The Botanical, Chemical and Ethnobotanical Diversity of Southern African Lamiaceae

Abstract

The Lamiaceae is undoubtedly an important plant family, having a rich history of use that spans the globe with many species being used in folk medicine and modern industries alike. Their ability to produce aromatic volatile oils has made them valuable sources of materials in the cosmetic, culinary, and pharmaceutical industries. A thorough account of the taxonomic diversity, chemistry and ethnobotany is lacking for southern African Lamiaceae, which feature some of the region’s most notable medicinal and edible plant species. We provide a comprehensive insight into the Lamiaceae flora of southern Africa, comprising 297 species in 42 genera, 105 of which are endemic to the subcontinent. We further explore the medicinal and traditional uses, where all genera with documented uses are covered for the region. A broad review of the chemistry of southern African Lamiaceae is presented, noting that only 101 species (34%) have been investigated chemically (either their volatile oils or phytochemical characterization of secondary metabolites), thus presenting many and varied opportunities for further studies. The main aim of our study was therefore to present an up-to-date account of the botany, chemistry and traditional uses of the family in southern Africa, and to identify obvious knowledge gaps.

Valorization of a Waste Product of Edible Flowers: Volatile Characterization of Leaves

“…The Lamiaceae family (mint), a large botanical family with more than 236 genera and 7000 species [ 5 ], is considered to be one of the most important plant families in the world and the most studied [ 6 ]. Many species are cultivated for their fragrant leaves and attractive flowers [ 7 ] and are widely known also for their use in folk medicine as herbal remedies for various disorders [ 8 , 9 ]. From the culinary point of view, some species of mint family are used as aromatic herbs and cultivated for their edible leaves (ELs).…”

Challenges in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants DNA Barcoding—Lessons from the Lamiaceae

“…Therefore, herbs and spices from this family are important in the pharmaceutical, flavouring, perfumery and cosmetic industries [ 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 , 115 , 116 ]. Global supply chains and consumer demand for particular characteristics exert selective pressure, and result in discrete and specific identification and authentication scenarios when attempting to select medicinally relevant material.…”

Comparative Genomics and Phylogenetic Analysis of the Chloroplast Genomes in Three Medicinal Salvia Species for Bioexploration

“…Most of the species are mainly distributed in Asia, Europe, and Africa. In historical evolution, the family of Lamiaceae is most closely related to the family of Verbenaceae and Violinaceae [ 2 ]. In China, 99 genera and more than 800 species in the Lamiaceae family are found, which include about 1050 Salvia species.…”