Medicinal Properties and Active Constituents of Dracocephalum kotschyi and Its Significance in Iran: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Objectives. Dracocephalum has over 60 species and is found mainly in the temperate regions of Asia and Europe. One of these species, i.e., Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss, is known to have a number of medicinal properties and active ingredients in many parts of the world. Despite being an endemic wild-flowering plant of great importance, the plant is currently considered endangered in Iran. Besides, there is paucity of information on the significance of the medicinal properties and active constituents of D. kotschyi among the Iranian people. On that account a systematic review of studies reporting on the medicinal properties and active ingredients and its significance to human and animal health was conducted and the existing knowledge gaps were identified. Methods. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used in the search for published articles on medicinal properties and active ingredients of D. kotschyi and its significance on humans and animals in Iran. The search was confined to scientific articles from repositories of popular data bases and search engines among them PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Science Direct, SpringerLink, and Scopus. The search narrowed down on scientific journals, books, and book chapters focusing on the medicinal properties of D. kotschyi in Iran for the period between 1970 and 2018. Results. A total of 1158 scientific articles were sourced from the various databases, out of which 38 met the search criteria and qualified for this review. The studies were conducted in only 9 of the 31 provinces of Iran, with a large proportion in Isfahan province, central Iran. The studies showed that all plant parts (roots, aerial parts, flowers, and leaves) had active constituents. Essential oils and aerial plant parts were the main components studied. Nevertheless, the most frequently reported constituents were xanthomicrol, limonene, luteolin, geranial, apigenin, and calycopterin. A number of medicinal properties were reported among them antioxidant, antibacterial, anticancerous, antinociceptive, antihyperlipidemic, antispasmodic, cytotoxic, and immunomodulatory effects. The plant was also reported to be a remedy for inflammatory pain, headaches, congestion, liver disorders, ulcer, fever, renal pain, dyspepsia, stomach ache, abdominal pain, joints pains, muscle spasm, congestion, bloating, and wound healing effects, among others. Conclusion. This review has shown that D. kotschyi is an important medicinal plant with a large number of active constituents and great potential to safeguard human and animal health in Iran. However, over utilization of the D. kotschyi plant is already endangering its existence. Nevertheless, more studies need be conducted across the country.

Iron oxide nanoparticles: a novel elicitor to enhance anticancer flavonoid production and gene expression in Dracocephalum kotschyi hairy‐root cultures

“…Essential oils, flavonoids, rosmarinic acid, and monoterpene glycosides are secondary metabolites produced by Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss 1,2 as the most important Dracocephalum species. 3,4 This plant is a rich source of various constituents of flavonoids including xanthomicrol, apigenin 7-O-glucoside, apigenin, luteolin 7-O--D-glucopyranoside, luteolin 3 ′ -O--D-glucuronide, isokaempferide, cirsimaritin, calycopterin, and penduletinare. These flavonoids have been regarded as the most effective chemicals for the inhibition of tumor cells.…”

Basil and Dracocephalum kotschyi Alcoholic Extracts Affect BCL2 expression and HepG2 Cell Proliferation

“…In the current study, we studied the effect [23]. Based on the results of this study and previous studies, it can be concluded that Basil and Dracocephalum kotschyi exhibit an anticancer effect.…”

In vitro and in vivo Anti‐Toxoplasma activity of Dracocephalum kotschyi essential oil

“…The presence of copaene, methyl geranate, geranial, carvone, 3‐carene, alpha‐pinene, limonene, and carveol compounds in these plants may be responsible for their anti‐parasitic effect on T. gondii infection. Traditionally, the plant has long been used for therapeutic purposes (Heydari et al., 2019).…”