Endemic species of sardo-corso-balearic area: molecular composition and biological assay of Teucrium

Abstract

Teucrium marum and T. subspinosum have been extracted with different polarity solvents, each crude extract was analysed with (1)H-NMR to compare the overall metabolic component. The polar extracts showed antioxidant activity in vitro. Verbascoside and arabinosyl-verbascoside were isolated and identified. Their concentrations were in connection to the antioxidant activity.

Characterization of Essential Oils from Different Taxa Belonging to the Genus Teucrium in Sardinia Island, Italy

“…It is represented by herbs or shrubs, with tubular or campanulate calyx, 2-lipped or actinomorphic, 5-toothed, the teeth equal or the upper larger; corolla with one 5-lobed lip; tube without a ring of hairs inside, often included in the calyx; and nutlets smooth or reticulate. Many taxa of the genus Teucrium have been used in traditional medicine as stimulants, tonics, and stomach-ache remedies, for their antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, antidiabetic, antiseptic, astringent, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antianemic, and cicatrizant properties, and to treat skin diseases [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. Phytochemical studies reported the presence of both volatile and non-volatile compounds.…”

“…Phytochemical studies reported the presence of both volatile and non-volatile compounds. Of the latter, several neo-clerodane diterpenoids were isolated and considered as chemotaxonomic markers of the genus [ 4 , 8 , 9 , 10 ], along with iridoids, sesquiterpenes, triterpenes, abietane diterpenes, flavonoids, and other classes of specialized metabolites [ 11 ]. Much scientific research has already been carried out on essential oils (EOs), since 99 Teucrium taxa have been investigated to date [ 7 ], highlighting the main volatile compounds, which are generally sesquiterpene hydrocarbons.…”

Analysis of the volatile fraction of Teucrium marum L.

“…T. marum is a small, perennial, suffrutic, bushy and evergreen plant that grows in height after 30–40 cm high. The thin branches of this highly aromatic plant are covered with thick white down …”

“…The chemical composition of T. marum has been the subject of numerous studies in which phenylpropanoid, neo‐clerodane diterpenoids and iridoid cyclopentane monoterpenes have been reported. Iridoids such as dolichodial, teucrein and dolicholactone are volatile components of T. marum identified in the organic solvent extracts obtained by Soxhlet and simultaneous distillation–extraction .…”

“…Iridoids such as dolichodial, teucrein and dolicholactone are volatile components of T. marum identified in the organic solvent extracts obtained by Soxhlet and simultaneous distillation–extraction . In addition, dolichodial (9.3%) was also identified in T. marum essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation (HD) with sesquiterpene hydrocarbons such as isocaryophyllene (20.2%), ( E )‐ β ‐bisabolene (14.7%), β ‐sesquiphellandrene (11.2%), has been well described; they are known to be produced for protective purposes in response to injury by a number of insects and to act as aphid sex pheromones . Moreover, the plant is so highly aromatic that it is called ‘mint plant’ or ‘cat thyme’ because of the way its strong smell excites cats …”