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Cistus incanus L. commercial products as a good source of polyphenols in human diet
... Cistus incanus L. (rockrose) is a plant with many extraordinary medicinal properties known in many parts of the world since ancient times [13][14][15][16]. For example, in the Middle East, Africa and the Canary Islands, it has been used as an infusion since the 4th century BC. ...
... In this study, polar liquids were used for extraction, i.e., water and methyl alcohol (instead of ethanol, which is expensive due to As shown by the data presented in Table 2, the rutin content in the extracts tested is variable and ranges from 1.32 to 8.61 mg/g. For comparison, the literature data on the content of this compound in different varieties of rockrose give its amount as ranging from 0.188 mg/g to even 14.70 mg/g [13,17,27,28]. According to the results presented in this paper, the Albanian rockrose contains the largest amount of rutin. ...
... The influence of all these parameters on the antioxidant activity of cistus extracts is discussed below. It is worth adding, however, that other researchers of cistus properties have also reached similar conclusions [13,18]. For example, in the first of the cited papers, a relationship between antioxidant properties and the method of activity assessment and the place of cultivation of cistus was observed. ...
This paper concerns the evaluation of the antioxidant activity (AA) of extracts obtained from cistus herbs grown in Albania and Turkey. The extracts were prepared in a Soxhlet apparatus, as well as by the maceration and infusion methods, similar to the home method of preparing herbal teas. AA was determined using the DPPH (2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) and β-carotene methods. It was proven that the AA of extracts depends not only on the extraction technique and AA assessment method but also on the place of plant cultivation. The smallest activity was determined using the β-carotene bleaching method, while the highest values were obtained using the FRAP method. On the other hand, the ABTS method showed a greater activity of the Albanian herb prepared using the Soxhlet technique. In addition, the antioxidant properties of extracts were compared with those of rutin standard solutions, showing that this characteristic component of cistus is not the only one that determines AA of extracts. As a result, the rutin content is not an indicator of the antioxidant properties of extracts. The other polyphenolic compounds, although occurring at lower concentration levels compared to rutin, modify the resultant AA of extracts. These studies confirmed the biological activity of cistus as a valuable source of polyphenolic compounds in the human diet.
... Cistus × incanus L. is one of the species frequently cited in the literature for a variety of biological activities mostly demonstrated using polar extracts. The phytochemical profile of the aerial parts has been investigated by several authors, reporting that extraction with polar solvents allows the retention of a large amount of polyphenols, such as flavonols, flavan-3-ols, and tannins; the latter have been characterized as both proanthocyanidins, such as oligomeric procyanidins and prodelphinidins, and ellagitannins, such as punicalagins and cornusin B [2][3][4]. ...
... Polyphenols are considered the main compounds responsible for the antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties ascribed to Cistus spp. in preclinical studies [2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. A key role in the biological activity might be due to the presence of condensed tannins, although few papers clearly attributed the bioactivity to specific polyphenolic fractions or individual compounds [9,10]. ...
... Polar extracts from Cistus × incanus L. have been previously characterized for the presence of polyphenols, including flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, and hydrolysable tannins [2][3][4]. At the present state, the most investigated pharmacological activities are the antiviral and antibacterial, which have been confirmed by clinical trials on upper-respiratory-tract infections [7,11]. ...
Cistus spp. have been traditionally used for inflammatory and infectious disorders, including gastrointestinal ailments, in the Mediterranean area. Among them, Cistus × incanus L. is one of the most frequently cited species in the literature for a variety of biological activities which include inflammatory diseases. Cistus spp. aerial parts are rich in polyphenols such as condensed and hydrolysable tannins, procyanidins, and flavonoids, which show gastroprotective activities. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the biological activities of a hydroalcoholic extract from Cistus × incanus L. aerial parts in gastric epithelial cells (GES-1) infected with H. pylori. The extracts inhibited IL-8 and NF-κB induced by H. pylori and showed antibacterial activity after simulated digestion. Since our previous paper reported interesting results on the ability of Castanea sativa Mill. leaf extract to decrease inflammatory conditions in H. pylori-infected gastric cells, the combination of Castanea sativa and Cistus × incanus extracts was also investigated, showing strong anti-inflammatory activity and inhibition of bacterial adhesion. This association of botanicals is proposed herein as a novel food supplement capable of counteracting gastric inflammatory conditions.
... Rock-rose is also a source of many polyphenols, but their profile has not been fully defined, especially for materials of diverse origins [5,13,15,16,18,20,21]. Therefore, we carried out a detailed study of the polyphenol profile in 52 commercial C. incanus teas, of which 23 were of Turkish origin, 10 were from Albania, and 3 were from Greece (the data obtained for these materials may not be precise due to the small number of samples). ...
... In 80% hydromethanolic extracts of a dozen C. incanus products of different origins, TPC ranged from 2 to 148 mg GAE/g d.w. As in our study, it was noted that products of Turkish origin had the highest content of polyphenols (84 mg/g), especially compared to products of unknown origin, which were the poorest in these compounds [20]. Lower TPC was also obtained for 50% [44] and 30% [45] hydroethanolic extracts, where the amount of polyphenols was 42-99 mg and 36-89 mg GAE/g d.w., respectively. ...
... The third group consisted of flavonoids, in which monomeric flavan-3-ols (epicatechin and catechin) and flavonols (glycosides of myricetin, quercetin, and kaempferol) were recorded. It was consistent with previous reports [13][14][15][16][17]20]. The sum of flavonoids (SF, flavonols+flavan-3-ols) was determined to be 18 mg/g d.w. ...
The European Food Safety Authority recommends C. incanus as a natural source of antioxidants. Its activity is essentially determined by polyphenols, although specific compounds are not finally indicated. The available plant material comes from different subspecies and locations, which can lead to differences in chemical composition and potency. For this reason, we conducted a detailed analysis of the polyphenol content and antioxidant activity of 52 different C. incanus teas from Turkey, Albania, Greece, and unspecified regions. We focused special attention on ellagitannins, which have not been properly determined so far. Besides oxidative stress, hyperglycemia is an essential component of cardiometabolic diseases. Therefore, in subsequent experiments, we evaluated the ability of C. incanus extracts and individual polyphenols to inhibit α-glucosidase. Using statistical methods, we analyzed how differences in chemical composition affect activity. The results showed that C. incanus is a rich source of ellagitannins (2.5–19%), which dominate among polyphenols (5.5–23%). Turkish-origin products had higher ellagitannin content and a greater antioxidant effect (FRAP, ABTS) than Albanian and Greek products. In contrast, the flavonoid and phenolic acid contents and DPPH values were at similar levels in all products. An in-depth analysis of their composition indicated that all groups of polyphenols are involved in the antioxidant effect, but a significant contribution can be attributed to ellagitannins and flavonoids. C. incanus extracts showed a high capacity to inhibit α-glucosidase activity (IC50 125–145 μg/mL). Ellagitannins were the most effective inhibitors (IC50 0.7–1.1 μM), with a potency exceeding acarbose (3.3 mM). In conclusion, C. incanus, due to the presence of ellagitannins and flavonoids, exhibits powerful antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory effects.
... Lower levels of TPC were reported for the aqueous and hydromethanolic extracts of C. incanus grown in Turkey. It was also observed that the aqueous extracts of Cistus species were richer in phenolic compounds than their hydromethanolic counterparts [47]. ...
... The most important constituents of hydromethanolic extracts of C. incanus identified by LC-MS appeared to be myricetin and its derivatives and catechin derivatives [45]. However, HPLC analysis revealed the presence of fifteen phenolic compounds in fifteen batches of C. incanus extracts, but the aqueous extracts did not contain ferulic, chlorogenic and syringic acids [47]. Gallic, ellagic and p-coumaric acids were found in most of the C. incanus samples analyzed, and among the flavonoids isoquercetin, rutin, 7-luteolin glucoside and kaempferol were present. ...
... In contrast, a lower correlation coefficient was observed between the results obtained for the ABTS and FRAP methods. Correlation analysis showed that antioxidant activity of C. incanus was strongly correlated to TPC, total flavonoids and total phenolic acids content [47]. The correlation between phenolic content and antioxidant activity measured by the DPPH method was also reported for aqueous extracts obtained from two Cistus species growing in Croatia [57]. ...
Plants are a valuable source of biologically active molecules, mainly phenolic compounds. In the present study, the total phenolic content (TPC), DPPH· and ABTS⁺ scavenging activity as well as ferric reducing ability (FRAP) of aqueous ethanolic (70%) extracts of Cistus incanus L. and Asarum europaeum L. herb, Geum urbanum L. rhizome, Angelica archangelica L. root, white mulberry (Morus alba L.), lemon balm (Melisa officinalis L.), red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) and Betula pendula Roth. leaves were determined. In addition, the phenolic profiles of the studied plant extracts and antibacterial activity have been investigated. The extracts from C. incanus and G. urbanum demonstrated the highest TPC and antioxidant capacity, while the extracts from A. archangelica and white mulberry were characterized by the lowest values. A remarkable correlation was also found between the TPC and antioxidant activity of the examined extracts. HPLC analysis showed that the studied extracts were sources of both phenolic acids and flavonoids. More flavonoids than phenolic acids were identified in the extracts of C. incanus, M. alba, R. idaeus and B. pendula compared to the other extracts tested. Not all extracts showed a significant impact on the growth of the tested bacterial strains. Escherichia coli was the most sensitive strain to lemon balm extract (MIC, 0.125 mg/mL), whereas the strains of Acinetobacter baumannii and Bordetella bronchiseptica were sensitive to the G. urbanum extract (MIC, 0.125 mg/mL). Among Gram-positive bacteria, Enterococcus faecalis was the most sensitive to G. urbanum extract. In turn, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis were sensitive to the extracts from C. incanus herb (MIC, 0.125 mg/mL), red raspberry (MIC, 0.125 mg/mL) and lemon balm leaves (MIC. 0.25 mg/mL). Based on the obtained results, the applicability of the studied plant extracts as additives to food and cosmetic products may be considered in the future.
... Например в едно изследване на Agnieszka et al. на екстракти, приготвени от листа от Cistus incanus с произход Турция и Cistus incanus с произход Кипър, авторите докладват следните количества за тотални феноли: 258.42 mg GAE/g dw и 202.95 mg GAE/g dw за водни екстракти и 105.02 и 114.18 mg GAE/g dw за хидрометанолови екстракти, приготвени съответно от двете изследвани суровини. Докато количествата на тотални флавоноиди, определени в същите екстракти, са съответно 4.27 и 3.97 mg QE/g dw и 2.39 и 2.27 mg QE/g dw [356]. В друго изследване на антиоксидантния състав на Cistus incanus с произход Сирия Waed et al. определят 68 ± 4.68 mg GAE/g dw тотални феноли и 11 ± 0.34 mg RE/g dw тотални флавоноиди във водно-метанолов екстракт (80 % v/v), приготвен от надземни части (листа, стъбла, цветове) от растителния вид [357]. ...
... Освен това изследване на 15 търговски продукта на чаени смеси от Cistus incanus с различен произход (Турция, Кипър, Албания и продукти с неизвестен произход), проведено от Agnieszka et al., разкрива, че тоталното съдържание на феноли в инфузиите, приготвени от тях, варира от 4 до 272 mg GAE/g dw, а във водно-метаноловите екстракти от изследваните суровини е определено в граници от 2 до 148 mg GAE/g dw. Същите изследователи докладват, че продуктите с неизвестен произход съдържат най-ниско количество феноли и в двата вида екстракти, докато Cistus incanus с турски произход се характеризира с най-високо съдържание на тези съединения [356]. 151 Може да се направи изводът, че количеството на фенолите и на флавоноидите в екстракти от Cistus incanus зависи от много фактори, освен от произхода на суровината и вида на изследваната надземна част или смес от такива, и от използвания разтворител и метод на екстракция и анализ. ...
... Въз основа на резултатите от настоящото изследване и резултатите от други изследователи цитирани тук, може да се заключи, че екстрактът от български Cistus incanus (листа) съдържа по-високо количество флавоноиди (121.61 mg QE/g dw и 55.28 mg RE/g dw), не само, в сравнение с количеството флавоноиди, определени в екстракта от C. Incanus GR leaves (п-в Халкидики), но и от екстрактите от Cistus incanus с турски и кипърски произход, изследвани от Agnieszka et al. [356]. За сметка на това количеството на тотални феноли в екстракта от листа от памуклийка е по-ниско от това, определено в екстракта от C. Incanus GR leaves, но не и по-ниско от това, определено от някои други изследователи, в екстракти от Cistus incanus, растящ в естествената си среда. ...
Дисертационният труд представлява обемно и подробно проведено изследване, което включва, освен оценка на влиянието на основните екстракционни параметри върху добива на фенолни съединения от диворастящите, нетрадиционни за България, растителни видове - Cistus incanus L. (памуклийка), Trachystemon orientalis L. (източен лопох) и Phyllirea latifolia L. (грипа) от Странджа планина, така и качествено и количествено определяне на някои антиоксиданти в техни екстракти с разработен и валидиран за целта течнохроматографски метод за анализ. В допълнение за първи път е моделирана и кинетиката на ултразвукова екстракция на листа и на стъбла от Cistus incanus спрямо най-значимите параметри на екстракция. Освен от работните условия по време на екстракция, количеството на полезните компоненти в екстрактите от Cistus incanus се влияе от вида екстрахирана надземна част, географския произход, сезонната изменчивост и начина на съхранение на суровината. Като цяло системното и задълбочено изследване на екстракцията на фенолни компоненти от Cistus incanus, Trachystemon orientalis и Phyllirea latifolia, както и установените високи количества на антиоксиданти в техните екстракти, демонстрират възможностите на приложение на непроучените досега български находища на диворастящите видове в областта на храните, козметиката и лекарствата.
