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Review
. 2018 Oct 9;5(4):110.
doi: 10.3390/medicines5040110.

Scabiosa Genus: A Rich Source of Bioactive Metabolites

Diana C G A Pinto  1 , Naima Rahmouni  2   3 , Noureddine Beghidja  4 , Artur M S Silva  5
Affiliations
Review

Scabiosa Genus: A Rich Source of Bioactive Metabolites

Diana C G A Pinto et al. Medicines (Basel). .

Abstract

The genus Scabiosa (family Caprifoliaceae) is considered large (618 scientific plant names of species) although only 62 have accepted Latin binominal names. The majority of the Scabiosa species are widely distributed in the Mediterranean region and some Scabiosa species are used in traditional medicine systems. For instance, Scabiosa columbaria L. is used traditionally against diphtheria while S. comosa Fisch. Ex Roem. and Schult. is used in Mongolian and Tibetan traditional medical settings to treat liver diseases. The richness of Scabiosa species in secondary metabolites such as iridoids, flavonoids and pentacyclic triterpenoids may contribute to its use in folk medicine. Details on the most recent and relevant pharmacological in vivo studies on the bioactive secondary metabolites isolated from Scabiosa species will be summarized and thoroughly discussed.

Keywords: Scabiosa; anti-inflammatory; antibacterial; anticancer; antioxidant; flavonoids; iridoids; pentacyclic triterpenoids.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flavonoids isolated from the genus Scabiosa (Ara = arabinose; Gal = galactose; Glu = glucose).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Steroids isolated from the genus Scabiosa (Glu = glucose).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Iridoids isolated from the genus Scabiosa (Glu = glucose).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Pentacyclic triterpenoids isolated from the genus Scabiosa (Ara = arabinose; Gal = galactose; Glu = glucose; Rha = rhamnose; Xyl = xylose).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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