Clinical and pharmacological aspects of vervain (Verbena officinalis L.) using in the treatment of respiratory system diseases (literature review)

Abstract

In the pharmacotherapy of the respiratory system diseases, phytotherapy attracts attention due to the high preventive and therapeutic potential of biologically active substances of medicinal plants. At the same time, verification of the effectiveness and safety of herbal drugs is necessary. That is why scientific research of folk medicine plants including common verbena (Verbena officinalis L.) of the Verbenaceae family has been carried out.
 The aim of the work is the analysis of verified data on the chemical composition of the herb verbena, the results of pharmacological and toxicological studies directed at determining the effectiveness and safety in the treatment of infectious and inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract.
 The search for verified data using Internet resources, comparative analysis, systematization and generalization of data were carried out.
 The main secondary metabolites that determine the profile of verbena herb biological activity are iridoid glycosides (verbenalin, aucubine and gastatoside), as well as phenylpropanoid glycosides (verbascoside, isoverbascoside and eukovoside). Thus, the antibacterial and antifungal activity of certain verbena extracts against clinically significant strains of bacteria and fungi has been proven. The anti-inflammatory effect of various extracts of the Verbena herb was established on carrageenan-induced and formalin-induced edema models. The antioxidant effect of certain verbena herb fractions has been proven by in vitro methods. It is important at presence of diseases for which oxidative stress is an important pathogenetic factor. The results of clinical studies have confirmed the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activity of the vervaine herb decoction applied topically in the case of chronic gingivitis. The expediency of verbascoside use for increasing the barrier functions of the oral mucosa, promoting epithelization, reducing pain and other signs of inflammation in oral mucositis against the background of tumour chemotherapy has been substantiated. Toxicological studies have shown that different verbena herb extracts belong to the class of low-toxic or practically non-toxic substances when taken orally.
 Thus, the antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of verbena, as well as its high level of safety, substantiate the prospects for the use of this medicinal plant in the treatment of the respiratory system diseases.