... Cistus incanus is rich in polyphenols that include many representatives with strong antioxidant and antiviral activities [69]. A study stated that CYSTUS052, a plant extract from a special variety of C. incanus, rich in polymeric polyphenols exhibited antiviral activity against a highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus (FPV, H7N7) in MDCK cell culture and a mouse infection model [59]. ...
... C. sinensis extract contains catechins that possess antiviral properties against influenza A virus (H1N1), influenza A (H3N2), influenza B virus, and human papillomavirus (HPV) [67,77,156]. Cistus incanus (family Cistaceae) is an evergreen dwarf shrub herb with hairy-sticky branches and leaves [69]. CYSTUS052 and Cipp (polyphenol-enriched fraction) are two promising antiviral compounds found in C. incanus. ...
... According to Rebensburg et al. (2016), CYSTUS052 prevent the primary attachment of HIV-1 and HIV-2 onto the cell surface and also prevents their envelope protein from binding to heparin [70]. The mechanism of action is mainly on blocking the viral attachment to cells and selectively targeting the viral envelope glycoprotein [69]. ...
Exploration of the traditional medicinal plants is essential for drug discovery and development for various pharmacological targets. Various phytochemicals derived from medicinal plants were extensively studied for antiviral activity. This review aims to highlight the role of medicinal plants against viral infections that remains to be the leading cause of human death globally. Antiviral properties of phytoconstituents isolated from 45 plants were discussed for five different types of viral infections. The ability of the plants’ active compounds with antiviral effects was highlighted as well as their mechanism of action, pharmacological studies, and toxicological data on a variety of cell lines. The experimental values, such as IC50, EC50, CC50, ED50, TD50, MIC100, and SI of the active compounds, were compiled and discussed to determine their potential. Among the plants mentioned, 11 plants showed the most promising medicinal plants against viral infections. Sambucus nigra and Clinacanthus nutans manifested antiviral activity against three different types of viral infections. Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea augustofolia, Echinacea pallida, Plantago major, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Phyllanthus emblica, Camellia sinensis, and Cistus incanus exhibited antiviral activity against two different types of viral infections. Interestingly, Nicotiana benthamiana showed antiviral effects against mosquito-borne infections. The importance of phenolic acids, alkamides, alkylamides, glycyrrhizin, epicatechin gallate (ECG), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epigallocatechin (EGC), protein-based plant-produced ZIKV Envelope (PzE), and anti-CHIKV monoclonal antibody was also reviewed. An exploratory approach to the published literature was conducted using a variety of books and online databases, including Scopus, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and PubMed Central, with the goal of obtaining, compiling, and reconstructing information on a variety of fundamental aspects, especially regarding medicinal plants. This evaluation gathered important information from all available library databases and Internet searches from 1992 to 2022.
... The resin "ladano" exuded from these secretory structures was used since olden days for its medicinal and scented properties Gülz et al., 1996;Szeremeta et al., 2017a). Additionally, C. creticus is used in food industry as flavouring agent, as Cistus tea, or dietary supplement (Papaefthimiou et al., 2014;Wittpahl et al., 2015;Viapiana et al., 2017;Szeremeta et al., 2017a). Various pharmacological effects of C. creticus extracts and resin are due to the presence of different types of phytochemicals with antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-influenza, anticancer, antiaflatoxigenic, anti-leishmania and anti-dengue virus activity Fokialakis et al., 2006;Skorić et al., 2012;Papaefthimiou et al., 2014;Kalli et al., 2018;Kuchta et al., 2020;Carev et al., 2020;Zalegh et al., 2021). ...
... In addition, some of these compounds exhibited antimicrobial activities, preferentially antibacterial (Chinou et al., 1994;Demetzos et al., 1995Demetzos et al., , 1999Güvenç et al., 2005;Rauwald et al., 2019). Other studies also indicated that polyphenols and flavonoids are highly responsible for antioxidant and/or antimicrobial effects of C. creticus leaf extracts (Wittpahl et al., 2015;Viapiana et al., 2017;Móricz et al., 2018;Carev et al., 2020). Within the same context, leaves' extracts rich in phenolic content displayed effective activity against influenza virus Ehrhardt et al., 2007;Ludwig, 2011;Khoufache et al., 2013;) and HIV (Rebensburg et al., 2016). ...
... In addition to above mentioned terpenoids, phenolic compounds are also constituents of C. creticus resin and leaves extracts ( Table 2). As is already indicated by numerous studies, plants belonging to the genus Cistus are good source of polyphenols, mainly flavonoids and tannins (Güvenç et al., 2005;Barrajón-Catalán et al., 2010, 2011Riehle et al., 2012;Barros et al., 2013;Tomás-Menor et al., 2013;Wittpahl et al., 2015;Gori et al., 2016;Viapiana et al., 2017;Zalegh et al., 2021). Variable gallic acid-derived hydrolysable ellagitannins were previously identified in leaves of some Cistus species, including C. albidus, C. clusii, C. crispus, C. creticus, C. ladanifer, C. laurifolius, C. monspeliensis, C. populifolius, and C. salviifolius (Santagati et al., 2008;Barrajón-Catalán et al., 2011). ...
Cistus creticus subsp. creticus is a shrubby Mediterranean plant used since ancient times in folk medicine for the treatment of different diseases. C. creticus extracts and resin contain different types of secondary metabolites, such as terpenoids (predominantly labdane type diterpenoids), and phenylpropanoids. Growth conditions seem to influence the content of labdane-type diterpenes and flavan-3-ols in leaves of C. creticus subsp. creticus. Histochemical staining of leaves’ trichomes and comprehensive phytochemical characterization of resin, leaves and their exudates, indicated that long-stalked capitate trichomes of C. creticus subsp. creticus, grown both in vitro (IV) and in greenhouse (GH), are capable of producing bioactive oleoresin-related terpenoids and phenylpropanoids compounds. Bioactivity-guided approach was implemented in search for the major antibacterial compound in C. creticus resin against two Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and two Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus cereus and Micrococcus flavus). Bioautographic assay on TLC plates with separated components of Cistus resin extract, revealed a pronounced zone of microbial growth inhibition, corresponded to a highly active compound with Rf values of 0.45, structurally characterized and identified as ent-3β-acetoxy-13-epi-manoyl oxide. This finding opens the route for focusing on isolation and functional characterization of genes involved in the biosynthesis of ent-3β-acetoxy-13-epi-manoyl oxide and its precursor ent-3β-hydroxy-13-epi-manoyl oxide, with the aim to establish sustainable in vitro biotechnological protocols for its large-scale production in homologous and heterologous plant and microbial hosts.
... The use of quercetin as a standard had been rejected in favor of myricetin, on the grounds that myricetin derivatives occur in C. incanus in a greater amount [24,27]. The calibration curve was prepared at concentrations of 0.005-2 mg/mL. ...
... The water infusions prepared from C. incanus leaves are considered as a source of polyphenols, including flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, ellagitannins, and phenolic acid [18,27]. The total phenolic content was calculated as an equivalent of gallic acid (GAE) because galloyl residues are components of tannins. ...
... Detailed values, including mean, median, minimum, and maximum of samples with different countries of origin, are presented in Table 1. Viapiana et al. [27] reported significant differences between examined Cistus products. The value of TPC measured according to the Folin-Ciocalteu method described in that study was in the range 125-271.7 mg GAE/g d.w. for water extract and 4.1-16.7 mg GAE/g d.w. for herbal supplements. ...
Reactive oxygen and carbonyl species promote oxidative and carbonyl stress, and the development of diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases, and others. The traditional herb Cistus × incanus is known for its antioxidant properties; therefore, the current study aimed to assess how the chemical composition of a C. incanus water infusion corresponds with its antioxidative and antiglycative effects in vitro. The composition of infusions prepared from commercial products was analyzed with UHPLC-ESI-qTOF-MS. Total phenolics, flavonoids, and non-flavonoid polyphenols were determined. Antioxidant activity of infusions and selected polyphenols was investigated using DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP. Fluorometric measurements and methylglyoxal capture were performed to investigate the antiglycation activity. PCA and PLS-DA models were applied to explore the correlation between chemical and antioxidant results. The principal flavonoids in C. incanus were flavonols. In vitro tests revealed that a stronger antioxidant effect was demonstrated by plant material from Turkey rich in flavonoids, followed by Albania and Greece. Flavonols and ellagic acid displayed stronger antiradical and reducing power than EA-derived urolithins. Hyperoside was the most potent inhibitor of glycation. The results indicate that flavonoids are primarily responsible for rock rose antioxidant and antiglycation properties. PLS-DA modeling can be used to identify the origin of plant material with sensitivity and specificity exceeding 86%.
... Butanol fraction and remaining aqueous layer were more active than the raw extract. It also should be noticed that C. glabrata was the most sensitive while C. krusei was the most resistant to extracts [31,131]. However, the highest anti-candida activity was reported with phenolic extract of C. ladaniferus. ...
... S. aureus and E. coli were the most studied strains in all cases. Among the Cistus extracts investigated, ethanolic and its fractions from C. laurifolius exhibited the best inhibition activity against S. aureus (MIC = 0.064 mg/mL) and E. coli (MIC = 0.032 mg/mL) [126] in comparison with other species [31,86,99]. A quiet observation about the activity of C. monspeliensis in two studies revealed a difference in MIC while it was about the same strain and same solvent (methanol). ...
... coli, K. penumoniae, E. cloaceae, S. marcescens, A. hyrdophila, S. aureus) except for S. epidermidis and S. saprophyticus. Viapiana [31] have reported the activity of aqueous extract of C. incanus against MRSE (MIC 1 mg/mL) and MRSA (MIC 0.5 mg/mL). Furthermore, this is the only work done against H. pylori and S. pyogenes. ...
Resistance to drugs is reaching alarming levels and is placing human health at risk. With the lack of new antimicrobials drugs, infectious diseases are becoming harder to treat. Hence, there is an increasing awareness of active phytochemicals with therapeutic functions. The tremendous research interest on the Cistus L. genus includes numerous plants used in traditional medicine by people living around the Mediterranean Sea, also resulted in some interesting discoveries and written literature. This review aimed at gathering scientific literature about Cistus species, describing phytochemical profiles and the various pharmacological activities. We also extensively reviewed the antimicrobial activities, including antiviral, antiparasitic, antifungal, and antibacterial potentials of Essential Oils (EO), raw extracts as well as isolated compounds. Mechanisms of action along with methods used are also investigated in this review. Considering the findings of the Cistus species extracts, this genus offers an adequate reserve of active phytochemicals since many have been used to create drugs. Therefore, this review work can serve society by providing a global view on Cistus L. sp. regarding pharmacological potentials and their chemical profiles.
... Furthermore, it is used in the food industry for the production of liqueurs and in the cosmetic industry for the production of creams, lotions, soaps, bath liquids, and toothpastes [6][7][8]. Cistus (Cistus L.) acts as an antioxidant and removes free radicals and prevents the formation of new ones [9,10]; it also has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antifungal effects [9,10]. Linden blossom (Tilia L.) exhibits a high healing effect and was therefore used by our ancestors for generations. ...
... Furthermore, it is used in the food industry for the production of liqueurs and in the cosmetic industry for the production of creams, lotions, soaps, bath liquids, and toothpastes [6][7][8]. Cistus (Cistus L.) acts as an antioxidant and removes free radicals and prevents the formation of new ones [9,10]; it also has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antifungal effects [9,10]. Linden blossom (Tilia L.) exhibits a high healing effect and was therefore used by our ancestors for generations. ...
... Viapiana et al. [9] determined the content of phenolic acids and flavonoids in cistus (Cistus L.) extracts. Their results revealed that aqueous cistus extracts were richer in phenolic compounds and showed strong antioxidant activities. ...
This study aimed to investigate the effect of plant extracts (valerian Valeriana officinalis L., sage Salvia officinalis L., chamomile Matricaria chamomilla L., cistus Cistus L., linden blossom Tilia L., ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata L., marshmallow Althaea L.) on the activity and growth of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) during the fermentation and passage of milk through a digestive system model. The tested extracts were also characterized in terms of their content of polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant activity. It was observed that the addition of the tested herbal extracts did not inhibit the growth of LAB in fermented milk drinks, such as yogurts. However, they can gradually inhibit fermentation when added at concentrations above 2% by weight, and hence should be used in limited amounts. The microflora of yogurts containing the tested herbal extracts did not die during digestion in model digestive juices, and no stimulating effect of the added plant extracts was noted either. Nevertheless, due to the antioxidant properties, a slight addition of the herbal extracts containing polyphenols to different kinds of food products can increase the nutritional quality, thus making them functional foods.
... Zawartość flawonoidów ogółem zmierzono za pomocą metody opisanej w Farmakopei Europejskiej IV (2002), wg monografii Betulae folium. Wyniki zostały przeliczone na ekwiwalent kwercetyny i wynosiły do 3 mg QE/g s.m. dla wyciągów wodno-metanolowych i 2-4 mg QE/g s.m. dla wyciągów wodnych [27]. Analizowano również części nadziemne czystka szarego pochodzącego z Bułgarii. ...
