Abstract
Background: The genus Stachys L. (Lamiaceae) includes about 300 species as annual or perennial herbs or small shrubs, spread in temperate regions of Mediterranean, Asia, America and southern Africa. Several species of this genus are extensively used in various traditional medicines. They are consumed as herbal preparations for the treatment of stress, skin inflammations, gastrointestinal disorders, asthma and genital tumors. Previous studies have investigated the chemical constituents and the biological activities of these species. Thus, the present review compiles literature data on ethnomedicine, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, clinical studies and the toxicity of genus Stachys. Methods: Comprehensive research of previously published literature was performed for studies on the traditional uses, bioactive compounds and pharmacological properties of the genus Stachys, using databases with different key search words. Results: This survey documented 60 Stachys species and 10 subspecies for their phytochemical profiles, including 254 chemical compounds and reported 19 species and 4 subspecies for their pharmacological properties. Furthermore, 25 species and 6 subspecies were found for their traditional uses. Conclusions: The present review highlights that Stachys spp. consist an important source of bioactive phytochemicals and exemplifies the uncharted territory of this genus for new research studies.
Highlights
The genus Stachys L., a large member of the Lamiaceae family, comprises more than 300 species, dispersing in temperate and tropical regions of Mediterranean, Asia, America and southern Africa [1,2,3]
The present review summarises all these studies, exemplifying 38 Stachys species which their iridoid cargo has been investigated (Tables 12 and 26)
This study exemplified that the infusion of the aerial parts of wood betony showed a reduction of abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB), recommending its consumption for the treatment of AUB related to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Summary
The genus Stachys L., a large member of the Lamiaceae family, comprises more than 300 species, dispersing in temperate and tropical regions of Mediterranean, Asia, America and southern Africa [1,2,3]. In late Byzantine era, ‘Nikolaos Myrepsos’ included some species of the genus Stachys (S. germanica L., S. officinalis (L.) Travis, S. alopecuros (L.) Benth.) in his medical manuscript “Dynameron”. The herbal teas of these plants, known as “mountain tea”, are used for skin and stomach disorders [12,16]. Despite the widely uses of the specific species and the large amount of research studies, there has been no recent comprehensive review including all the latest data of the specific genus and its contribution in medicine. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge on the traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, clinical studies and toxicity of the genus Stachys L
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