ritual objects in spiritual healing ceremonies. Ethnopharmacological and anthropological considerations about these usages are discussed.