Scientific Name:
Teucrium stocksianum Boiss subsp.
stocksianum
Local Name:
Ja`adah
Arabic Name(s):
Common Name:
Ja`adah, Togreyern, Mekhzani, Toum
Alhayiah,
Ja`aidah, Sa`atar Alhir,
Gadha
Mountain Germander
Family:
Labiatae (Lamiaceae)
Herbarium Sample
Whole Plant
Flowers
Description:
Dense, compact, aromatic perennial herb, hemispherical in outline up to 30 cm high
and across, rootstock woody, stems erect very much branched and whitish in color.
Leaves simple, opposite or in whorls, sometimes packed very densely on stems, 0.51.5cm long, sessile , oblong to linear, grey green; with hairs on both surfaces, margin
crenate , distinct midribs, inside branches usually leafless. Flowers in terminal
racemose inflorescences, small and white creamy to pinkish in color, with darker pink
veins, upper lip 2-lobed,arching, with protruding stamens, larger lower lip 3-lobed.
Fruit nut with 4 nutlets..
Habitat & Distribution:
North Africa, Iran, Pakistan, Arabia and Mediterranean zone. In UAE the plant is
found in rocky habitats: wadis and hillsides and compact fine textured soils with
stones and pepples at all elevations.
Part Used:
Aerial parts and flowering heads
Traditional & Medicinal Uses :
In folk medicine the plant is astringent, expectorant, tonic, depurative, febrifuge,
stimulant, vulnerary, appetizer, hypoglycemic, and infusion of aerial parts is used for
stomachace and intestinal problems , feminine sterility, steam bath for colds and
fever, and for malaria.In UAE the plant is very well known and used forskin,stomach
and Kidney problems,renal colic, colds, fever and diabetes.
Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry
Parts studied: Aerial parts (leaves, floral parts)
Microscopical Description:
Leaf: Transverse section of the leaf shows a two-wing-like structure with the two
rounded margins as the edges of the wings slightly curving downwards towards the
lower surface. The leaf is unilateral and the upper epidermis consists of small
rectangular cells though they are markedly sinuous in surface view with thin cell
walls. It is covered with a thick striated somewhat raised cuticle. The epidermal cells
contain many angular and spherical amorphous masses and coloured materials. The
diacytic stomata are oval to rounded in shape and are few in number. The upper
epidermis bears numerous branched trichomes that have thick warty walls and also
simple tapering conical trichomes. Relatively long glandular trichomes with two to
four celled stalks and spherical heads with raised cuticles also exist. The palisade
tissue consists of about two layers of oblong, loosely packed parenchyma cells. The
spongy mesophyll consists of oblong to pear-shaped loosely held cells not
constituting definite layers. Both palisade and spongy tissues contain coloured
amprphous and crystalline masses. The lower epidermis consists of very small
rectangular cells. From a surface view they have wavy, thin and somewhat beady cell
walls. The lower epidermis has relatively more branched trichomes compared to the
upper one but both have equally distributed glandular tirchomes.
Floral parts: Microscopically, the floral parts show similar features as those of the
leaf but the floral parts namely corolla, have extremely dense branched covering and
glandular trichomes; the former are more warty. Epidermal cells are smaller and
rectangular in shape and many are papillose. Cells contain more coloured substances
and brownish pigments. Vessels are narrower, smaller in size and commonly
annularly thickened( DPS ZCHRTM UnPub.Results)
a
b
c
(a). General TS of the leaf showing its typical structure, different zones, glandular and
covering trichomes (less on the upper surface and dense on the lower one).
(b). Surface view of the leaf upper epidermis showing the sinuous cell walls of the
epidermal cells, bases of covering trichomes, coloured cellular contents and part of
the underlying palisade layer. (c). A portion of a floral part in surface view.
( Magnifications: All x 400).
