Conventional Medicinal Uses and Chemical Structure of Important Secondary Metabolites in the Genus Eremostachys: A Literature Review

Abstract

Genus Eremostachys Bunge is a key medicinal plant grown in Eastern Europe, Central and Western Asia and Middle East. The plants of this genus have numerous secondary metabolites, which exhibit both traditional and pharmacological applications. Eremostachys contains several classes of reactive chemical ingredients such as flavonoids (viz. Apigenin, Luteolin, Loasifolin, Loasin A, Apuleisin, Apigenin and Kaempferol etc), isoflavonoids (viz. Soforanarin B, Loasin B and Vicarin), iridoid glucosides (viz. Shanzhiside, Lamalbide, Lamalbidic acid, Epiloganin, Pulchelloside, Harpagide, Pulchelloside, hamighriprasin, Eremoside, Phloyoside and Barlerin etc.), phenylethanoid glycosides (viz. Verbascoside, Leucosceptoside A, and Echinacoside etc,), acids, hydrocarbons, terpenes, diterpenoids and sterols (viz. Eremostachiin, Phlomisoside II, Stigmasterol, β-Sitosterol, Daucosterol and Oleanolic aicd) etc. These metabolites are well known for their pharmacological applications such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antirheumatic, anti-poisonous, antimalarial, anticancer, antimalarial, antiallergic, antiarthritic and antidepressant etc. Before the identification of chemical constituents, genus Eremostachys was used by few countries since ancient viz. by China, Iran, India, Pakistan, Tajakistan and few middle and south Asian countries etc. This genus has been used by people of these region since ancient as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, ant-insecticidal, antiparasitic, antiallergic, liver care, joint pain, arthritis, antioxidant, antibacterial, antidepressant, antimalarial, perfumery, detergent, soap, beauty products. In India, E. superba has been used as a food for cattle to increase milk production. In the present review, the important traditional uses of some important species of the genus Eremostachys have been briefly discussed due to their availability and affordability. The number of medicinal and pharmacological applications of the plant genus Eremostachys are also summarized in the paper.