The Role of Essential Oil of Minthostachys verticillata (Griseb.) Epling, (Lamiaceae) and its Active Metabolites in Immediate-Type Hypersensitivity Responses

CARIDDI LN

Recent Progress in Medicinal Plants Essential Oils II & Vol. 37

Studium Press, LLC Houston, USA

Año: 2013; p. 487 - 495

Minthostachys verticillata (Griseb.) Epling (Lamiaceae) is an aromatic shrub known for its medicinal properties. Its infusions are used in folk medicine for treatment of different disorders. The essential oil of this species has been studied and have been demonstrated that the main components are pulegone,menthone and limonene. Since 2005 several studies have been conducted in order to corroborate scientifically the popular use of M. verticillata in the treatment of bronchitis and asthma. The in vitro studies show that essential oil and their three main components have inhibitory effects on basophil degranulation and modulate Th1/Th2 response. The in vivo studies demonstrated that essential oil and limonene potently inhibited the mast-cell degranulation in a murine model of allergy. The findings suggest that both the oil and limonene could be effective in modulating immunological and pharmacological allergic diseases.