Journal of Innovations in Pharmaceuticals and Biological Sciences JIPBS www.jipbs.com ISSN: 2349-2759 Review article Lavandula Stoechas (Ustukhuddus): A miracle plant Mohd Aftab Siddiqui*, Mohd. Khalid, Juber Akhtar, H.H. Siddiqui, Badruddeen, Usama Ahmad, Farogh Ahsan, Mohd Muazzam Khan, Mohammad Ahamd, Asad Ali Faculty of Pharmacy, Integral University, Dasauli, Kursi Road, Lucknow (U.P.)-226026. Abstract There are various sources of drugs like plants, animals, marine etc. Among all these, plants are the main source of drugs. In pharmaceutical world herbal medicine has a special place. Among medicinal plants Lavandula stoechas of Lamiaceae/Labiatae family is therapeutically very important. The various studies tell that it contains organic, inorganic substances and essential oil. Research is going on its new chemical constituents. Various pharmacological actions of Lavandula stoechas have been described in Unani literature like antiseptic, deobstruent, demulcent, phlegmagogue, nervine tonic, antianxiety, anticonvulsant, in numbness, trembling, mania, amnesia etc. In all traditionally uses of Lavandula stoechas few actions get scientific status like antibacterial, blood purifying, adaptogenic, hypotensive effect, cytotoxic and genotoxic effect, anticonvulsant, sedative, antispasmodic, hypoglycaemic activity, antianxiety etc. but many actions are remain to evaluate. This study covers the phytochemistry, pharmacognostic character and pharmacological activities of Lavandula stoechas. Key words: Herbal medicine, Lavandula stoechas, Chemical constituents, Pharmacological actions, scientific status *Corresponding Author: Mohd Aftab Siddiqui, Faculty of Pharmacy, Integral University, Dasauli, Kursi Road, Lucknow (U.P.)-226026. 1. Introduction Lavandula stoechas is a plant of the described as “Jaroobe dimagh” which Lamiaceae/Labiatae family. Lavandula is means “broom of brain” because of its from the Latin words for 'violet' and 'to removing the black bile from the brain, wash' and refers to the flower colour and give strengthens and improves the Stoechas from its growing on the intellect. It was first described by Galen Stoechades, a group of islands on the south (First Pharmacist) so it is called “Galeenial coast of Gaul near Massila and it is much herb”. Dioscorides described it in the book used by Muslim physicians. Lavandula “Kitabul Hashaiash”. Avicena (The Prince stoechas known as “Ustukhuddus” at of Physicians) described it in his famous subcontinent. In Western India, it is book “The Canon of Medicine”. The oil wrongly named “Alfazema”. In Spain it is content of Lavandula stoechas varies from known as “Romero Santo” meaning sacred 0.77-1.2%. The taste of plant is bitter. rosemary. In the unani system it is Grey coloured and slightly bitter in taste ©JIPBS, All rights reserved Mohd Aftab Siddiqui et al., JIPBS, Vol 3 (1), 96-102, 2016 with pungency is rated best quality plant. Flowers are in cluster having a smell like Camphor [1-11]. Vernacular names [12] Arabic : Anisul arwah, Mumsikul arwah English : Arabian or French Lavander Hindi : Dharu, Alphagandharu, Ustukhuddusa Figure 1: Flowers of Lavandula stoechas Unani : Hafizul arwah Urdu : Ustukhuddus 2. Characteristics of Lavandula stoechas Bengali : Tantana Stoechadas [14] Guajarati : Lavandarana phula Habitat Marathi : Alphajan It is native to the Old World and is found Persian : Shahsafram from Cape Verde and the Canary Islands, southern Europe across to northern and Taxonomical classification [13] eastern Africa, the Mediterranean, Kingdom : Plantae southwest Asia to southeast India. Many Division : Magnoliophyta members of the genus are cultivated Class : Magnoliopsida extensively in temperate climates as Order : Lamiales ornamental plants for garden and Family : Lamiaceae/ Labiatae landscape. This herb is found in forests Genus : Lavandula and mountains having wet soils in Rabi Botanical name: Lavandula stoechas Linn. season. In India, it is found in Bihar and Bengal but the quality is not good. It also Subspecies [14] found in Canaries, Portugal, and a) Lavandula stoechas pedunculata: The eastwards throughout the Mediterranean common type specific plant, taxonomically region to Constantinople and Asia Minor. considered L. pedunculata. There is The plant cultivated in Peshawar and considerable variation in this subspecies, Afghanistan is of the best quality. Qualities and it may be split into a number of of Lavandula, which cultivated in the distinct forms. It is native to many coastal region of Hejaz and Rome is more regions of the Mediterranean, with some persuasive in medicinal value. populations on the Atlantic coasts of Morocco and Spain. Stems Number-many, length -300 to 600 mm, b) Lavandula stoechas luisieri: Which colour - greyish, branched, square when has petals much