Exploring the Phytochemical Composition and Biological Potential of Balkan Endemic Species Stachys scardica Griseb

Abstract

Stachys scardica Griseb. is a Balkan endemic species listed in The Red Data Book of Bulgaria with the conservation status “endangered”. Successful micropropagation was achieved on MS medium supplemented with 1.5 mg/L benzyladenine (BA), followed by a subsequent ex vitro adaptation in an experimental field resulting in 92% regenerated plants. Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), phenylethanoid glycosides (verbascoside, leucosceptoside A), phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid), iridoids (allobetonicoside and 8-OAc-harpagide), and alkaloids (trigonelline) were identified, characteristic of plants belonging to the genus Stachys. High antioxidant and radical scavenging activities were observed in both in situ and ex vitro acclimated S. scardica plants, correlating with the reported high concentrations of total phenols and flavonoids in these variants. Ex vitro adapted plants also exhibited a well-defined anti-inflammatory potential, demonstrating high inhibitory activity against the complement system. Employing a disk diffusion method, a 100% inhibition effect was achieved compared to positive antibiotic controls against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Propionibacterium acnes, with moderate activity against Bacillus cereus. The induced in vitro and ex vitro model systems can enable the conservation of S. scardica in nature and offer future opportunities for the targeted biosynthesis of valuable secondary metabolites, with potential applications in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

Comparative Assessment of Lignan Profiling and Biological Activities of Schisandra henryi Leaf and In Vitro PlantForm Bioreactor-Grown Culture Extracts

“…This research is extremely valuable for utilizing such biomass to obtain active secondary metabolites with valuable medicinal properties. The results of these tests are often compared to plant material harvested from soil, and it is preferable for them to be associated with the mother/parent plants [ 45 , 57 , 58 ]. Jakabfi-Csepreg et al [ 59 ] analyzed the antimicrobial activity of an aqueous extract from the leaves of Lathyrus tuberosus , a species used in European and Asian folk medicine.…”

“…It was found that both extracts from microshoot and root cultures had cytotoxic effects on cancer cells, similar to the tests performed under this study of S. henryi microshoot culture extract. Mantovska et al [ 58 ] focused on the endemic species Stachys scardica . In vitro microshoot cultures were established, and S. scardica extracts were examined for phytochemical analysis and biological activities.…”