... Wyniki zostały przeliczone na ekwiwalent kwasu kawowego (CAE) na gram suchej masy. W naparach, ilość kwasów fenolowych wahała się w granicach 6-20 mg CAE/g s.m., natomiast ekstrakty alkoholowe charakteryzowały się nieco niższą ich zawartością -do 18 mg CAE/g s.m. [27]. Uważa się, że spośród związków tej grupy, w czystku szarym i jego podgatunkach obecne są głównie pochodne kwasu benzoesowego -kwas galusowy oraz jego didepsyd kwas elagowy. ...
... gallagyl) w cząsteczce -punikalinę, punikalaginę oraz pochodną punikalaginy (rycina 5) [23,33]. Spośród pochodnych kwasu cynamonowego, wykazano natomiast obecność kwasu p-kumarowego, kawowego, ferulowego, synapinowego i chlorogenowego [27,32,37]. W tabeli 3 przedstawiono zawartość wybranych związków polifenolowych w naparach i ekstraktach wodno-metanolowych z czystka szarego. ...
One of the modern nutritional trends is to enthusiastically look for natural products that can be considered functional food and be a source of ingredients with a health-promoting effect. Today, many food manufacturers offer Cistus × incanus leaves to prepare common self-preparations (e.g., infusions) or as ready-to-use dietary supplements. Cistus × incanus (rock rose, pink rock-rose, hoary rock-rose), belonging to the family Cistaceae, is widespread in Mediterranean countries. For many years, cistus extracts and its aromatic resin have been used in traditional Middle East medicine to treat, among others, colds, fever, stomach problems, and skin wounds. In past years, this plant was rediscovered by the public. Due to the growing popularity of Cistus products, the most recent scientific literature on this subject is reviewed here. This article aims to present the latest research results on the phytochemical composition of Cistus × incanus and the impact of its consumption on human health. Particular emphasis is put on antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and antiproliferative activities and support of digestive system functions. Studies have shown that the main active ingredients of Cistus × incanus are flavonoid compounds, including flavonol glycosides (myricetin, quercetin, kaempferol), flavan-3-ols, and tannins. It was demonstrated that the presence of these compounds determines the therapeutic and health-promoting properties of cistus leaves and its products. That applies primarily to a strong antioxidant effect, which may reduce the risk of noncommunicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. Cistus preparations are also recommended as immunostimulants, supporting the treatment of bacterial and viral infections. Labdanum oleoresin and essential oil are a valuable source of substances with strong antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which can be used in the future in the production of pharmaceutical and cosmetic preparations, and also serve as a natural food preservative.
... Cistus incanus L. is a herb plant that is rich in pro-health compounds. There is mentioned in the literature that herbal infusions and teas from C. incanus contain various polyphenolic compounds, in particular phenolic acids, flavonoids, especially flavone-3-ol derivatives as well as essential oils and resins (Viapiana et al. 2017). In the literature C. incanus is known also as Cistus creticus (Demetzos et al. 1997). ...
... In the literature it can be found information on tests performed on commercial teas, which confirm the presence of pro-health compounds and some benefits as the prevention of caries and periodontitis. It was confirmed also the antibacterial activity of C. incanus herbal tea on Streptococcus mutans (Viapiana et al. 2017). Móricz et al. (2018) used TLC-DB to obtain antibacterial profile of eleven C. incanus herbal teas and to guide isolation of bioactive compounds, rich exclusively in flavonoid aglycons, from the appropriate TLC zones. ...
... The use of dried Cistus plant as an additive in the range up to 5% resulted in an increased phenolics content of about 229.97% if ME was used and 209.87% if PBSE was applied for extraction compared to control sample. The results of phenolic profile and antioxidant capacity of hydromethanolic and aqueous extracts of commercial C. incanus products presented by Viapiana et al. (2017) revealed that aqueous extracts of C. incanus are richer in phenolic compounds and have stronger antioxidant activities than hydromethanolic extracts. Moreover, they found more effective antibacterial activities of aqueous extracts against Gram-positive than Gram-negative bacteria. ...
Modern nutritional trends and looking for functional food and dedicated products for various consumers are a source of inspiration for scientists to develop new pro-health supplemented foods with high quality. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the selected properties of common wheat pasta fortified with dried Cistus incanus in amount from 1 to 5% as a replacement of wheat flour. Pasta was made with a spaghetti shape and dried. Supplemented pasta was tested for total phenolics content, the total activity against DPPH, the ability to neutralize free radicals to ABTS and the antioxidant capacity reduction power, using various extraction procedures. Selected physicochemical properties of pasta were evaluated: cooking time, cooking weight, cooking loss, hardness and color profile of dry and cooked pasta in CIE-Lab scale, as well as the sensory properties of supplemented products. The addition of C. incanus to fortify wheat pasta increased total phenolics content and antioxidant activity with some significant differences according to the extraction procedure used. Methanolic extraction was more efficient than buffer extraction. Increased addition of dry Cistus herb caused higher cooking weight, cooking loss and increased hardness of cooked pasta. Studies have shown that C. incanus addition had a slight effect on color change with the largest decrease in brightness, especially for cooked products. Finally, it was found that advisable application of C. incanus addition to achieve nutritionally improved composition of pasta should not exceed 3% due to the proper sensory characteristics.
... Before HPLC analysis, all the infusions were filtered through a 0.2 μm nylon filter film (Mecherey, Nagel, Germany) and 20 μL of the filtrate was injected into the HPLC system. Chromatographic separation and quantitation of phenolic compounds (gallic, caffeic, chlorogenic, syringic, vanillic, p-coumaric, elagic and ferulic acids, and rutin, isoquercetin, quercetin, myricetin, kaempferol, and luteolin 7-glucoside) were performed on a Hypersil Gold C18 column (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm particles, Thermo Scientific, Runcorn, UK) maintained at 35°C, using acetonitrile -0.2% trifluoroacetic acid solution and water -0.2% trifluoroacetic acid solution as the mobile phase using a gradient program and monitoring system as previously described [20]. ...
... Several studies have attempted to elucidate the phenolic composition of Cistus incanus [34][35][36][37]. Viapiana et al. [20] in their earlier work assessed the phenolic profile and antioxidant capacity of aqueous extract of 15 commercially available samples of Cistus incanus, and showed that the place of the origin was the main factor in differentiating the Cistus incanus samples. The extracts obtained from Turkish Cistus incanus were the richest in total phenolic compounds (TPC), flavonoids (TFC), phenolic acid (TPAC) and ascorbic acid (AA). ...
... The antioxidant activities, evaluated with DPPH and FRAP also showed similar results to the previous published range of antioxidative capability of samples from Turkish Cistus incanus [20]. Deng et al. [38] determined the antioxidant capacities and total phenolic contents of 56 vegetables, and the levels of TPC, DPPH and FRAP values were lower than results obtained in this study, which seems to confirm Cistus incanus tea as a good source of polyphenols in the human diet. ...
BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress and dyslipidemia play a critical role in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Regular intake of polyphenol-rich diets is associated with a reduced risk of CVDs. METHODS: The present study was a pilot study with 24 healthy volunteers and was designed to determine if a 12-week administration of Cistus incanus herbal tea, containing phenolic acids and flavonoids, reduces cardiovascular risk factors including oxidative stress and dyslipidemia in healthy adults. Phenolic compounds profile and antibacterial activity of Cistus incanus infusion were also measured. RESULTS: Herbal infusion led to improvement in lipid profile by increase (D4%, p = 0.033) high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration and decrease triglyceride (D14%, p = 0.013) concentrations. In addition, the Cistus incanus diet was associated with decreased serum concentrations of malondialdehyde (D16%, p < 0.01) and advanced oxidation protein products (D18%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Cistus incanus administration decreases cardiovascular risk factors including oxidative stress and dyslipidemia and this action supports the idea of using Cistus incanus tea on a daily basis as an effective dietary component for prevention of atherosclerotic CVD.
... Chromatographic separation and quantitation of phenolic compounds (gallic, caffeic, chlorogenic, syringic, vanillic, p-coumaric, elagic and ferulic acids, and rutin, isoquercetin, quercetin, myricetin, kaempferol, and luteolin 7-glucoside) were performed on a Hypersil Gold C18 column (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm particles, Thermo Scientific, Runcorn, UK) maintained at 35°C, using acetonitrile -0.2% trifluoroacetic acid solution and water -0.2% trifluoroacetic acid solution as the mobile phase using a gradient program and monitoring system as previously described [20]. ...
... Several studies have attempted to elucidate the phenolic composition of Cistus incanus [34][35][36][37]. Viapiana and Wesolowski [20] in their earlier work assessed the phenolic profile and antioxidant capacity of aqueous extract of 15 commercially available samples of Cistus incanus, and showed that the place of the origin was the main factor in differentiating the Cistus incanus samples. The extracts obtained from Turkish Cistus incanus were the richest in total phenolic compounds (TPC), flavonoids (TFC), phenolic acid (TPAC) and ascorbic acid (AA). ...
... The antioxidant activities, evaluated with DPPH and FRAP also showed similar results to the previous published range of antioxidative capability of samples from Turkish Cistus incanus [20]. Deng et al. [38] determined the antioxidant capacities and total phenolic contents of 56 vegetables, and the levels of TPC, DPPH and FRAP values were lower than results obtained in this study, which seems to confirm Cistus incanus tea as a good source of polyphenols in the human diet. ...
... This medicinal plant is very popular in its natural habitats: eastern parts of the Mediterranean basin (including Greek Islands) and the Middle East [17], and it has been traditionally used as an anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, antiulcerogenic, wound-healing, antimicrobial and cytotoxic agent [18]. Antimicrobial potential of the non-polar organic [19][20][21], methanolic [22] and the aqueous methanolic [23,24] extracts as well as essential oil [19,25,26] derived from C. incanus leaves and flowers had been investigated in a number of studies carried out against the Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial strains. It has been established that the main activity of the essential oil can be attributed to monoterpenes and diterpenes. ...
... It has been established that the main activity of the essential oil can be attributed to monoterpenes and diterpenes. Direct antibacterial potential of the aqueous methanol extracts was demonstrated against Streptococcus mutans [23], Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis [24]. Additional in situ experiments showed that rinses with the C. incanus infusion reduced an initial bacterial colonization of the tooth enamel samples. ...
... Additional in situ experiments showed that rinses with the C. incanus infusion reduced an initial bacterial colonization of the tooth enamel samples. It was also established that antibacterial potential of the alcoholic extracts was higher against the Gram positive bacteria than the Gram negative ones [22,24]. Moreover, infusions acted as growth inhibitors of yeast (e.g., Candida albicans and C. glabrata, [25]) and of fungi such as the Aspergillus molds [27,28]. ...
... This medicinal plant is very popular in its natural habitats: eastern parts of the Mediterranean basin (including Greek Islands) and the Middle East [17], and it has been traditionally used as an anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, antiulcerogenic, wound-healing, antimicrobial and cytotoxic agent [18]. Antimicrobial potential of the non-polar organic [19][20][21], methanolic [22] and the aqueous methanolic [23,24] extracts as well as essential oil [19,25,26] derived from C. incanus leaves and flowers had been investigated in a number of studies carried out against the Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial strains. It has been established that the main activity of the essential oil can be attributed to monoterpenes and diterpenes. ...
... It has been established that the main activity of the essential oil can be attributed to monoterpenes and diterpenes. Direct antibacterial potential of the aqueous methanol extracts was demonstrated against Streptococcus mutans [23], Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis [24]. Additional in situ experiments showed that rinses with the C. incanus infusion reduced an initial bacterial colonization of the tooth enamel samples. ...
... Additional in situ experiments showed that rinses with the C. incanus infusion reduced an initial bacterial colonization of the tooth enamel samples. It was also established that antibacterial potential of the alcoholic extracts was higher against the Gram positive bacteria than the Gram negative ones [22,24]. Moreover, infusions acted as growth inhibitors of yeast (e.g., Candida albicans and C. glabrata, [25]) and of fungi such as the Aspergillus molds [27,28]. ...
The main aim of this study was to detect and identify antibacterial components of fraction I derived from eleven commercial C. incanus herbal teas. Fraction I obtained by a well-established phytochemical protocol of a multi-step extraction was expected to contain flavonoid aglycons alone. Antibacterial profile of fraction I was demonstrated by means of thin-layer chromatography - direct bioautography (TLC-DB) using a Gram positive B. subtilis and a Gram negative A. fischeri strain. Six chromatographic zones of fraction I exhibited a well pronounced antibacterial potential. In qualitative terms, a good agreement was observed among chromatographic fingerprints and the corresponding bioautograms of the eleven samples. The compounds isolated from the six zones were analyzed by HPLC- diode array detector (DAD)-electrospray ionization (ESI)-MS. High numerical m/z values valid for certain constituents of these isolates suggested that some selected antibacterial components are, unexpectedly, flavonoid glycosides. In order to confirm this suggestion, three independent HPTLC methods (multi-development on amino phase and two two-dimensional developments on silica gel phase) were devised to in situ hydrolyze flavonoid glycosides and then separate and visualize the liberated glucose and some other building blocks of the zones' components. Additionally, the sensitivity of glucose detection with p-aminobenzoic acid reagent was enhanced by paraffin. In that way, the presence of the kaempferol glycosides (and not only the aglycones alone) in fraction I was confirmed. Beside kaempferol, p-coumaric acid as a building block unit was shown by HPLC-DAD-MS analysis of the hydrolyzed isolates. Results proved apigenin, kaempferide and acylated kaempferol glycosides (cis- and trans-tiliroside and their conjugates with p-coumaric acid) to be antibacterial components of fraction I. Because isomers of the coumaric acid conjugated tiliroside were detected only in fraction I and not in the crude C. incanus extract, they are regarded as artifacts produced through fractionation.
