Report on the Medicinal Use of Eleven Lamiaceae Species in Lebanon and Rationalization of Their Antimicrobial Potential by Examination of the Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Their Essential Oils

Abstract

Many Lamiaceae species are consumed in the Lebanese cuisine as food or condiment and are largely used in the traditional medicine of Lebanon to treat various diseases, including microbial infections. In this article we report the traditional medicinal uses of eleven Lamiaceae species: Coridothymus capitatus L., Lavandula stoechas L., Lavandula angustifolia Mill., Mentha spicata L. subsp. condensata, Origanum syriacum L., Rosmarinus officinalis, Salvia fruticosa Miller., Satureja cuneifolia Ten., Satureja thymbra L., Thymbra spicata L., and Vitex agnus-castus L. and study the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of their essential oils (EOs). Our survey showed that Lamiaceae species are mainly used against gastrointestinal disorders and microbial infections. Chemical analysis of the EOs obtained from these plants allowed us to identify seventy-five compounds describing more than 90% of the relative composition of each EO. Essential oils with high amounts of thymol and carvacrol possessed the strongest antimicrobial activity. As expected, these two compounds demonstrated an interesting antifungal efficacy against the filamentous fungus T. rubrum. Our results confirmed that some of the Lamiaceae species used in Lebanon ethnopharmacological practices as antimicrobial agents do possess antibacterial and antifungal potential consistent with their use in alternative or complementary medicine.

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity against food‐related microorganisms of different essential oils from Lebanon

“…For the S . fruticosa , this is in accordance with the few studies available (Khoury, Stien, Eparvier, Ouaini, & El Beyrouthy, ). However, this is not the case of other Salvia species such as S .…”

“…The EO of R . officinalis was also not effective toward tested microorganisms, which is comparable to a similar which showed an inhibitory activity at higher concentrations than those used herein (Khoury et al, ).…”

Phytochemical screening and antityrosinase activity of carvacrol, thymoquinone, and four essential oils of Lebanese plants

“…Origanum ehrenbergii (OE)—known as “Zaayter”—is an endemic plant to Lebanon belonging to Lamiaceae family and growing at an altitude of up to 2000 m . This plant is used in traditional medicine as remedy for many gastrointestinal disorders and microbial infections …”

Composition, and antioxidant and enzyme‐inhibition activities, of essential oils from Satureja thymbra and Thymbra spicata var. spicata

“…In traditional Lebanese medicine, T. spicata is used to treat arteriosclerosis, blood toxicity, cough, hypoglycaemia, insomnia, ophthalmia, sterility, and toothache, and is often used as a cardiotonic and oxytocic agent. Satureja thymbra is used to treat blood toxicity, cough, nephropathy, and paralysis, and is an anti‐inflammatory, an antidiarrheal, a cardiotonic agent, and an antiseptic . The essential oils of S. thymbra demonstrate strong antiproliferative capacity against MCF‐7 cells, which could be attributed to carvacrol and thymol .…”

“…In the case of S. thymbra , the MIC values ranged from 0.1 (for Bacillus subtilis , Enterococcus faecalis , and Escherichia coli ) to 0.4 mg mL –1 (for Candida albicans ). The essential oils of S. thymbra and T. spicata exhibited antimicrobial and antifungal properties against pathogenic microorganisms typical in food, plants, animals, and humans, according to Markovic et al The results of Khoury et al confirmed that S. thymbra and T. spicata , used in Lebanese ethnopharmacological practices, can be used as antimicrobial agents in alternative or complementary medicine. Gumus reported that the antifungal properties of T. spicata change upon exposure to gamma irradiation …”