Organoleptic characteristics:
Appearance:
Colour:
Odour:
Taste:
Solid powder
Light brownish yellow
Aromatic
Very bitter
Physicochemical constants:
Loss in weight on drying at 1050C (%):
8.30
Solubilities ( % )
Alcohol solubility:
Water solubility:
10% ethanolic extractive:
3.60
5.60
32.00 – 34.00
Ash values (%)
Total ash:
Water soluble ash:
Acid-insoluble ash:
11.40 - 12.40
2.00 - 2.20
2.20 - 2.60
Successive extractive (%)
Petroleum ether (60-800C):
Chloroform:
Absolute alcohol:
2.40- 3.35
6.85-7.90
6.80- 8.90
pH values
pH of 1% solution:
5.93
pH of 10% solution:
5.32
The above results have appeared as publication( kamil etal. 19999 , DPS ZCHRTM
Unpub. Results).
Chemical constituents:
Germacrene, sabinene, -pinene, -cadinino, linalool, gurisol, methylated flavones,
diterpenoids. (Kamil et.al 1999, DPS, ZCHRTM Unpub. Results, Rizk, 1986).
Pharmacological and Toxicological studies:
There are a number of species of the genus Teucrium. T. polium has been studied well
scientifically. The boiled extract of the T. polium was found to inhibit the spontaneous
contractile activity of rabbit ileal smooth muscle. T. stocksianum showed significant
anti-gastric ulcer activity, cytoprotective activity, anti-inflammatory activity and
caused progressive impairment of neuromuscular coordination in mice. T. mascatense
has been reported to show homeostasis of glucose in normal and STZ diabetic rats.
Teucrium polium was studied on writhing test, a visceral pain model in mice. This
study confirms the antivisceral pain properties of T. polium comparable to those of
hyoscine and indomethacin and suggests a good place for it in antispasmodic
therapies in human. (Abdollahi et. al., 2003). The study suggests that T. capitatum
can induce acute hepatocellular necrosis, which could be clinically confused with
acute viral hepatitis, and that some medicinal plants are not as safe as they are
popularly known. (Dourakis, et. al., 21002).
Among the plants consumed was Teucrium chamaedrys (germander), which has been
associated with several cases of hepatotoxicity (Perez, 2001).
Significant
hepatotoxicity has also been observed after the ingestion of tea or capsule of
Teucrium chamaedrys (Larry et. al., l999; Stickel, 2001). Treatment with the plant
extract produced no statistically significant effect on the plasma biochemical variables
that are considered indices of liver and kidney function. (Tanira, et. al 1997).
Teucrium buxifolium species have displayed significant antiulcer and cytoprotective
activity (Fernandez, et. al., l997).
Hepatoprotective activity of an ethanolic extract of Teucrium stocksianum was
investigated against paracetamol-induced hepatic damage in mice. T. stocksianum did
not produce any lethality or adverse effects in the livers of treated mice. These
results indicate that T. stocksianum ethanolic extract contains hepatoprotective
constituents (Rasheed, et. al, 1995).
The Teucrium polium boiled leaf extract
produced an intestinal motility and blood pressuring in experimental animals
(Suleiman et. al., 1988). An ethnobotanical survey showed that the plant is effective
against cancer and prostate disorders (Ali-Shtayeh et. al., 2000).
The pharmacological and toxicological studies carried out in our laboratory and
the results in brief, on Teucrium stocksianum (10% ethanolic extract) have been
given below.
The results presented without references showed unpublished data (UPD, ZCHRTM,
DBMS):
ACTIVITY
RESULT
Anti-inflammatory activity-Rat paw
oedema
Extract showed significant antiinflammatory activity (Islam et. al., 1990a;
Islam et.al., 1990b).
Anti-inflammatory activity -Cotton
pellet
Extract showed significant antiinflammatory activity (Islam et. al., 1990a;
Islam et. al., 1990b).
Anti-inflammatory activity-Rat paw
oedema (Topical)
Extract showed significant antiinflammatory activity (Islam et. al., 1990a;
Islam et. al., 1990b).