... CI is a rich source of antioxidant compounds like flavonoids, and terpenoids. ellagic and gallic acids and terpenoids (Viapiana et al., 2017). The Cistus spp. is used as a herbal infusion, food additive and nutraceutical product. ...
... However other properties like porosity, baking loss, acidity, and moisture of bread were improved with CI level. The addition of CI leaves increased the hardness of the bread and reduced the springiness, chewiness and cohesiveness (Viapiana et al., 2017). Whereas CI extract incorporation was reduced 50% hardness than a control, bread springiness, gumminess, cohesiveness and resilience were decreased considerably (Cacak-Pietrzak et al., 2019). ...
Bread is the most consumed food in the world. Bread can be used as a delivery vehicle for nutrients and supplements to the general public. To have a good quality bread, the use of optimum ingredients is essential. This chapter gives the crucial role of food additives and their components in baking science from dough to final loaf. Delving into the fascinating world of dough enhancement, the chapter will explore various additives such as dough conditioners, enzymes, emulsifiers, preservatives, and flour improvers. Further, it covers how these substances contribute to the texture, shelf life, and overall quality of bread. The discussion will not only encompass the positive aspects but also touch upon potential controversies and health considerations associated with the use of these additives. A trend of gluten-free bread is gaining attention over traditional source ingredients like bread. In this chapter, we discussed how one can make gluten-free bread without altering bread quality characteristics. A comprehensive review of the effect of additives on bread quality and their acceptable daily intake (ADI) and generally recognised as safe (GRAS) status has been discussed.
... Moreover, the TPC determined in our study exceeds by~138% the one reported by Ghalia et al. [44], who determined 65.99 mg GAE/g dw in C. creticus aerial parts (stems, flowers, and leaves). The total flavonoid value determined in the optimal extract was 2.38 mg QE/g dw, which is in line with Viapiana et al. [45], who determined the flavonoids in Cistus incanus hydromethanolic extracts. The antioxidant capacity of the extract was determined by two assays, FRAP and DPPH. ...
... Moreover, the TPC determined in our study exceeds by ~138% the one reported by Ghalia et al. [44], who determined 65.99 mg GAE/g dw in C. creticus aerial parts (stems, flowers, and leaves). The total flavonoid value determined in the optimal extract was 2.38 mg QE/g dw, which is in line with Viapiana et al. [45], who determined the flavonoids in Cistus incanus hydromethanolic extracts. The antioxidant capacity of the extract was determined by two assays, FRAP and DPPH. ...
The objective of this study was to determine the optimal conditions for the recovery of bioactive and antioxidant compounds in aqueous solutions of Cistus creticus leaves and then employ the optimal extract for the enrichment of yogurt samples. The optimal conditions were established by a response surface methodology and were determined to be a liquid-to-solid ratio of 48 mL/g at 76 °C for 41 min. The optimum extract yielded TPC 157.17 mg GAE/g dw and TFC 2.38 mg QE/g dw, while FRAP and DPPH values were 1258.52 and 933.67 µmol AAE/g dw, respectively. HPLC-DAD was utilized to identify and quantify specific polyphenols, like myricetin rhamnoside, in the extract. The optimal extract was then added to yogurt desserts during their preparation at three different concentrations to study how the physicochemical characteristics of the yogurt, as well as the antioxidant capacity added during enrichment, were affected. Statistical analysis of the results was carried out in order to obtain more valid data. It seems that the most suitable concentration for yogurt fortification was 0.1% w/v of the extract as, at this concentration, the yogurts exhibited higher antioxidant capacity, and their physicochemical characteristics were improved.
... Petal color ranges from white to dark purple/pink depending on the subgenus, with a conspicuous dark red spot at the base of each petal present in some species. The sweet-smelling fragrance of some species makes them highly prized in the perfume industry [11]. The information on the language contained in the 1601 articles extracted from Scopus related to Cistus was processed and analyzed using the Jupyter notebook on Google Colab mentioned in the "Methodology" section, which includes a link. ...
... pending on the subgenus, with a conspicuous dark red spot at the base of each petal present in some species. The sweet-smelling fragrance of some species makes them highly prized in the perfume industry [11]. ...
Reviews have traditionally been based on extensive searches of the available bibliography on the topic of interest. However, this approach is frequently influenced by the authors’ background, leading to possible selection bias. Artificial intelligence applied to natural language processing (NLP) is a powerful tool that can be used for systematic reviews by speeding up the process and providing more objective results, but its use in scientific literature reviews is still scarce. This manuscript addresses this challenge by developing a reproducible tool that can be used to develop objective reviews on almost every topic. This tool has been used to review the antibacterial activity of Cistus genus plant extracts as proof of concept, providing a comprehensive and objective state of the art on this topic based on the analysis of 1601 research manuscripts and 136 patents. Data were processed using a publicly available Jupyter Notebook in Google Collaboratory here. NLP, when applied to the study of antibacterial activity of Cistus plants, is able to recover the main scientific manuscripts and patents related to the topic, avoiding any biases. The NLP-assisted literature review reveals that C. creticus and C. monspeliensis are the first and second most studied Cistus species respectively. Leaves and fruits are the most commonly used plant parts and methanol, followed by butanol and water, the most widely used solvents to prepare plant extracts. Furthermore, Staphylococcus. aureus followed by Bacillus. cereus are the most studied bacterial species, which are also the most susceptible bacteria in all studied assays. This new tool aims to change the actual paradigm of the review of scientific literature to make the process more efficient, reliable, and reproducible, according to Open Science standards.
... The anti-inflammatory effect of Cistus species is mainly associated with their antioxidant properties. These properties are usually connected with a significant level of polyphenolic compounds (Viapiana et al., 2017). Extracts from leaves of C. incanus influence growth, vitality, and release of cytokines by human leukocytes, which is associated with the normalization of the immune system cells (Lendeckel et al., 2002). ...
... Another study showed that Cistus extract inhibited the replication of avian and human influenza viruses in vitro (Ehrhardt et al., 2007). The antifungal activity of Cistus is worth highlighting in the field of crop preservation (Kalli et al., 2018;Viapiana et al., 2017). C. incanus and C. ladanifer extracts possess also natural sun protecting activity, enhancing their anti-hyperpigmentation and anti-melanoma potential (Gaweł-Bęben et al., 2020). ...
The leaves of Cistus × incanus L. (pink rock-rose) are used as plant material rich in antioxidants by the pharmaceutical and food industry. The main components which occur in pink rock-rose are polyphenols, especially flavonoids (glycosides of flavonols) and tannins (proanthocyanidins and ellagitannins). Derivatives of flavonols and flavan-3-ols as bioactive compounds of this species were identified previously. However, the full composition of ellagitannins has not been characterized yet. In this context, the study aimed to characterize the chemical composition of pink rock-rose ellagitannins and to identify and elucidate structures of major compounds from this group. In conclusion, the new ellagitannin cistusin together with well-known terflavin A and punicalagin from C. incanus leaves were isolated. Their structures, including the gallagyl, flavogallonyl, valoneoyl, and hexahydroxydiphenoyl acyl groups, were revealed by spectroscopic evidence (HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D-NMR).
... While most species are widely distributed, a few are narrowly endemic within the Cistaceae L. family, commonly referred to as rockrose (Fernández-Mazuecos & Vargas 2010). This family consists of several perennial medicinal plants (Kalli et al. 2018), spanning eight genera, including the Cistus genus (Viapiana et al. 2017). ...
Background: Cistus monspeliensis (L.), a medicinal plant from the Rif region, has long been recognized for its therapeutic
properties. However, limited ethnobotanical research exists on its traditional uses. This study aims to document the
knowledge and practices surrounding C. monspeliensis among local populations, highlighting its medicinal and cultural
significance.
Methods: Conducted from November 2023 to February 2024, the study surveyed 102 participants across four municipalities
and twelve villages in the Al Hoceima province. A structured questionnaire collected data on demographic factors such as
origin, age, gender, education, and socioeconomic status. Statistical analyses, including Pearson’s chi-square test, were
performed using IBM SPSS (version 29).
Results: The survey revealed that knowledge and use of C. monspeliensis are limited in both rural and urban areas. Villagers
exhibited a stronger familiarity with the plant, while higher education levels correlated with greater awareness. Gender
differences were notable, with men possessing broader knowledge due to wider exposure, but women showing deeper
understanding of its practical uses. Socioeconomic status also influenced usage, with lower and middle classes using the
plant more frequently. Medicinal use was primarily limited to treating digestive, skin, and dental issues, with leaves being
the most used part, often prepared as a decoction.
Conclusions: Thisstudy emphasizesthe high cultural and economic value of C. monspeliensis in the Rif region, which is based
on the intensive use of this plant in various applications such as traditional medicine, agriculture, beekeeping and even
dentistry.
Keywords: Ethnobotanical, Medicinal plants, Cistus monspeliensis (L.), Rif region, Morocco
... According to Starzec and collegues, there are currently three subspecies of C. incanus, namely corsicus, creticus and eriocephalus. Consequently, the issue of synonymy is evident in Cistus species, where Cistus incanus is also referred to as Cistus creticus, Cistus villosus, or pink or hairy rockrose (Viapiana et al. 2017). The difference in biochemical composition is also dependent on the subspecies and can vary according to the geographical area (Starzec et al. 2023). ...
The discovery of natural molecules with antimicrobial properties has become an urgent need for the global treatment of bacterium and virus infections. Cistus incanus, a Mediterranean shrub species, represents a valuable source of phytochemicals with an interesting wide-spectrum antimicrobial potential. In this study, we analysed the spectrum of molecules composing a commercial hydroalcoholic extract of C. incanus finding ellagitannins as the most abundant. The effect of the extract and its main constituents (gallic acid, ellagic acid and punicalin) was assessed as co-treatment during viral (HSV-1, HCoV-229E, SARS-CoV-2) and bacterial infection (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli) of cells and as pre-treatment before virus infections. The results indicated a remarkable antiviral activity of punicalin against SARS-CoV-2 by pre-treating both the viral and the host cells, and a major sensitivity of S. aureus to the C. incanus extract compared to E. coli. The present study highlights broad antimicrobial potential of C. incanus extract.
... moreover, they exhibited antidiarrheal, wound-healing, and antispasmodic effects (de andrés et al. 1999) and have been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various skin diseases (danne et al. 1994). Furthermore, Cistus species have been employed as a vasodilator (polat and Satil 2012) and in human and animal diets, such as goats, lamb and beef (Viapiana et al. 2017). previous phytochemical studies on different Cistus species have revealed the presence of several phenolic compounds (Venditti et al. 2015), mainly flavonoids phenolic acids, and ellagitanins (Riehle et al. 2013;Gürbüz et al. 2015;Rebaya et al. 2016;Cacak-pietrzak et al. 2019;Gori et al. 2020). ...
The phytochemical profiles of the ethyl acetate (EAFCA) and n-butanol (BFCA) fractions of the aerial parts of Cistus albidus L., were characterised by a developed LC-ESI-MS/MS method, using 53 fingerprint phytochemicals, revealing the presence of 26 and 22 compounds, respectively with quinic acid, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, catechin, gentisic acid, tannic acid, ellagic acid, quercitrin, astragalin as the major compounds of the EAFCA, in very higher amounts than in the BFCA. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using six methods (DPPH•, ABTS•+, GOR•, CUPRAC, FRAP and Phenanthroline). In agreement with its highest polyphenolic content (430.12 ± 1.02 µg GAE/mg of extract) and largest amounts of identified polyphenolics, the EAFCA exhibited a higher antioxidant activity than the BFCA. Additionally, the EAFCA showed the highest acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition (IC50 of 25.1 ± 2.58 µg/mL). Moreover, both EAFCA and BFCA demonstrated high photoprotective activity, with sun protection factor (SPF) values of 36.49 and 36.52, respectively.
... The genus Cistus has many species, including Cistus creticus, C. monspeliensis, C. incanus, and C. ladanifer [22]. C. creticus L. is one of the Cistus species that has a high content in polyphenolic compounds and therefore exhibits high antioxidant activity [23]. Its aerial parts have been used industrially, as a dietary supplement additive, and as a fixative substance in the perfume industry. ...
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of successive extraction (using solvents of increasing polarity, namely hexane, ethyl acetate, acetone, ethanol, and water) of polyphenols from Cistus creticus L. The results were compared with the ones obtained from a single-solvent extraction (ethanol, water, and 50% ethanol: water). According to the results, each solvent used for extraction had a significant effect on the yield of extracted polyphenols and the antioxidant activity of the extracts. The highest extraction yield for successive extraction was achieved with ethanol (95.33 mg GAE/g), whereas a comparable amount could also be extracted with 50% ethanol: water mixture single-solvent extraction (96.51 mg GAE/g). The ethanolic and aqueous extracts had the highest antioxidant activity as indicated by their lowest IC 50 values in the DPPH assay, specifically 350.99 µg/mL for ethanolic extract of successive extraction and 341.18 µg/mL for 50% ethanol: water mixture of single-solvent extraction, followed by the extract produced using acetone. However, the acetone extract contained more flavonoids than the other two extracts up to 28.03 mg QE/g. The results obtained were in line with those for the single-solvent extraction. It is concluded that using a range of solvents in succession is a more efficient way of extracting higher amounts of antioxidant compounds with varying antioxidant activity.
