Marrubium vulgare L.: A Phytochemical and Pharmacological Overview

Abstract

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.

Potential Application of Some Lamiaceae Species in the Management of Diabetes

“…Several flavonoid glycosides and labdane diterpenoids have been isolated from the same source. The phytochemical investigation of M. vulgare produced a labdane diterpenoid, a glycosidic peregrinol, and a flavonoid derivative, in addition to apigenin-4’- O -(6’’- O - p -coumaroyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside, polyodonine, and 4’,5,7- trihydroxyflavone [ 78 , 79 ].…”

“…The oral administration of the aqueous extract induced significant antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic dose-dependent effects in treated animals [ 75 ]. M. vulgare significantly lessen the blood glucose level, pancreatic levels of interferon-gamma and nitric oxide, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very LDL cholesterol and triglycerides compared with diabetic mice [ 79 ]. The methanolic extract was found to have PPARγ agonist activity in a luciferase reporter assay.…”

Chemical Composition and In Vitro Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Marrubium vulgare L.

“…Among the most famous species of this family is an interesting plant called M. vulgare (white horehound) known in Morocco as “Merriwa,” a medicinal plant that is used in Morocco for its medicinal and curative effects. The plant is rich in chemical compounds such as polyphenols, saponins, and tannins and is widespread in the Mediterranean basin [ 15 ]. It has been reported that M. vulgare plant possesses antioxidant, antifungal, hypoglycemic, and hypotensive activities [ 16 ].…”

The Botanical, Chemical and Ethnobotanical Diversity of Southern African Lamiaceae

“…[ 39 ]. Flavonoid glycosides and aglycones have been isolated and identified in Leonotis leonurus [ 10 ], Lamium galeobdolon (L.) L. [ 40 ], Mentha aquatica [ 175 ], M. longifolia [ 178 ] and Marrubium vulgare [ 164 ] while they have only been detected in Leucas martinicensis [ 156 ]. A rigorous survey of flavonoids in southern African Lamiaceae may possibly reveal taxonomically useful discontinuities.…”