Abstract
The genus Salsola L. (Russian thistle, Saltwort) includes halophyte plants and is considered one of the largest genera in the family Amaranthaceae. The genus involves annual semi-dwarf to dwarf shrubs and woody tree. The genus Salsola is frequently overlooked, and few people are aware of its significance. The majority of studies focus on pollen morphology and species identification. Salsola has had little research on its phytochemical makeup or biological effects. Therefore, we present this review to cover all aspects of genus Salsola, including taxonomy, distribution, differences in the chemical constituents and representative examples of isolated compounds produced by various species of genus Salsola and in relation to their several reported biological activities for use in folk medicine worldwide.
Highlights
The genus Salsola L. (Russian thistle, Saltwort), a genus of from semi-dwarf to dwarf shrubs and woody tree species, is a halophyte plant, which is considered one of the largest genera in the family Amaranthaceae
Salsola leaves are classified into two anatomical types: the Salsoloid-type leaf, with continuous layers of chlorenchymatous cells with a vascular bundle at the center of the leaf and small peripheral vascular bundles that adhere to chlorenchyma [22], and Sympegmoid-type leaves, with two or three palisade layers and a discontinuous layer of indistinctive bundle sheath cells around water-storage tissue [22]
It was found that 95% ethanol extract of the whole plant of S. villosa, which contains a high concentration of alkaloid and flavonoid, showed a wide spectrum of anti-microbial activity at different concentrations against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa using the agar diffusion method and antibiotics discs of Streptomycin and Chloramphenicol as positive controls [87]
Summary
The genus Salsola L. (Russian thistle, Saltwort), a genus of from semi-dwarf to dwarf shrubs and woody tree species, is a halophyte plant, which is considered one of the largest genera in the family Amaranthaceae. Salsola species have a variety of features that contribute to their recognition as a potential forage species in from semi-arid to dry settings along sea beaches, such as extensive seed production, and resistance to extreme climatic conditions including high temperature and extended drought conditions [8,10,11]. These plants typically grow on flat, generally dry and/or slightly saline soils, with some species occurring in salt marshes. We present this review to cover all aspects of the genus Salsola including taxonomy, distribution, chemical constituents and reported biological activities.
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