... Their flowers are hermaphroditic, actinomorphic and hypogeni. The color of petals varies depending on the species, from white and dark pink to light purple [5,6]. Some species are endemic, others widespread in various areas of the Mediterranean, Iberian Peninsula, Canary Islands, Northwest Africa, Italy, Greece and Turkey, depending on climatic and soil conditions [7]. ...
Cistus is a plant that has been used in natural medicine for hundreds of years; it works primarily as an antioxidant and cleansing agent. Cistus × incanus leaves or herb can be an attractive source of polyphenols and flavonoids. The official protocols of active compound analysis relies on the extraction of compounds of interest from plant matter, which makes their determination long and costly. An analysis of plant material in its native state can be performed using vibrational spectroscopy. This paper presents a comparison of Raman spectroscopy, attenuated total reflection in mid-infrared and diffuse reflectance technique in the near-infrared region for the simultaneous quantification of total polyphenols (TPC) and flavonoids (TF) content, as well as the determination of FRAP antioxidant activity of C. incanus material. Utilizing vibrational spectra and using partial least squares algorithm, TPC and TF were quantified with the RSEPVAL errors in the 2.7–5.4% range, while FRAP antioxidant activity for validation sets was determined with relative errors ranged from 5.2 to 9.3%. For the analyzed parameters, the lowest errors of predictions were computed for models constructed using Raman data. The developed models allow for fast and precise quantification of the studied active compounds in C. incanus material without any chemical sample treatment.
... The right combination of extraction time and temperature plays a key role in the stability of phenolic compounds. Most researchers use hydroalcoholic mixtures in various proportions for the efficient uptake of antioxidants from the plant material (Dimcheva & Karsheva, 2018;Dobrinčić et al., 2020;Viapiana et al., 2017). In the review study of Tobon (2020) the use of ethanol-water mixture is recommended for microwave and ultrasounds assisted extraction resulting in TPC of 227.63 mg GAE/g DW of plant material and 92.99 mg GAE/g DW of plant material. ...
Aim of this study is to evaluate an advanced water extraction method applying pulsed electric field followed by ultrasounds. For this purpose antioxidant capacity (AC) and total phenolic content (TPC) of Olea europaea L. leaves and unripe fruit, Melissa officinalis L. leaves, Cistus incanus L. ssp. creticus leaves, Vitis vinifera L. cv. “Xinomavro” leaves, marc and fruits, Aronia melanocarpa L. fruits, Punica granatum L. peel and Crocus sativus L. petals were analyzed. The results showed that a ratio of 1/20g plant material/mL water, 5min pulsed electric field and 30min ultrasounds presented the maximum extraction efficiency. Melissa officinalis L. and Punica granatum L. had high TPC exhibiting 155 mg GAE/g DW (DW: dry weight) and 208 mg GAE/g DW respectively comparing to Vitis vinifera L. marc (31 mg GAE/g DW). All aqueous extracts studied, had high AC approaching 90% (except 32% in Crocus sativus L. petals and Vitis vinifera L. marc).
... In a study by Kuchta et al., who also tested the aqueous extract of Cistus incanus for antimicrobial activity, it was observed that the aqueous extract of C. incanus showed no activity against Gram negative bacteria [40]. The previous studies also confirm the good activity of aqueous extracts of Cistus incanus against Gram positive and to a lesser extent against Gram negative [19,41]. Our study is in agreement with literature data which indicate that Gram positive bacteria are more sensitive to polyphenols than Gram negative bacteria [42]. ...
This study evaluates the effects of polyphenolic extract of Cistus incanus, lycopene dye from tomatoes, and betanin dye from red beet on selected parameters of model meat products with reduced nitrate contents. The polyphenolic composition and activity of the C. incanus extract was analyzed, revealing the presence of elagotannins, flavanols, and glycosylated flavanols. We studied the effects of the extract and dyes as well as of mixtures of the extract and dyes on the growth of bacteria characteristic of the meat environment: E. coli, S. enterica, P. fragi, L. monocytogenes, B. thermosphacta, and L. sakei. We studied the effects of the extract and dyes on the lipid oxidation, color, and microbiological quality of pork sausages with reduced nitrate content over 28 days of storage. During storage, the amounts of malon dialdehyde reduced, which indicates that the extract and dyes exhibited antioxidant activity and slowed lipid oxidation in the sausages. An increase in red color was also observed in the sausages with natural additives, despite their decreased nitrate content. It was found that the C. incanus extract combined with coloring agents positively influenced the selected parameters of the analyzed pork sausages.
... Additionally, the presence of a wide range of non-volatile compounds, mainly belonging to phenolic acids, ellagitannins and flavonols, was described [11][12][13][14]. There is thus considerable interest in this species and a vast number of publications present diverse pharmacological activities, e.g., antioxidant (e.g., [12,15]), anti-inflammatory [16], antiviral (e.g., [17][18][19]), antimicrobial (e.g., [14,[20][21][22][23][24]), anticancer [25][26][27], cardiovascular protecting [28] or skin protecting (e.g., [29,30]) activities. ...
This investigation focused on the qualitative and quantitative composition of polyphenolic compounds of Mediterranean northern shore Cistus creticus and six further, partly sympatric Cistus species (C. albidus, C. crispus, C. ladanifer, C. monspeliensis, C. parviflorus, C. salviifolius). Aqueous extracts of 1153 individual plants from 13 countries were analyzed via high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The extracts of C. creticus were primarily composed of two ellagitannins (punicalagin and punicalagin gallate) and nine flavonol glycosides (myricetin and quercetin glycosides, with m-3-O-rhamnoside as the dominant main compound). Differences in the proportions of punicalagin derivatives and flavonol glycosides allowed the classification into two chemovariants. Plants containing punicalagin derivatives and flavonol glycosides were especially abundant in the western and central Mediterranean areas and in Cyprus. From Albania eastwards, punicalagin and punicalagin gallate were of much lesser importance and the predominant chemovariant there was a nearly pure flavonol type. With its two chemovariants, C. creticus takes a central position between the flavonol-rich, purple-flowered clade (besides C. creticus, here represented by C. albidus and C. crispus) and the more ellagitannin-rich, white- or whitish-pink-flowered clade (here represented by C. ladanifer, C. monspeliensis, C. parviflorus and C. salviifolius). The median antioxidative capacity of C. creticus plant material was, with 166 mg Trolox equivalents/g dry wt, about half of the antioxidative capacity of C. ladanifer (301 mg te/g dry wt), the species with the highest antioxidative potential.
... According to ethno-pharmacology, the Cistus species has been used due to its antimicrobial, antiproliferative, anticancer, antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiulcerogenic, antidiarrheal, and antispasmodic activity . It is also known that some Cistus species have been used in human and animal diets, such as goats, lamb and beef [27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34]. ...
Aqueous extracts of two Cistus species wild growing in Croatia—Cistus creticus (CC) and Cistus salviifolius (CS)—have been assessed with UPLC-MS/MS, showing 43 different phytochemicals, with flavonol glycosides: myricetin-3-hexoside and myricetin-rhamnoside, predominate ones in CC and myricetin-3-hexoside in CS. Antioxidant potential tested with the FRAP method showed no difference between CS and CC aqueous extracts, while higher phenolic content of CC comparing to CS, determined with a Folin–Cicolateu reagent correlated to its higher antioxidant capacity observed by the DPPH method. Both extracts were assessed for antimicrobial activity, using disc-diffusion and broth microdilution assays, targeting the opportunistic pathogens, associated with food poisoning, urinary, respiratory tract, blood stream and wound infections in humans. Antimicrobial assays revealed that fungi were in general more sensitive to both Cistus aqueous extracts, comparing to the bacteria where two extracts showed very similar activity. The most potent activity was observed against A. baumannii for both extracts. The extracts were tested on human lung cancer (A549) cell line using the MTT assay, showing very similar antiproliferative activity. After 72 h treatment with CC and CS aqueous extracts in concentration of 0.5 g/L, the viability of the cells were 37% and 50% respectively, compared to non-treated cells.
... It was also found that the polyphenol compounds contained in cistus can inhibit the development of tumors, demonstrating cytotoxic activity (Barrajón-Catalán et al., 2010;Vitali, Pennisi, Attaguile, Savoca, & Tita, 2011). The beneficial effects of various species of cistus against pathogenic microorganisms, bacteria or fungi have also been proved (Tomás-Menor et al., 2013;Viapiana, Konopacka, Waleron, & Wesołowski, 2017). In-vitro studies confirmed that the extract of cistus inhibits multiplication and reduces the population of the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, the etiological factor of borreliosis (Hutschenreuther, Birkemeyer, Grötzinger, Straubinger, & Rauwald, 2010) and inhibits human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections (Rebensburg et al., 2016). ...
The aim of the study was to use cistus extract for the production of wheat bread and determine its impact on selected physicochemical, microbiological, and organoleptic characteristics, the color of the crumb, changes in the crumb texture, polyphenol profile and the total polyphenol content. Breads with 5 and 7.5% cistus extract were characterized by lower average scores for taste and smell, compared to wheat bread. During storage (up to 5 days) the largest increase of crumb hardness was observed for wheat bread, as much as 72.89%, compared to the first day of storage, in contrast to bread with 5% cistus extract (29.03%). The replacement of water by cistus extract influenced the color of the crumb by increasing its browning index from 30.92 (standard bread) to 66.47 (7.5% cistus extract). The cistus extract contributed to an improvement of the microbiological quality of the bread. The addition of the cistus extract influenced the polyphenol content by increasing it from 8.88 (wheat bread) to 78.71 mg/100 g (breads with 7.5% cistus extract) and the total polyphenol content from 62.81 to 105.81 mg GAE per 100 g of product, compared to the wheat bread.
... Aqueous leaves extract of Cistus ladaniferus was effective in decreasing blood glucose levels in STZ-induced diabetic rats and showed hypolipidemic effect by a significant reduction in plasma lipid parameters (El Kabbaoui et al., 2016). This herbal tea has antibacterial properties because it decreases significantly the amount of bacteria in organisms (Hannig et al., 2009), reduces bacterial adhesion (Hannig et al., 2008) and shows the Gram-positive bacteria inhibition (Viapiana et al., 2017). In addition, the identification of antibacterial components of fraction from Cistus incanus, as apigenin, kaempferide, cis-and trans-tiliroside, and the isomers of the p-coumaric acid-conjugated tiliroside was lately presented (Móricz et al., 2018). ...
The Publisher regrets that this article is an accidental duplication of an article that has already been published, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2019.01.021. The duplicate article has therefore been withdrawn.
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... Aqueous leaves extract of Cistus ladaniferus was effective in decreasing blood glucose levels in STZ-induced diabetic rats and showed hypolipidemic effect by a significant reduction in plasma lipid parameters (El Kabbaoui et al., 2016). This herbal tea has antibacterial properties because it decreases significantly the amount of bacteria in organisms (Hannig et al., 2009), reduces bacterial adhesion (Hannig et al., 2008) and shows the Gram-positive bacteria inhibition (Viapiana et al., 2017). In addition, the identification of antibacterial components of fraction from Cistus incanus, as apigenin, kaempferide, cis-and trans-tiliroside, and the isomers of the p-coumaric acid-conjugated tiliroside was lately presented (Móricz et al., 2018). ...
Cistus incanus is called a medicine herbal plant due to its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic and antiulcerogenic properties. Considering these unique properties, quantification of the bioactive compounds of its infusion by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry is very important because of the rising consumption of this beverage. In this study the content of 28 phenolic compounds and theirs derivatives, alkaloids and vitamin B of water extract of Cistus incanus tea was examined and the results were compared with the results from other types of popular in the market teas. The Cistus incanus infusions were tested for content of flavanols, flavonols, organic acids, vitamin B and alkaloids and were compared with Camellia sinensis, Hoan Ngoc herbal tea and Rooibos infusions. Camellia sinensis infusions generally contained more catechins (1.56–82.65 mg/g) than Cistus incanus (1.02–2.73 mg/g) but there was no catechin-3-gallate in any Camellia sinensis infusions. Caffeine, theobromine and theophylline were found practically only in Camellia sinensis (6.22–14.19 mg/g) and Vietnamese herbal tea (2.97 mg/g) while trigonelline was found at higher concentrations in both Cistus incanus (6.29–14.34 μg/g) and Rooibos infusions (10.54–14.29 μg/g) than in Camellia sinensis infusions (0.30–2.88 μg/g). Principal component analysis revealed both similarities and differences among the infusions.
... In another study of the extracts obtained from Cistus incanus grown in Turkey and Cyprus, the following values for the valuable components were obtained: 258.42 mg GAE/g dw and 202.95 mg GAE/g dw for the aqueous extracts, and 105.02 and 114.18 mg GAE/g dw for the hydromethanolic extracts for the total polyphenols content. The total flavonoids for the same extracts were 4.27 and 3.97 mg QE/g dw and 2.39 and 2.27 mg QE/g dw, respectively [37]. ...