Antinociceptive activity-Tail flick
Extract showed significant antinociceptive
activity.
Antinociceptive activity-Hot plate
method
Extract showed significant antinociceptive
activity.
Antinociceptive activity-Writhing
Extract showed significant antinociceptive
activity.
Studies on gastric ulcersIndomethacin induced
Showed significant gastroprotective effect
(Islam et. al., 1999c).
Studies on gastric ulcersPhenylbutazone induced
Showed less pronounced gastro protective
effect (Islam et. al., 1999c).
Studies on gastric ulcers-NaOH
induced
Showed very significant gastro protective
effect (Islam et. al., 1999c).
Studies on gastric ulcers-Alcohol
induced
Showed very significant gastro protective
effect (Islam et. al., 1999c).
Studies on gastric ulcers-Cold
stressinduced
Produced less pronounced gastro protective
effect (Islam et. al., 1999c).
Anti-secreatary activity-Gastric
acidity
Showed no anti-secretary effect (Islam et.
al., 1999c).
Anti-diabetic activity-STZ
Extract showed significant anti-diabetic
activity (Islam et. al., 1999d).
Gross behavioral studiesTremor/Twitches
No toxic symptoms (Islam et. al., 2000).
Gross behavioral studies-Writhing
No toxic symptoms were observed acute
administration (Islam et. al., 2000).
Gross behavioral studies- Diarrhea,
Mortality was recorded at higher doses on
Urination
sub acute and sub chronic administration
(Islam et. al., 2000).
Mortality
No mortality was recorded (Islam et. al.,
2000).
Acute toxicity studies-
Produced mild toxic signs appeared (Islam
et. al., 2000).
LD50 evaluation
>32 g/kg. (Islam et. al., 2000).
Hematological studies
Produced no significant change in
hematological parameters (Islam et. al.,
2000).
Biochemical studies
SGOT, SGPT increased; CPK reduced
(Islam et. al., 2000).
Effect on body weight
No significant change (Islam et. al., 2000).
Effect on vital organ weight
Caused a slight increase in liver weight in
treated animals(Islam et. al., 2000).
Teratogenicity
No teratogenic effect was observed.; No
maternal toxicity observed; Mild
foetotoxicity was seen (Islam et. al., 2000).
Mutagenicity
Extract did not show mutagenic effect
(Clastogenic activity) in the model studied at
the dose tested (Islam et. al., 2000).
Summary of the results:
Teucrium stocksianum showed
significant antigastric ulcerhepatoprotective;
antidiabetic activities; Teucrium significantly reduced blood pressure on i.p.
administration in anesthetized rats. Teucrium has also been studied for its safety
evaluation studies, including acute, sub-acute, sub-chronic toxicity studies and also
including teratogenecity and mutagenecity evaluation.
Aqueous Extract:
ACTIVITY
RESULTS
Studies on gastric ulcers-NaOH
induced
Produced gastroprotective effect.
Studies on gastric ulcers-Ethanol
induced
Produced gastroprotective effect.
Studies on gastric ulcersIndomethacin induced
Produced gastroprotective effect.
Studies on gastric ulcersPhenylbutazone induced
Produced gastroprotective effect.
Antisecretary activity
Produced antiseretary effect.
Studies on gastric ulcers-Aspirin
induced
Produced gastroprotective effect.
Gross behavioral studies-Diarrhea,
Urination
Mortality was recorded at higher doses on
sub acute and sub chronic administration.
Mortality
Mortality was recorded.
Acute toxicity studies-
Produced toxic signs appeared.
LD50 evaluation
>5 g/kg.
Summary of the results:
Teuckrium stocksianum (aqueous extract) showed significant antigastric ulcer and
anti-secretary activity at the dose tested. The extract was evaluated for its safety
revealed that the aqueous extract showed over signs and symptoms at low doses
administered orally and intraperitoneally to the experimental animals.
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