Prospects for the creation of new phytochemical medicinal products based on Myrtus communis L. (a review)

Abstract

The number of medicinal products based on biologically active substances (BAS) of plant origin is increasing every year. Scientists are exploring non-official plant raw materials used in non-traditional medicine to expand the raw material base for creating new phytopreparations. Among numerous plants, common myrtle (Myrtus communis L.), which is a fairly common indoor plant, is recognized as a valuable source of BAS. The aim of the work is to analyze and summarize new literature data on the botanical characteristics, chemical composition, pharmacological and toxicological properties of Myrtus communis L. Materials and methods. Data were collected from several legitimate databases and services such as PubMed, Medline, Scopus, Google Scholar, ResearchGate using the key terms “Myrtus communis L.”, “botanical characteristics”, “pharmacological studies”, “phytochemical studies” in each database data Relevant and related data were filtered as appropriate if deemed relevant to the topic of interest. Time frames have also been adjusted to provide up-to-date information. Results. Myrtus communis L., commonly known as common myrtle, is a widely recognized medicinal plant in the Mediterranean region. Various parts of this plant, including the leaves, fruits, and flowers, have been used in traditional medicine for treating a wide range of ailments. The pharmacological properties of common myrtle are attributed to the presence of essential oils and phenolic compounds, and these properties include antimicrobial, antiviral, antidiabetic, antispasmodic, vasodilator, antiulcer, antioxidant, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory effects. This article offers an overview of the botanical characteristics and chemical composition of different parts of common myrtle, and it presents a literature review of pharmacological studies that provide evidence for the plant’s medicinal properties. Conclusions. Common myrtle is a promising plant for further pharmacognostic research with the aim of expanding the raw material base, using the method of clonal micropropagation and creating new phytopreparations based on it.