Phytochemical Properties and Biological Activities of Marrubium Species
Summary
Marrubium, a genus of Lamiaceae comprising over fifty species, has long been valued in traditional medicine for respiratory, digestive and topical remedies. Phytochemical investigations have revealed a core profile dominated by the labdane diterpene marrubiin, diverse phenolic acids, flavonoids and their glycosides, essential oils rich in sesquiterpenes and sterols, and variable triterpene content. Tissue-specific studies show that leaves, stems and flowers differ markedly in their secondary‐metabolite composition, underpinning species‐dependent bioactivity. These compounds confer pronounced antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory effects, broad‐spectrum antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity, antidiabetic potential through enzyme modulation, and wound‐healing properties via enhanced cell regeneration. Emerging work also explores green nanotechnology applications, leveraging phytochemicals as reducing and stabilising agents for metal nanoparticles. The global significance of Marrubium lies in its dual role: ecological resilience across temperate regions and a sustainable source of bioactive metabolites for pharmaceutical, cosmetic and nutraceutical innovation.
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Phytochemical Properties and Biological Activities of Marrubium Species publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in phytochemical properties and biological activities of marrubium species across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Labdane diterpene: A class of bicyclic diterpenoids exemplified by marrubiin, noted for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions.
Non-targeted metabolomics: An unbiased analytical strategy to catalogue a wide spectrum of metabolites using techniques such as GC-MS and UPLC-MS/MS.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Highly reactive molecules derived from oxygen that can damage cellular components but are scavenged by antioxidants.
Biofilm: A structured community of microorganisms embedded in an extracellular polymeric matrix, often associated with increased resistance to antimicrobials.
References
- Metabolome Profiling of Marrubium peregrinum L. and Marrubium friwaldskyanum Boiss Reveals Their Potential as Sources of Plant-Based Pharmaceuticals. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).
- Biological Activity of Horehound (Marrubium vulgare L.) Herb Grown in Poland and Its Phytochemical Composition. Pharmaceuticals (2024).
- Development of Biologically Active Phytosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles Using Marrubium vulgare L. Extracts: Applications and Cytotoxicity Studies. Nanomaterials (2024).
- Marrubium vulgare L.: A Phytochemical and Pharmacological Overview. Molecules (2020).
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