less interconnected. It is young, often grow along the ground, then found mainly in Portugal and adjacent bend upwards, densely hairy with star regions of Spain. type hairs, lower parts woody and rough, coppice when cut. 97 Mohd Aftab Siddiqui et al., JIPBS, Vol 3 (1), 96-102, 2016 Leaves occurs from July to November with seeds Leaves like the leaves of Satar (Zataria produced in spring and summer. multiflora) but thinner and longer than that. Opposite and paired or clustered at Reproduction the nodes, fragrant when crushed, By seed. Stipules – None, Petiole – None, Blade - Flowering times Grey-green, parallel sided to oblong, 8-30 Flowering occurs in June to July. mm long by 1.5-10 mm wide, dense short Seed Biology and Germination hairs (star type) Edges turned down but The seed has a long dormancy in soil. with no teeth or lobes. Vegetative Propagules Crowns and root fragments. Roots Population Dynamics and Dispersal Woody, shallow. The main spread is from intentional planting in gardens and consequent Flowers escape. Water, wind and birds spread Bracts: Floral bracts broadly egg shaped, seed. Perennial roots and crowns are up to 6 mm long by 7 mm wide with 3 moved by cultivation equipment and in shallow lobes, obvious veins, hairy. gravel for road making. Coppice when Bracteoles are egg shaped, 0.5 - 2 mm stems are cut. In suitable areas, the long, hairy. infestation increases in density until a few Ovary: Superior, Styles with 2 short lobes other plants remain. Calyx: 4-6 mm long, tubular, 13 ribbed, dense star hairs, 5 lobed and the back lobe 3. Phytochemical constituents of is broader and has a notched appendage Lavandula stoechas [15-17] near the top. Corolla: Dark purple, rarely white or pink, Table 1. Phytochemical constituents of tubular, 6-8 mm long. 2 lipped, upper lip Lavandula stoechas on the basis of has 2 lobes and a lower lip has 3 circular Chemical nature lobes. Sr. Substances Example Stamens: 4 inside corolla tube, front pair No. is longer. 1 Organic Carbohydrates, substances Glycosides, Phenols, Anthers: Yellow, kidney shaped, small, one Steroids, Terpines, celled. and Resins 2 Inorganic Aluminium, Calcium, Fruit substances Iron, Magnesium, Pale brown with many dark spots, shiny, Potassium and triangular nutlet about 2 mm diameter, Strontium hairless. 3 Essential oil Fenchone, Pinocarvyl acetate, Life cycle Camphor, Seed germinates at any time of the year Eucalyptol, and grow slowly. They are semi dormant, Myrthenol but evergreen in summer and autumn and 4 Triterpenic β-sitosterol, Ursolic acid acid, Apigenin, grow in the winter and spring. Flowering Luteolin, Rosmarinic acid 98 Mohd Aftab Siddiqui et al., JIPBS, Vol 3 (1), 96-102, 2016 4. Marketed preparations [18] functional outcome after cerebral Ustukhuddus Quath, Sharbat Ustukhuddus, ischaemia (P<0.001). The results Ustukhuddus Majoon, Ustukhuddus indicated that lavender oil has Murabba, Ark Ustukhuddus, Ustukhuddus neuroprotective activity against Arishta, Itriphal Ustukhuddus, Itrifal cerebral ischemia and alleviated Mulayyin, Majun Khadar, Majun neurological function in rats, and the Maurawweh ul-Arwah, Majun Najah, Majun mechanism may be related to Zabib, Qurs Mulayyin, Sherbet Ahmad augmentation in endogenous Shah, Sherbet Gaozaban, Sherbet Mushil, antioxidant defence, inhibiting Sherbet Ustukhuddus, Itriphal Sanai, oxidative stress, and increasing VEGF Itriphal Ghudadi, Itriphal Muqawwi expression in the rat brain [28]. Dimagh. The antioxidant power of the ethanolic extract of Lavandula stoechas was Dosage [19] evaluated by using, 2, 2-diphenyl-1- According to Rhazes its dose is 7-10 gm. picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) and phosphomolybdenum assay in vitro Drug interaction [20] methods. In the DPPH scavenging Due to diuretic action, it potentiates the assay the IC50 value of the extract was action of other diuretics and cause found to be 1.2μg/ml. The antioxidant hypokalemia. It has antihypertensive capacity of L. stoechas extract showed action, so it may increase the hypotensive 255,5 μg/ml of equivalent to ascorbic effect of anaesthetics. acid in comparison with gallic acid, which is 155 μg/ml equivalent to Uses [21-26] ascorbic acid, it also demonstrated Anticonvulsant hypnotic, sedative that antioxidant power increase in a antispasmodic, Mania, Amnesia, dose dependent manner. This study Numbness, Trembling, colic and chest suggests that Lavandula stoechas may affections, in headache, for cleansing act as a chemopreventive agent, wounds, provides strength to head, brain, providing antioxidant properties, and liver, spleen, stomach and intestines, expel offering effective protection from free the crudities from the brain and clarify the radicals [29]. intellect. The anti-inflammatory activity evaluated by Carrageenan-Induced