Pharmacognosy 2: Lecture 1: Family Lamiaceae

يا بتاع النعناع يا منعنع

Greek word for "remedy" and partial origin of the word pharmacognosy

Pharmakon

Science of nature derived pharmaceuticals and poisons

Pharmacognosy

Foods with additional health benefits

Nutraceuticals

Phytopharmaceutical

1- High-concentration garlic extracts for reducing high blood pressure

2- Standardized turmeric (curcumin) for severe inflammation

3- St. John's Wort for depression.

Use of plants or plant extracts—including leaves, roots, flowers, and seeds—to prevent/treat diseases and enhance health; considered a type of alternative medicine and can come in various forms such as teas, capsules, powders, or extracts

Herbal medicine/Phytomedicine

Chemopreventive agent

1- Curcumin

2- Green tea polyphenols

3- Tamoxifen

Dietary supplements

- Vitamins (e.g., Vitamin D, B12)

- Minerals (e.g., calcium, iron)

- Herbs (e.g., echinacea)

- Botanicals (e.g., ginger)

- Amino acids

- Enzymes

Holistic, integrative system combining conventional medicine with anthroposophical therapies (art therapy, rhythmic massage) to treat the whole person—body, soul, and spirit; focuses on stimulating self-healing mechanisms and uses individualized treatments based on natural substance

Anthroposophical Medicine

Mainly of mono and sesquiterpenes and simple phenylpropanoid aromatics, which are isolated either by steam distillation or via non-polar solvent extraction

Volatile oil

Triglycerides of fatty acids with lipid soluble constituents, extracted by cold expression (either scarification or sponge method)

Fixed oil

Glycosides

1- Cardiac glycosides

2- Saponins

3- Flavonoids

4- Anthraquinones

Done by pouring boiling water and standing for 10-15 minutes; suitable for most leaves, flowers, fruits and herbal drugs of soft tissues, and for thermo-stable constituents

Infusion

Done by boiling water together with the herb for a range of 5-10 minutes; used for herbal drugs composed of hard tissues such as woods and barks or for materials containing sparingly soluble active principles (e.g. tannins, mucilage containing herbs)

Decoction

Factors affecting extraction efficiency

1- Solvent:Solid ratio

2- Solvent polarity

3- Temperature

4- Degree of comminution

Herbal remedy affected by light

1- Ergot alkaloids

Family Lamiaceae: Common Microscopic Features:

1- Diacytic stomata

2- Labiaceous glandular hair with unicellular stalk and 8 celled head

3- Multicellular uniseriate non-glandular trichome

Mint leaves (Peppermint leaf): Macroscopic Features

1- Thin Brittle Leaves

2- Violet venation

3- Yellow-brown punctuation on lower surface (Labiatea hair)

4- Characteristic odor

Mint leaves (Peppermint leaf): Uses

1- Antispasmodic

2- Sedative (+Melissa)

3- Carminative

4- Cholagogue

5- Decongestant

6- Rubifacient

Melissa Leaves (Lemon balm leaf): Scienticfic Name

Melissa officinalis

Melissa Leaves (Lemon balm leaf): Macroscopic Features

1- Thin crumpled leaves

2- Dark green upper surface

3- Light green lower surface with punctuation

4- Lemon like odor

Melissa Leaves (Lemon balm leaf): Unique Microscopic Features

1- Tooth-like unicellular trichome

Melissa Leaves (Lemon balm leaf): Active Constituents

- Volatile oil: citral

- Hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives and oxidation

products of caffeic acid mainly rosemarinic acid

Melissa Leaves (Lemon balm leaf): Uses

- Antispasmodic

- Sedative

- Antiviral: HSV

- Lower Skin inflammation

Sage leaves: Scientific Name

Salvia officinalis

Sage leaves: Macroscopic Features

1- Lanceolate leaves

2- Depressed Veins

3- Hairy on both upper and lower surfaces

Sage leaves: Unique Microscopic Features

- Multicellular wooly hair

Sage leaves: Active Constituents

- Volatile oils: Thujone (30-60%) and Camphor (20-35%).

- Hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives and oxidation products of

caffeic acid mainly rosmarinic acid

- Glycosides: Fructoside and Apioside

- Bitter principles: Carnesol and Rosmanol

Sage leaves: Uses

Externally:

1- Anti-inflammatory: Gargles

2- Topically: Seborrhea

Internally (Vet medicine ONLY!!):

3- Flatulence/Diarrhea

Nutraceuticals

1- Curcumin

Study of the active constituents of medicinal plants in respect to: extraction, analysis, chemical structure, activity, relationships, as well as biosynthesis and means of production

Phytochemistry

Complex mixture derived from plant sources that is used as a medicine or drug; considered the best 'Alternative Medicine'

Phytopharmaceutical

Curing ability using bioactive plant-derived medication

(Phytopharmaceuticals)

Phytotherapy

Natural or synthetic substances that prevent or delay cancer development

Chemopreventive Agent

(Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods, and Health Food Supplements) Products intended to enhance the diet, containing ingredients like vitamins, minerals, herbs, and amino acids in forms such as tablets, capsules, powders, or liquids; they are not intended to treat, cure, or prevent diseases or replace meals

Dietary Supplements

A theory based on an assumption that plants can be used in very dilute forms to treat illnesses associated with symptoms produced by their high doses

Homeopathy

Homeopathy

1- Allium cepa (red onion) for a cold with a runny nose and watery, irritated eyes

It's fruit capsules produce powerful drugs, while its seeds are almost alkaloid free

Opium Poppy

Plant parts use for the following:

- Senna

- Hibiscus

- Vanilla

- Peppermint

- Linseed

- Leaves (Senna)

- Flowers (Hibiscus)

- Fruits (Vanilla)

- Aerial parts (Herb) (Peppermint)

- Seeds ( Linseed)

Basic, nitrogen-containing natural products that are of limited distribution and possessing a significant physiological activity

Alkaloids

Non-sugar part (aglycone), linked with a sugar by a glycosidic or acetal bond

Glycosides

Non-sugar part of glycosides

Aglycone

Organic compounds made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, typically in a 1:2:1 empirical formula ratio (CH2O).

Carbohydrate

Naturally occurring micronutrients with potential antioxidant activity; their structures have at least one aromatic ring and one or more hydroxyl substituents

Polyphenols

Constituents characterized by a strong bitter taste, which stimulate digestive secretions and improve appetite

Bitter Principles

Natural, often antiseptic, substances exuded by plants (typically in response to injury) that harden upon exposure to air

Resins (and Gums)

Done for several hours or overnight with occasional shaking (on cold), for water soluble constituents to be separated; preferred for herbs containing mucilage, suitable for thermo-labile constituents

Maceration

Factors affecting herbal remedy stability

1- Light

2- Storage container

3- Humidity

4- Temperature

Commonly known as the "Mint family" and is one of the largest and most significant plant families; comprises 236 genera and more than 7000 species; used extensively for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity; major source of essential oils used in perfume, cosmetics and the flavoring industry.

Family Lamiaceae

Family Lamiaceae: Popular culinary/Aromatic herbs:

1- Basil

2- Mint

3- Rosemary

4- Thyme

5- Oregano

6- Lavender

7- Lemon Balm.

Family Lamiaceae: Common Active Constituents:

- Glycosides: Rosmarinic and Caffeic acids

Identify:

Mint leaves (Peppermint leaf)

Mint leaves (Peppermint leaf): Scientific Name

Mentha piperita

Mint leaves (Peppermint leaf): Active Constituents

- Volatile Oil: Menthol (0.5-4%)

- Glycosides: Rosmarinic and Caffeic acids

Mint leaves (Peppermint leaf): Contraindications

1- Biliary Obstruction

2- Newborn Infants

Identify

Melissa Leaves (Lemon balm leaf)

Mixture between cis and trans isomers: Neral, Geranial and Citronellal

Citral V.oil

Identify:

Sage Leaves

Sage leaves: Side effects and Contraindications

1- Neurotoxic (causing Convulsions/Hallucination)

2- Pregnancy