CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF SOME MARRUBIUM SPECIES ESSENTIAL OIL: A REVIEW

Due to their efficiency and safety, synthetic products raise several questions as for their use; thus, medicinal plants regain interest as potential source of bioactive natural compounds. Marrubium species are recognized to possess many beneficial effects on the human body. They are widely used in folk medicine all over the world to treat a variety of ailments. This paper reviews information on the essential oil of Marrubium species (except M. vulgare) described until now regarding extraction, chemical composition and biological activities. Marrubium essential oils, although quantitatively poor, are rich in chemical composition. This composition consists especially of sesquiterpenoids and a little amount of monoterpenes. Marrubium essential oils exhibit antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. However, because of the lack of literature concerning essential oil of these species, further studies are necessary, particularly regarding their activities.