Essential Oil of Marrubium vulgare: Chemical Composition and Biological Activities. A Review

Marrubium vulgare, plant species belonging to Marrubium genus, is widespread in the Mediterranean areas, introduced elsewhere and also cultivated in many countries. Its oil is recognized to possess a considerable biological activities with varied chemical composition. This paper aims to overview the chemical composition and biological activities of M. vulgare essential oil's considered as a medicinal plant, widely used in folk medicine overall the world. In essential oils of M. vulgare, germacrene D, β-caryophyllene, β-bisabolene, bicyclogermacrene and carvacrol are generally considered as either mains or minor constituents and each species presents its own composition. Sesquiterpenoids were the dominant fraction while monoterpenoids were present in appreciable or in trace amount. Oxygenated fractions dominated in monoterpenes however, hydrocarbon fraction overpowered in sesquiterpenes. These oils are biologically active, they exhibit an antioxidant and antimicrobial activities and other activities. Due to the variability of composition of essential oil, further studies are necessary, particularly regarding their chemical's which may cause an important change in the biological activities of oils and probably defined different chemotype.

Evaluation of hypolipidemic Marrubium vulgare effect in Triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemia in mice

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the hypocholesterolemic and hypotriglyceridemic activities of four Marrbium vulgare herb extracts using Triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemia in mice.@*METHODS@#Hyperlipidemia was developed by intraperitoneal injection of Triton (200 mg/kg body weight). The animals were divided into main four groups of eight mice each: normal control group, hyperlipidemic control group, hyperlipidemic plus tween-40 control and treated group. The fourth one was divided into four subgroups, petroleum ether extract group, chloroform extract group, ethyl acetate extract group and methanol extract treated group each of them contains two sub-sub group for treating animals with two doses at 0.1 and 0.25 LD50.@*RESULTS@#After 7 h and 24 h of treatment, the intragastric administration of all extracts caused a significant decrease of plasma total cholesterol. Triglyceride levels were also significantly lowered by all extracts while petroleum ether produced the lowest decreasing level. Similar results were observed for LDL-cholesterol concentrations. Furthermore, more polar extracts (methanol and ethyl acetate)-soluble fractions showed a significant ameliorative action on elevated atherogenic index (AI) and LDL/HDL-C ratios, while these atherogenic markers were not statistically suppressed by the chloroform and petroleum ether-soluble extract.@*CONCLUSION@#The findings indicated that Marrubium may contain polar products able to lower plasma lipid concentrations and might be beneficial in treatment of hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis.

Evaluation of hypolipidemic Marrubium vulgare effect in Triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemia in mice

Objective To evaluate the hypocholesterolemic and hypotriglyceridemic activities of four Marrbium vulgare herb extracts using Triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemia in mice. Methods Hyperlipidemia was developed by intraperitoneal injection of Triton (200 mg/kg body weight). The animals were divided into main four groups of eight mice each: normal control group, hyperlipidemic control group, hyperlipidemic plus tween-40 control and treated group. The fourth one was divided into four subgroups, petroleum ether extract group, chloroform extract group, ethyl acetate extract group and methanol extract treated group each of them contains two sub-sub group for treating animals with two doses at 0.1 and 0.25 LD

Cardioprotective effect of methanolic extract of Marrubium vulgare L. on isoproterenol-induced acute myocardial infarction in rats.

Isoproterenol injection (100 mg/kg; sc) produced changes in ECG pattern including ST-segment elevation and suppressed R-amplitude. The methanolic extract of M. vulgare at doses of 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg significantly amended the ECG changes. A severe myocardial necrosis and edematous along with a sharp reduction in the arterial blood pressure, left ventricular contractility (LVdP/dtmax or min), but a marked increase in the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) were seen in the isoproterenol group. All parameters were significantly improved by the extract treatment. The extract (10 mg/kg) strongly increased LVdP/dtmax. Similarly, treatment with 40 mg/kg of M. vulgare lowered the elevated LVEDP and the heart to body weight ratio. In addition to in vitro antioxidant activity, the extract suppressed markedly the elevation of malondialdehyde levels both in serum and in myocardium. The results demonstrate that M. vulgare protects myocardium against isoproterenol-induced acute myocardial infarction and suggest that the effects could be related to antioxidant activities.

Screening of North African Medicinal Plant Extracts for Cytotoxic Activity Against Tumor Cell Lines.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro cytotoxic activity and cellular effects of organic extracts and fractions of four plants; Inula viscosa, Ormenis eiriolepis (Asteraceae), Retama monosperma (Fabaceae) and Marrubium vulgare (Lamiaceae), all of them used in Moroccan traditional medicine. Methodology: The four plants were extracted using organic solvents and screened on a panel of human cancer cell lines including cell types from both solid and haematological cancer origin as well as non-transformed murine fibroblasts. Cell viability assays were performed with sixteen plant extracts. Sensitive cell lines were then exposed to increasing concentrations of the most efficient extracts in order to calculate IC50 values. Microscopy, flow cytometry and caspase activity assays were then performed in LN229, SW620 and PC-3 cell lines upon treatment to investigate the cell morphology, cell cycle distribution and cell death. Results: cell viability assays reveals that at least one extract from each plant was able to exert cytotoxic activity against the majority of cell lines tested, the IC50 values of the active extracts were in most cases ≤ 30 μg/ml. the study of the cellular effects of the most active extracts on LN229, SW620 and PC-3 cell lines shows their ability to promote cell cycle arrest and cell death. The data obtained herein support strongly the use of these plants by traditional healers for the treatment of cancer patients and could have some scientific support indicating the presence of bioactive compounds. Conclusion: The reported biological activity of these four medicinal plants used in traditional Moroccan medicine provides a starting point for forthcoming studies to determine the molecular basis of their activity and to identify the chemical compounds within the most active extracts responsible for their antitumoral effects.

