Available online 28 March 2016
Open Access
Review Article
- a Department of Pharmaceutical Botany and Plant Biotechnology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
- b Department of Pharmacology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
- Received 28 September 2015, Accepted 14 January 2016, Available online 28 March 2016
- Open Access funded by Sociedade Brasileira de Farmacognosia
- Under a Creative Commons license
Abstract
Eryngium creticum Lam. (E. cyaneum Sibth. & Sm., E. syriacum
Lam.), Saniculoideae, Apiaceae is of great importance in the
traditional Greco – Arab medicine. This study was carried out in order
to contribute to the ethnopharmacological knowledge of this medicinal
species. This review describes the botanical characterization and
distribution, as well as critically assesses the phytochemical
properties and biological activities of E. creticum Lam., a
species that has been used in traditional medicine for many decades.
Possible trends and perspectives for future research of this plant are
discussed, as well. E. creticum has been found to contain
several chemical constituents, mostly sesquiterpenes, monoterpenes,
aldehydes, coumarins, sitosterols and sugars. Eryngo with its bioactive
compounds possesses a wild range of biological activities. It was
reported that in traditional medicine E. creticum was applied
mainly as the remedy for snake and scorpion bites. Some published
studies have shown a broad spectrum of biological and pharmacological
activities, including anti-snake and anti-scorpion venom, as well as
antibacterial, antifungal and antileishmanial effects. Other have
indicated antihyperglycemic, hypoglycemic and antioxidant activities of
this species. The in vitro studies and in vivo models have provided a simple bioscientific explanation for its various ethnopharmacological uses.
Graphical abstract
Keywords
- Eryngium creticum;
- Eryngo;
- Ethnopharmacology;
- Phytochemistry;
- Pharmacological activity