The purpose of the present study is to survey the extraction conditions and explore the antioxidant potential of the wild herb Cistus incanus, which is non-traditional in Bulgarian ethnomedicine and widespread in the Strandja Mountain. The influence of the extraction time (0–500 min) and solvent composition (0–50% ethanol in water) on the polyphenols, flavonoid yields and on the antioxidant capacity of the extracts of leaves, stalks (wood parts) and bud mixture were studied. The antioxidant capacity (AOC) was evaluated by use of scavenging assays of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals. Total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were quantified using UV–vis (ultraviolet-visible) spectrophotometry. The optimal yield of the desired components was obtained with 30% ethanol in water solvent at the 390th min of extraction time. In addition, the influence of seasonality (winter and summer Cistus incanus), and of the different aerial parts—hard-coated seeds, buds, and a mixture of leaves and stalks of the wild plant—on the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids, and AOC were investigated. The present work revealed that the high values of polyphenols, flavonoids and the high AOC occurred not only in the summer leaves, but were also found in the winter leaves, hard-coated seeds, buds, and stalks. Based on the obtained results, the Cistus incanus from Strandja Mountain could be an excellent new source of natural antioxidants in food and for the pharmaceutical industries.
Zusammenfassung
Zistrosengewächse (Cistaceae) sind in den letzten Jahren recht intensiv beforscht worden. Dabei standen Extrakte der Graubehaarten Zistrose (Cistus×incanus L.) aufgrund ihres hohen Gehaltes an Polyphenolen mit an erster Stelle. Die meisten dieser Arbeiten beschäftigen sich mit der Bestimmung dieser Polyphenole und ihrer Komponenten sowie deren antioxidativen Wirkungen. Auch neue Wirkmechanismen, wie antiinflammatorische, antiglykämische und lipidsenkende, konnten aufgezeigt werden. Und nicht zuletzt ist es auch das starke antivirale Potenzial, das bestimmte Subspezies auszeichnet und das eine wichtige Bedeutung in der Prophylaxe und Therapie von Infektionen hat.
Medicinal traditional plants are a source of inspiration for the discovery of new bioactive substances. Plant infusions, extracts, and essential oils are known for their diverse biological activity since they are rich in secondary metabolites. The Mediterranean area in general and Lebanon in particular is known for its plant diversity due to its climate and geographical location. This chapter will provide an overview of Lebanese plants with antimicrobial activity. Many of these plants are known for their culinary and traditional medicinal uses for the treatment of different ailments. The main plant families discussed here include Amaryllidaceae, Anacardiaceae, Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Berberidaceae, Cannabaceae, Cistaceae, Lamiaceae, Myrtaceae, Pinaceae, Portulacaceae, Ranunculaceae, Rutaceae, Rosaceae, and others.
Cistus creticus L. Türkiye’nin kuzey, güney ve batı kıyıları boyunca yayılım gösteren önemli tıbbi bitkilerden birisidir. Antik çağlardan beri antimikrobiyal, antiinflamatuar, sitotoksik ve antiülserojenik özellikleri nedeniyle halk tıbbında kullanılmaktadır. Bitkinin taze ve kuru yaprakları genellikle çay olarak tüketilmektedir. Bu çalışma, Alanya ekolojik koşullarında doğal olarak yetişen Cistus creticus L. bitkisinin taze ve kurutulmuş yapraklarının bazı biyokimyasal özelliklerini araştırmayı amaçlamaktadır. Bu amaçla bitkinin vejetatif gelişiminin en yüksek olduğu ilkbahar döneminde hasat edilen yaprak örneklerinde; toplam askorbik asit, toplam fenolik, toplam flavonoid, toplam klorofil ve toplam karotenoid içerikleri ile antioksidan aktivite araştırılmıştır. Toplam askorbik asit miktarı dışındaki tüm parametreler kuru yaprak örneklerinde taze yaprak örneklerinden daha yüksek bulunmuştur. Bitkinin yüksek derecede biyoaktif bileşen içermesi ve % 50 civarında radikal süpürücü aktiviteye sahip olması bakımından tüketiminin önemli olduğu düşünülmektedir.
Aromatic plants and their essential oils have been used therapeutically for centuries. Μany published scientific studies have described their remarkable healing properties. The antimicrobial activity of plant species, such as Origanum dictamnus, commonly known as “cretan dittany”, Sideritis sp. (Lamiaceae), Cistus creticus (Cistaceae), and Pistacia lentiscus (Anacardiaceae), has been reported by several researchers. These plants are used since antiquity and in this chapter, the authors attempt to present comprehensive information of their ethnopharmacological uses and chemical composition, together with data extracted from published antimicrobial studies (in vitro, in vivo, and clinical ones). Novel information and reports of medicinal uses not previously described in relevant ethnobotanical and pharmacological literature are highlighted. It is also noteworthy, that except Cistus, all selected species have been approved as traditional herbal medicines, based on their longstanding medicinal use in European Union, by the European Medicines Agency, and Herbal Monographs on them have been developed recently by Herbal Medicinal Products Committee (HMPC).
The menace of COVID-19 continues to ravage the world despite deployment of vaccines, and the development of oral antiviral pills whose effectiveness are still being evaluated. As the problems persist, Scientists are continuously searching for new resources and re-evaluating old ones that be used to effectively contain the pandemic. A search through literature has shown a huge amount of scientific resources in medicinal plant research which could be leverage. Many medicinal plants have been demonstrated to possess various antiviral activities against influenza virus, SARS-CoV, herpes simplex virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus, simian immunodeficiency virus, echovirus, adenovirus, Newcastle disease virus, duck plague virus, measles virus, polio viruses, yellow fever viruses, Sindbis virus, human cytomegalovirus, Rift valley fever virus, feline herpesvirus, lumpy skin disease virus, and canine Review Article Oladosu et al.; JAMMR, 33(23): 85-100, 2021; Article no.JAMMR.77122 86 distemper virus. Medicinal plants are known to be a reservoir of bioactive compounds with useful pharmacological actives. This revision has identified one hundred and twelve (112) plants found with various antiviral activities. These plants cut across different families. An intriguing observation is the reported presence of antiviral in different classes of phytochemicals like alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, anthraquinones, glucosides, polyphenols, saponins, essential oils, peptides and polysaccharides. There is the need for concerted paradigm shift to natural products of plant origin towards developing novel antiviral agents against COVID-19 especially with the reported safety challenge of adverse events and serious adverse events associated with already developed vaccines and pills.
Chamomile has been used as an herbal medication since ancient times and is still popular because it contains various bioactive phytochemicals that could provide therapeutic effects. In this study, a simple and reliable HPLC method was developed to evaluate the quality consistency of nineteen chamomile samples through establishing a chromatographic fingerprint, quantification of phenolic compounds and determination of antioxidant activity. For fingerprint analysis, 12 peaks were selected as the common peaks to evaluate the similarities of commercial samples of chamomile obtained from different manufacturers. A similarity analysis was performed to assess the similarity/dissimilarity of chamomile samples where values varied from 0.868 to 0.990 what indicating that samples from different manufacturers were consistent. Additionally, simultaneous quantification of five phenolic acids (gallic, caffeic, syringic, p-coumaric, ferulic) and four flavonoids (rutin, myricetin, quercetin and keampferol) was performed to interpret the quality consistency. In quantitative analysis, the nine individual phenolic compounds showed good regression (r > 0.9975). Inter- and intra-day precisions for all analyzed compounds expressed as relative standard deviation (CV) ranged from 0.05% to 3.12%. Since flavonoids and other polyphenols are commonly recognized as natural antioxidants, the antioxidant activity of chamomile samples was evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between antioxidant activity and phenolic composition, and multivariate analysis (PCA and HCA) were applied to distinguish chamomile samples. Results shown in the study indicate high similarity of chamomile samples among them, widely spread in the market and commonly used by people as infusions or teas, as well as that there were no statistically significant differences among them, which in turn is a proof of high quality of commercially available samples of chamomile. The study indicated that the combination of chromatographic fingerprint and quantitative analysis can be readily utilized as a quality consistency method for chamomile and related medicinal preparations. Moreover, the applied strategy seems to be the most promising for the assessment of the investigated plant material.
The chemical composition, antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS+ and FRAP assays), anti-xanthine oxydase (XOD), anti-superoxide dismutase (SOD), anti-acetylcholinesterase (AChE), anti-inflammatory (anti-5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX)) and cytotoxic (OVCAR and MCF-7) activities comparison between the leaves and the flower buds (FB) of Cistus salviifolius separately extracted with methanol (MeOH) 80% was investigated. The highest phenolics content (305.30±4.68mg gallic acid equivalent (E)/g dry weight (dw)) and flavonoids (76.21±1.26mg quercetin E/g dw) were obtained in FB extract, however, the leaves has nine times higher amount of tannins (56.36±0.67mg catechin E/g dw) and more important concentration of anthocyanins (0.31±0.02mg cyaniding-3-glucoside E/g dw). It was found that FB methanolic extract exhibited better antioxidant (IC50=5.11±0.53, 4.82±0.08 and 59.27±0.13mg/L assessed by DPPH, ABTS+ and FRAP tests, respectively) and anti-SOD (IP (%)=58.39±11.67) activities than leaves extract. Moreover, FB possessed more evident cytotoxic activity against OVCAR and MCF-7 cells (IP (%)=36.85±5.66 and 35.16±4.67%, respectively) in comparison to leaves which were inactive at a concentration of 50mg/L. However, leaves showed more powerful inhibitory activities towards the enzymes AChE (IC50=18±2.71mg/L), 5-LOX (IC50=13.38±0.20mg/L) and XOD (IC50=19.48±0.21mg/L). Results showed that the organ factor influenced considerably the chemical composition content and the biological activities of C. salviifolius.
In the present work, we studied the chemical composition of the essential oil of Cistus ladanifer and Cistus libanotis growing in Eastern Morocco. The essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation and their chemical composition was analysed using gas chromatography- mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Camphene, borneol, cyclohexanol-2, 2, 6 tremethyl, terpineol-4 and α-pinene were the main constituents of the essential oil of C. ladanifer, while in the essential oil of C. libanotis we obtained terpineol-4, γ- terpinene, camphene, sabinene, α-terpinene and α-pinene. The antioxidant potential of various extracts (water, ethanol, ethanol: water (50:50), methanol, methanol: water (50:50), acetonitrile) and essential oils of C. ladanifer and C. libanotis were carried out by the method of 1,1-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) free radical scavenging. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined. The result show that C. ladanifer of the leaves of methanol: water (50:50) extract had the highest value of total phenolic content and the lowest was present in ethanol: water (50:50) extract of the stem and acetonitrile extract of the flowers of C. libanotis. From our experimental results, the extract of flowers, fruit, stem and leaves of those plants showed highest potential as free radical scavengers.
Key words: Antioxidant, phenolics, flavonoids, essential oil, extracts, gas chromatography- mass spectrometry (GC–MS).
Essential oils (EOs) have been long recognized for their antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, insecticidal and antioxidant properties. They are widely used in medicine and the food industry for these purposes. The increased interest in alternative natural substances is driving the research community to find new uses and applications of these substances. EOs and their components show promising activities against many food-borne pathogens and spoilage microorganisms when tested in vitro. In food systems, higher concentrations of EOs are needed to exert similar antibacterial effects as those obtained in in vitro assays. The use of combinations of EOs and their isolated components are thus new approaches to increase the efficacy of EOs in foods, taking advantage of their synergistic and additive effects. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview on the antimicrobial efficacy of these combinations. A survey of the methods used for the determination of the interactions and mechanisms involved in the antimicrobial activities of these combinations are also reported.
Besides small molecules from medicinal chemistry, natural products are still major sources of innovative therapeutic agents for various conditions, including infectious diseases. Here we present the first attempt to design a combination treatment targeted against Chlamydia pneumoniae infection using coadministration of natural phenolics with calcium (Ca(2+)) modulators, and also the concomitant administration of these compounds with doxycycline. An in vitro acute C. pneumoniae model in human lung epithelial cells was used and Loewe additivity model was applied to evaluate the effects. In general, the phenolic compounds, quercetin, luteolin, rhamnetin and octyl gallate did not improve the antichlamydial effect of doxycycline, and, in some cases, resulted in antagonistic effects. The combination of doxycycline and Ca(2+) modulators (isradipine, verapamil and thapsigargin) was at most additive, and at subinhibitory concentrations of doxycycline, often even antagonistic. The Ca(2+) modulators showed no inhibitory effects on C. pneumoniae growth alone, whereas the coadminstration of Ca(2+) modulators with phenolic compounds resulted in potentiation of the antichlamydial effect of phenolic compounds. Verapamil (100 μM) was synergistic with low quercetin and luteolin concentrations (0.39 and 1.56 μM), whereas 10 μM isradipine was synergistic with high quercetin, rhamnetin and octyl gallate concentrations (12.5 μM and 100 μM). Use of thapsigargin with the phenolic compounds resulted in the most intense synergism. Interaction indices 0.12 and 0.14 were achieved with 0.39 μM luteolin and 10 and 100 nM thapsigargin, respectively. To conclude, the observed results indicate that the Ca(2+) modulators potentiate the antichlamydial effects of the phenolic compounds.
A new analytical method was developed for the determination of ascorbic acid. The method is based on the reaction of ascorbic acid with 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzofurazane (NBD-Cl) in the presence of 0.2M sodium hydroxide, where a bluish green colour (lambda(max) 582 nm) is developed after dilution with 50% (v/v) aqueous acetone solution. Beer's law was obeyed in a concentration range of 5-20 microg ascorbic acid/ml with a good correlation coefficient (r = 0.9990). The method was found to be highly specific for the determination of ascorbic acid in the presence of dehydro-ascorbic acid, all other vitamins and minerals possibly present in multivitamin preparations, rutin, salicylamide, acetyl salicylic acid, paracetamol, caffeine, phenylephrine hydrochloride and dipyrone. Moreover, the proposed procedure was also successfully applied for the determination of ascorbic acid in some canned and fresh fruit juices, some vegetables and infant milk products without interference from coloured and other substances present in the plant extracts.