Molluscicidal and Mosquitocidal Activities of the Essential oils of Thymus capitatus Hoff. et Link. and Marrubium vulgare L. / Atividades moluscicida e mosquitocida de óleos essenciais de Thymus capitatus Hoff. et Link. e de Marrubium vulgare L

Steam distillation of essential oils of aerial parts of Thymus capitatus and Marrubium vulgare L. collected at North cost of Egypt yielded 0.5% and 0.2%, respectively. Results of Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses of the two samples identified 96.27% and 90.19% of the total oil composition for T. capitatus and M. vulgare, respectively. The two oil samples appeared dominated by the oxygenated constituents (88.22% for T. capitatus and 57.50% for M. vulgare), composed of phenols, mainly carvacrol (32.98%) and thymol (32.82%) in essential oil of T. capitatus, and thymol (34.55%) in essential oil of M. vulgare. It was evaluated the molluscicidal activity of T. capitatus and M. vulgare essential oils on adult and eggs of Biomphalaria alexandrina as well as their mosquitocidal activity on Culex pipiens. The LC50 and LC90 of T. capitatus essential oil against adult snails was 200 and 400 ppm/3hrs, respectively, while for M. vulgare it was 50 and 100 ppm/3hrs, respectively. Moreover, M. vulgare showed LC100 ovicidal activity at 200 ppm/24 hrs while T. capitatus oil showed no ovicidal activity. It was verified mosquitocidal activity, with LC50 and LC90 of 100 and 200 ppm/12hrs respectively for larvae, and 200 and 400 ppm/12hrs respectively for pupae of C. pipiens.

A destilação por arraste a vapor dos óleos essenciais de partes aéreas de Thymus capitatus Hoff. et Link. e de Marrubium vulgare L. coletadas na costa norte do Egito resultaram em rendimento de 0,5% e 0,2%, respectivamente. Resultados de análises por cromatografia gasosa acoplada à espectrometria de massas de ambas as amostras possibilitaram a identificação de 96,27% e 90,19% dos constituintes químicos respectivamente de T. capitatus e M. vulgare. Verificou-se predomínio de constituintes oxigenados (88,22% para T. capitatus e 57,50% para M. vulgare, principalmente fenóis, como carvacrol (32,98%) e timol (32,82%) no óleo essencial de T. capitatus, e timol (34,55%) no óleo essencial de M. vulgare. Avaliou-se a atividade dos óleos essenciais obtidos contra adultos e ovos de Biomphalaria alexandrina, bem como em larvas e pupas de Culex pipiens. A CL50 e CL90 do óleo essencial de T. capitatus em moluscos adultos foi respectivamente 200 e 400 ppm/3hrs, enquanto para o óles essencial de M. vulgare verificou-se CL50 e CL90 de 50 e 100 ppm/3hrs, respectivamente. Além disso, M. vulgare apresentou atividade ovicida, com CL 100 de 200 ppm/24 horas, enquanto o óleo essencial de T. capitatus não demonstrou atividade ovicida. Verificou-se ainda atividade mosquitocida, com CL50 e CL90 de 100 e 200 ppm/12hrs respectivamente para larvas, e 200 e 400 ppm/12hrs contra pupas de C. pipiens.

Lead finding from whole plant of Marrubium vulgare L. with Hepatoprotective Potentials through in silico methods

Objective: In the present study an attempt has been made to study the antihepatotoxic activity of active compounds in this plant through in silico methods. Methods: We have taken 12 compounds form this plant. All the compounds were further subjected to molecular propertied prediction and drug likeness by Molinspiration and found in compliance with Lipinski’s rule of five. Biochemical parameters like SGOT and SGPT were determined by Reitman and Frankel, ALP by Kind and King, TP by reported methods of Wooton. Results: All the compounds were showed expected similar bioactivity especially in case of enzyme inhibition. Compound Vulgarin showed no violation with good drug likeness score and biological activity as compare to standard drug Silibinin. Vulgarin exhibited a significant antihepatotoxic activity by reducing the elevated levels of serum enzymes such as serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) serum glutamate pyruvate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGPT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) while the total protein (TP) levels were increased when compared with standard drug silymarin against CCl4-induced toxicity in Wistar rats. These biochemical observations were also supplemented by histopathological examinations of the liver sections. Conclusions: We found that Vulgarin one of the twelve compounds is showed better drug likeness and biological activity against Silibinin. So this particular compound can be taken as lead compound for further drug discovery for hepatotoxic activity.