The anti-Helicobacter pylori effect of the extracts and fractions obtained from seven Turkish plants, which are used in folk medicine for the treatment of gastric ailments including peptic ulcers, were studied against one standard strain and eight clinical isolates of H. pylori by using the agar dilution method. Flowers of Cistus laurifolius and Spartium junceum, cones of Cedrus libani, herbs and flowers of Centaurea solstitialis ssp. solstitialis, fruits of Momordica charantia, herbaceous parts of Sambucus ebulus, and flowering herbs of Hypericum perforatum were evaluated in this study. Results showed that all except one extract from six of these plants showed activity against the microorganism with MICs between 1.95 and 250 microg/ml, with S. junceum being the only inactive species. Amongst the active plants the inhibitory properties of C. laurifolius were found prominent.
In this study, the antimicrobial activity of leaf extracts obtained from two species of genus Cistus L. was examined in vitro against five strains of bacteria and five strains of fungi. The species studied are Cistus villosus L. = incanus and Cistus monspeliensis L. All extracts showed inhibitory activity against microorganisms. These results encourage us towards further biological investigation.
A simple high-performance liquid chromatography method using a diode array detector (DAD) is developed for the simultaneous analysis of five major catechins: (+)-catechin (C), (-)-epicatechin (EC), (-)-gallocatechin (GCT), (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and the phenolic plant metabolites gallic acid (GA) and rutin (RT) in lyophilized extracts of Cistus species. The optimal analytical conditions are investigated to obtain the best resolution and the highest UV sensitivity for the quantitative detection of catechins. The optimized conditions (acetonitrile-phosphate buffer 50 mM, pH 2.5, gradient elution system on a C18 reversed-phase column with a flow rate of 1 mL/min and UV absorbance at 210 nm) allowed a specific and repeatable separation of the studied analytes to be achieved. All compounds are successfully separated within 32 min. Calibration curves are linear in the 2-50 microg/mL range for GCT, C, and EGCG and in the 5-50 microg/mL range for GA, EGC, EC, and RT. The limit of detection values ranged from 0.24 to 0.74 microg/mL. The limit of quantitation limit values ranged from 0.77 to 1.94 microg/mL. The validated method is applied to the determination of the specific phytochemical markers GA, GCT, C, and RT in Cistus incanus and Cistus monspeliensis lyophilised extracts. The recovery values ranged between 78.7% and 98.2%. The described HPLC method appears suitable for the differentiation and determination of the most common catechins together with the glycoside rutin and the phenolic compound gallic acid and can be considered an effective and alternative procedure for the analyses of this important class of natural compounds.
Currently numerous manufacturers offer herbal infusions or dietary supplements based on the plant Cistus incanus. These products are especially promoted as offering a high content of phenolic substances together with an associated strong antioxidant activity. For the customers it is of interest, if the advertised phenolic contents are valid, plant material is authentic and if the suggested effects can be obtained through ingestion. As it is known from the literature, phenolic compounds can undergo severe changes resulting from cooking. Therefore, it is important to consider processing parameters such as brewing water, brewing temperature, and brewing duration for the preparation of C. incanus herbal infusions. The aims of this study were to analyze the phenolic compounds of C. incanus herbal infusions, to estimate the antioxidant capacity of the individual phenolic substances, as well as to investigate the influence of the brewing process on the phenolic compound profile. By the use of LC–DAD/ESI–MS/MS thirty-two phenolic compounds (e.g. phenolic acids, flavan-3-ol monomers and -dimers as well as flavonol glycosides) were identified. Additionally, specific antioxidant capacities were attributed to corresponding substances by using the LC–onlineTEAC (Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity) methodology. Moreover, the selection of brewing water, boiling time as well as boiling temperature had a significant influence on the content of the phenolic compounds in C. incanus infusions. On the basis of these results, it can be concluded, that an incorrect choice of brewing process parameters could result in a decreased amount of phenolic substances in the final C. incanus beverages accompanied with a reduced antioxidant activity.
We prepared cold and hot water infusions from ten Mediterranean medicinal plant species and compared their total phenolic content, capacity to scavenge hydroxyl and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals, ability to reduce Fe3+ and chelate Fe2+, and ability to inhibit Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation in mouse brain homogenates. In all ten species, the phenolic content of hot infusions (from 147.05 ± 2.32 to 1359.10 ± 33.18 μmolGAE gdw−1) was significantly greater than that of cold infusions (from 106.11 ± 8.10 to 1006.05 ± 54.43 μmolGAE gdw−1) but the difference was greatest in Lavandula viridis. All of the extracts contained antioxidants, but infusions from Myrtus communis, Pistacia lentiscus, L. viridis and Cistus albidus were the most potent and provided evidence that the free radical scavenging and metal-chelating effects of these extracts might contribute to the prevention of Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation. We observed a positive correlation between the total phenolic content and the antioxidant activity as measured using all the methods listed above with the exception of hydroxyl radical scavenging. Our results provide a scientific basis for the use of these plant species in folk medicine as well as additional resources for the discovery of novel antioxidants.
The chemical composition of Cistus creticus, C. salvifolius, C. libanotis, C. monspeliensis and C. villosus essential oils has been examined by GC and GC-MS analysis. Height-nine constituents were identified in C. salvifolius oil, sixty in C. creticus, fifty-six in C. libanotis, fifty-four in C. villosus, forty-five in C. monspeliensis. Although the five species belong to the same genus, the composition showed interesting differences. Essential oils were screened also for their potential antioxidant effects (by DPPH, ABTS, FRAP and β-carotene bleaching test) and their acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory activity, useful for prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. C. monspeliensis exhibited the most promising activity in β-carotene bleaching test (IC50 of 54.7 μg/mL). In FRAP test C. libanotis showed a value of 19.2 μM Fe(II)/g. C. salvifolius showed the highest activity against AChE (IC50 of 58.1 μg/mL) while C. libanotis, C. creticus, C. salvifolius demonstrated a good inhibitory activity against BChE with IC50 values of 23.7, 29.1 and 34.2 μg/mL, respectively. Overall our results could promote the use of the essential oil of different Cistus species as food additives and for formulation of herbal infusion or nutraceutical products.
Ethnopharmacological relevance:
In Turkish folk medicine, various parts of Cistus laurifolius L. are used to treat gastric ulcer and various types of pains. Additionally the tea prepared from the leaves is used to decrease symptoms of diabetes.
Materials and methods:
In the present study, the hypoglycemic effects of aqueous and ethanol extracts of Cistus laurifolius were investigated in normal, glucose loaded hyperglycemic and streptozocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. α-Glucosidase and α-amylase enzyme inhibitory effects were determined to evaluate the mechanism of action. Total phenolic content of the extracts were determined by using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer (UPLC-TOF-MS) was used to detect the major phenolic compounds in the extract.
Results:
Results indicated that blood glucose levels of the STZ-induced diabetic rats were decreased by ethanol extract at of 250 and 500mg/kg doses as compared to control group (16%-34%). In glucose loaded animals, extracts have shown a weak hypoglycemic effect (11%-20%). Additionally, the ethanol extract of Cistus laurifolius is found to be a potent inhibitor of α-glucosidase and α-amylase, possibly due to several polyphenolic compounds present within the extract. Twelve major flavonoids (apigenin, quercetin, kaempferol, naringenin, quercitrin and their derivatives), gallic, ellagic and chlorogenic acid in chromatographic fingerprint were analyzed by the on-line UPLC-TOF-MS system.
Conclusions:
Due to having inhibitory effect on blood glucose level and carbohydrate digesting enzymes (α-glucosidase and α-amylase), Cistus laurifolius leaves might be beneficial for diabetic patients.
The life-threatening mycoses caused by opportunistic fungal pathogens (mainly species from the genus Candida) associated with nosocomial infections, are one of the major health problems in our days. Therefore, it is crucial to identify new compounds, especially natural ones, that are active against the most broaden spectrum of Candida species. Herein, a screening of the antifungal potential of a phenolic extract of Cistus ladanifer from Northeastern Portugal, against Candida species was performed. Furthermore, the extract was characterized by HPLC–DAD-ESI/MS. Phenolic acids and derivatives (3.96 mg/g extract), ellagic acid derivatives (30.34 mg/g extract), and flavonoids (4.15 mg/g extract), such as catechins, flavonols and flavones, were found in the sample. The most abundant group was ellagic acid derivatives in which punicalagin gallate, a derivative of punicalagin attached to gallic acid, was found in highest amount (15.99 ± 0.02 mg/g extract). These compounds (i.e., ellagitannins) could be related to the strong inhibition of Candida albicans, C. glabrata and C. parapsilosis growth (MIC < 0.05 mg/mL). Moreover, the best antifungal activity was against C. glabrata, where the studied extract was able to cause at least 3 log of reduction at concentrations below 0.05 mg/mL and a total growth inhibition at concentrations above 0.625 mg/mL.
Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the analysis of total phenols and other oxidation substrates and antioxidants by means of Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. Analyses of the Folin-Ciocalteu (FC) type are convenient, simple, and require only common equipment and have produced a large body of comparable data. Under proper conditions, the assay is inclusive of monophenols and gives predictable reactions with the types of phenols found in nature. Because different phenols react to different degrees, expression of the results as a single number—such as milligrams per liter gallic acid equivalence—is necessarily arbitrary. Because the reaction is independent, quantitative, and predictable, analysis of a mixture of phenols can be recalculated in terms of any other standard. The assay measures all compounds readily oxidizable under the reaction conditions and its very inclusiveness allows certain substances to also react that are either not phenols or seldom thought of as phenols (e.g., proteins). Judicious use of the assay—with consideration of potential interferences in particular samples and prior study if necessary—can lead to very informative results. Aggregate analysis of this type is an important supplement to and often more informative than reems of data difficult to summarize from various techniques, such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) that separate a large number of individual compounds .The predictable reaction of components in a mixture makes it possible to determine a single reactant by other means and to calculate its contribution to the total FC phenol content. Relative insensitivity of the FC analysis to many adsorbents and precipitants makes differential assay—before and after several different treatments—informative.
The ethanol and acetone/water extracts of Cistus ladanifer and Arbutus unedo L. were characterised concerning the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, presenting relatively high values when compared with other species described in the literature. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method in terms of EC50, using trolox as standard reference. The extracts of both species showed scavenging activity for the DPPH radical.Extracts bioactivities were also tested by the evaluation of the viability effects on human fibroblasts primary culture cells. Viability studies were performed by MTT method. Both extracts are bioactive; C. ladanifer extracts were associated with an inhibitory effect and A. unedo L. were associated with an induced effect on cells viability.
Four monomeric and seven oligomeric flavanoids have been identified from a Cistus incanus subspecies traditionally used for treatment of skin diseases in northern parts of Greece and identified as subsp. tauricus. Flavan-3-ols are (+)-catechin, (+)-gallocatechin, the novel (+)-gallocatechin 3-gallate and the rarely occurring (+)-catechin 3-O-α-β-rhamnoside; proanthocyanidins are procyanidins B1 and B3, gallocatechin-(4α → 8)-gallocatechin, its novel (4α → 6)-regioisomer, gallocatechin-(4α → 8)-catechin, the tentatively identified novel catechin-(4α → 8)-gallocatechin and the trimer gallocatechin-(4α → 8)-gallocatechin-(4α → 8)-catechin. The uncommon flavanone 2R,3R-dihydromyricetin was also obtained.
Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) berries extracts were prepared with solvents at different polarity (water,
ethanol, and ethyl acetate) and analysed using different in vitro tests in order to evaluate their antioxidant
properties. Antiradical and total antioxidant activities were measured with DPPH and FRAP tests, respectively. Their ability to protect biological molecules was assessed using the cholesterol and LDL oxidation assays. In addition, phenolic compounds and unsaturated fatty acids composition was analysed by HPLC–DAD and HPLC–MS/MS. Ethanol and water extracts showed the highest amount of extracted compounds, but the highest antiradical and antioxidant activities were found in ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts. These extracts were also the ones with the highest content of phenolic compounds. In addition, our
results showed a highly significant correlation between the amount of total phenols and antiradical
(R2 = 0.9993) or antioxidant activities (R2 = 0.9985) in these extracts. HPLC–DAD and HPLC–MS analyses
showed significant quantitative and qualitative differences among these three extracts. The ethyl acetate
extract had the highest protective effect in assays of thermal (140 �C) cholesterol degradation and Cu2+-
mediated LDL oxidation, inhibiting the reduction of polyunsaturated fatty acids and cholesterol, and the
increase of their oxidative products. These results suggest that because of these properties, myrtle berries
could be used in dietary supplements preparations or as food additives.
Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) is a common condition in elderly men that impairs quality of life and leads to a number of medical complications. The use of phytotherapeutic compounds in patients with relatively moderate BPH symptoms has been growing steadily. In the present study, acute toxicity of lyophilised aqueous extracts of Cistus incanus L. and Cistus monspeliensis L., collected in Sicily, was evaluated on the shrimp (Artemia salina L.) lethality assay, an alternative test to determine the toxicity of natural products. The cytotoxic and growth inhibitory effects were studied on normal human prostate cells (PZ-HPV-7 and PNT1A) and on a lung fibroblast cell line (V79-4). Cell proliferation was evaluated by MTT and SRB assays. Cytotoxicity was measured using the Trypan blue exclusion assay. Cistus extract treatment on prostate cell lines resulted in an almost identical growth inhibitory response and in a significant decrease in an cell viability. These findings indicate the biologically relevant effect of polyphenolic compounds present in Cistus extracts, and suggest that these substances may prove beneficial in BPH treatment.
Roots and aerial parts of Cistaceae have been used since ancient times in the Mediterranean cultures for its medicinal properties. In this study, phenolic and tannin content of C. ladanifer and C. populifolius leaves aqueous extracts were determined and their antioxidant and antimicrobial activity were fully studied by several in vitro assays. Their major compounds were identified and quantitated by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection coupled to electrospray ion-trap mass spectrometry. Cytotoxicity on a panel of human cancer cells was also determined. C. populifolius extract was stronger antioxidant than C. ladanifer extract in electron transfer reaction based assays but C. ladanifer extract was more effective to inhibit peroxyl radicals. The major compounds in both extracts were ellagitannins, especially punicalagins derivatives, showing C. populifolius a higher content. C. ladanifer showed noteworthy antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, whereas C. populifolius was effective against Escherichia coli, with MICs values of 154 and 123 microg/mL, respectively. Last, both extracts showed a notorious capacity to inhibit the proliferation of M220 pancreatic cancer cells and MCF7/HER2 and JIMT-1 breast cancer cells. The leaves of these plants suppose a source for water-soluble ellagitannins-enriched polyphenolic extracts with antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Their cytotoxic activity against several cancer cells may deserve further attention.
The lack of a comparative approach makes it impossible to determine the main factors influencing colonization and evolution in plants. Here we conducted the first comparative study of a characteristic Mediterranean lineage (white-flowered Cistus) taking advantage of its well-known phylogenetic relationships. A two-scale approach was applied to address the hypothesis of higher levels of isolation in mountain than in lowland species. First, a time-calibrated phylogeny using plastid sequences of Cistaceae suggested that the origin of Cistus species postdated both the refilling of the Mediterranean Sea (5.59-5.33 Ma) and the onset of the Mediterranean climate (3.2 Ma). Two hundred and sixty-three additional, plastid sequences from 111 populations showed different numbers of haplotypes in C. laurifolius (7), C. monspeliensis (2) and C. salviifolius (7). Although haplotype sharing among disjunct populations was observed in all species, phylogeographic analyses revealed haplotype lineages exclusive to Europe or Africa only in the mountain species (C. laurifolius). Isolation by either geographical distance or sea barriers was not significantly supported for the lowland species (C. monspeliensis; C. ladanifer from a previous study). The same is true for the less habitat-specific species of the lineage (C. salviifolius). Comparative phylogeography of the Cistus species leads us to interpret a general pattern of active colonization surpassing Mediterranean barriers. In contrast, ecological conditions (precipitation, temperature, soils) appear to have determined the distribution of the Cistus species of Mediterranean mountains. This study further provides molecular evidence for multiple colonization patterns in the course of successful adaptation of Cistus species to Mediterranean habitats.
In this prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study we aimed to investigate the clinical effect of a Cistus extract (CYSTUS052) in 160 patients with infections of the upper respiratory tract. The extract contains a high percentage of highly polymeric polyphenols. In cell culture and in a mouse model it exerts antiviral and antimicrobial activities. Principal active constituents of the genus Cistus are polyphenolic compounds. Plant-derived polyphenols have been shown to be strong antioxidants with potential health benefits. Various reports have appeared on the antiviral and antibacterial potential, including several reports describing the antiviral activity of polyphenols against influenza virus. Clinical studies on the effectiveness of Cistus incanus are scarce. Only one controlled application observation study demonstrated the effectiveness of a Cistus extract. The present randomised, placebo-controlled clinical study was designed to compare the symptom scores in patients with common cold treated either with CYSTUS052 or with placebo. A score of subjective symptoms decreased significantly over the course of treatment with Cistus, whereas treatment with placebo resulted in a less distinct decrease of symptoms. Among the inflammatory markers investigated, the C-reactive protein was mostly affected by Cistus and decreased significantly in the treatment group.
Halophyte ability to withstand salt-triggered oxidative stress is governed by multiple biochemical mechanisms that facilitate retention and/or acquisition of water, protect chloroplast functioning, and maintain ion homeostasis. Most essential traits include the synthesis of osmolytes, specific proteins, and antioxidant molecules. This might explain the utilization of some halophytes as traditional medicinal and dietary plants. The present study aimed at assessing the phenolic content and antioxidant activities of some Tunisian halophytes (Cakile maritima, Limoniastrum monopetalum, Mesembryanthemum crystallinum, M. edule, Salsola kali, and Tamarix gallica), depending on biological (species, organ and developmental stage), environmental, and technical (extraction solvent) factors. The total polyphenol contents and antioxidant activities (DPPH and superoxide radicals scavenging activities, and iron chelating and reducing powers) were strongly affected by the above-cited factors. Such variability might be of great importance in terms of valorising these halophytes as a source of naturally secondary metabolites, and the methods for phenolic and antioxidant production.
Seven labdane-type diterpenoids were isolated from the leaves of Cistus incanus subsp. creticus; their structures were established by spectroscopic means. All compounds were tested in vitro for their cytotoxicity against three cell line systems: KB, P-388; and NSCLC-N6. Their antibacterial and antifungal activities were tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosae, Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Torulopsis glabrata, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Candida albicans as well.
A simple, automated test measuring the ferric reducing ability of plasma, the FRAP assay, is presented as a novel method for assessing "antioxidant power." Ferric to ferrous ion reduction at low pH causes a colored ferrous-tripyridyltriazine complex to form. FRAP values are obtained by comparing the absorbance change at 593 nm in test reaction mixtures with those containing ferrous ions in known concentration. Absorbance changes are linear over a wide concentration range with antioxidant mixtures, including plasma, and with solutions containing one antioxidant in purified form. There is no apparent interaction between antioxidants. Measured stoichiometric factors of Trolox, alpha-tocopherol, ascorbic acid, and uric acid are all 2.0; that of bilirubin is 4.0. Activity of albumin is very low. Within- and between-run CVs are <1.0 and <3.0%, respectively, at 100-1000 micromol/liter. FRAP values of fresh plasma of healthy Chinese adults: 612-1634 micromol/liter (mean, 1017; SD, 206; n = 141). The FRAP assay is inexpensive, reagents are simple to prepare, results are highly reproducible, and the procedure is straightforward and speedy. The FRAP assay offers a putative index of antioxidant, or reducing, potential of biological fluids within the technological reach of every laboratory and researcher interested in oxidative stress and its effects.
The genus Cistus includes many typical species of Mediterranean flora; Cistus species are used as antidiarrhetics, as general remedies for treatment of various skin diseases in folk medicine and as anti-inflammatory agents. These species contain flavonoids that are considered to be chain-breaking antioxidants. In this work, we have investigated the effects of crude aqueous extracts from Cistus incanus and Cistus monspeliensis on DNA cleavage and their free-radical scavenging capacity. In addition, their effect on lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes was evaluated. These extracts showed a protective effect on DNA cleavage and a dose-dependent free-radical scavenging capacity; Cistus monspeliensis was more active than Cistus incanus; these results were confirmed by a significant inhibition of lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes. The experimental evidence, therefore, suggests that because of their antioxidant activity these extracts may offer excellent photoprotection for skin and may be useful in the treatment of human diseases where oxidative stress plays a key role.
The essential oils obtained from the aerial parts of Origanum scabrum and Origaum microphyllum, both endemic species in Greece, were analyzed by means of GC and GC-MS. Forty-eight constituents were identified, representing 98.59 and 98.66% of the oils, respectively. Carvacrol, terpinen-4-ol, linalool, sabinene, alpha-terpinene, and gamma-terpinene were found as the major components. Furthermore, both samples exhibited a very interesting antimicrobial profile after they were tested against six Gram-negative and -positive bacteria and three pathogenic fungi.
A microemulsion electrokinetic chromatographic (MEEKC) method was developed for the separation of six catechins, specific marker phytochemicals of Cistus species. The MEEKC method involved the use of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as surfactant, heptane as organic solvent and butan-1-ol as co-solvent. In order to have a better stability of the studied catechins, the separation was performed under acidic conditions (pH 2.5 phosphate buffer). The effects of SDS concentration and of the amount of organic solvent and co-solvent on the analyte resolution were evaluated. The optimized conditions (heptane 1.36% (w/v), SDS 2.31% (w/v), butan-1-ol 9.72% (w/v) and 50 mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 2.5) 86.61% (w/v)) allowed a useful and reproducible separation of the studied analytes to be achieved. These conditions provided a different separation profile compared to that obtained under conventional micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MECK) using SDS. The method was validated and applied to the determination of catechin and gallocatechin in lyophilized extracts of Cistus incanus and Cistus monspeliensis.
Extracts obtained from the leaves and branches of various Cistus species have been used worldwide as folk remedy for the treatment of various inflammatory ailments including rheumatism and renal inflammations. Effects of the extracts and fractions from the leaves with non-woody branches of Cistus laurifolius L. (Cistaceae) were studied using two in vivo models of inflammation in mice. Model one was based on observed potent inhibitory activity against carrageenan-induced hind paw oedema and the second model used was acetic acid-induced, increased vascular permeability model. Through bioassay-guided fractionation and isolation procedures three flavonoids; 3-O-methylquercetin (1), 3,7-O-dimethylquercetin (2) and 3,7-O-dimethylkaempferol (3) were isolated as the main active ingredients from the ethanol extract. Later on, these flavonoids were shown to possess potent antinociceptive activity, which was assessed through inhibition of p-benzoquinone-induced writhing reflex. Results of the present study have clearly supported the utilization of Cistus laurifolius in Turkish traditional medicine. Subsequently, three flavonoids were shown to have strong antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities, per os without inducing any apparent acute toxicity as well as gastric damage.
Influenza, a respiratory disease caused by influenza viruses, is still a worldwide threat with a high potential to cause a pandemic. Beside vaccination, only two classes of drugs are available for antiviral treatment against the pathogen. Here we show that CYSTUS052, a plant extract from a special variety of Cistus incanus that is rich in polymeric polyphenols, exhibits antiviral activity against a highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus (H7N7) in cell culture and in a mouse infection model. In vitro and in vivo treatment was performed with an aerosol formulation, because the bioavailability of high molecular weight polyphenols is poor. In MDCK cells, a 90% reduction of plaque numbers on cells pre-incubated with the plant extract was achieved. For in vivo experiments we used a novel monitoring system for influenza A virus-infected mice that allows measurement of body temperature and gross motor-activity of the animals. Mice treated with CYSTUS052 did not develop disease, showed neither differences in their body temperature nor differences in their gross motor-activity and exhibited no histological alterations of the bronchiolus epithelial cells.
Infections with influenza A viruses still pose a major threat to humans and several animal species. The occurrence of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses of the H5N1 subtype capable to infect and kill humans highlights the urgent need for new and efficient countermeasures against this viral disease. Here we demonstrate that a polyphenol rich extract (CYSTUS052) from the Mediterranean plant Cistus incanus exerts a potent anti-influenza virus activity in A549 or MDCK cell cultures infected with prototype avian and human influenza strains of different subtypes. CYSTUS052 treatment resulted in a reduction of progeny virus titers of up to two logs. At the effective dose of 50 microg/ml the extract did not exhibit apparent harming effects on cell viability, metabolism or proliferation, which is consistent with the fact that these plant extracts are already used in traditional medicine in southern Europe for centuries without any reported complications. Viruses did not develop resistance to CYSTUS052 when compared to amantadine that resulted in the generation of resistant variants after only a few passages. On a molecular basis the protective effect of CYSTUS052 appears to be mainly due to binding of the polymeric polyphenol components of the extract to the virus surface, thereby inhibiting binding of the hemagglutinin to cellular receptors. Thus, a local application of CYSTUS052 at the viral entry routes may be a promising approach that may help to protect from influenza virus infections.
Rockroses (Cistus sp.) oils. essential oils in food prevention
- E Barrajón-Catalán
- L Tomás-Menor
- A Morales-Soto
- N M Bruňá
- D S López
- A Segura-Carretero
- V Micoli
Barrajón-Catalán, E., Tomás-Menor, L., Morales-Soto, A., Bruňá, N.M., López, D.S.,
Segura-Carretero, A., Micoli, V., 2016. Rockroses (Cistus sp.) oils. essential oils in
food prevention. Flavor Saf. 74, 649-657.
Birkenblätter − Betulae Herba 4.00
- European Pharmacopeia
European Pharmacopeia, 2002. Birkenblätter − Betulae Herba 4.00. pp. 1308
(Strasbourg).
The polyphenolic composition of Cistus incanus herbal tea and its antibacterial and anti-adherent activity against Streptococcus mutans
- G Wittpahl
- I Kölling-Speer
- S Basche
- E Herrmann
- M Hanning
- K Speer
- C Hanning
Wittpahl, G., Kölling-Speer, I., Basche, S., Herrmann, E., Hanning, M., Speer, K., Hanning,
C., 2015. The polyphenolic composition of Cistus incanus herbal tea and its antibacterial and anti-adherent activity against Streptococcus mutans. Planta Med. 81
(18), 1727-1735.
Polish Pharmacopoeia VI
Polish Pharmacopoeia VI; Polish Pharmaceutical Society: Warsaw, 2002; p. 150.