Biological Activity of Some Aromatic Plants and Their Metabolites, with an Emphasis on Health-Promoting Properties

Abstract

The biological activities of four aromatic plants, namely frankincense, myrrh, ginger, and turmeric, were reviewed in the current study. The volatile fraction (essential oil) as well as the nonvolatile fraction of these four plants showed different promising biological activities that are displayed in detail. These activities can include protection from and/or alleviation of some ailment, which is supported with different proposed mechanisms of action. This review aimed to finally help researchers to get a handle on the importance of considering these selected aromatic plants, which have not been thoroughly reviewed before, as a potential adjuvant to classical synthetic drugs to enhance their efficiency. Moreover, the results elicited in this review encourage the consumption of these medicinal plants as an integrated part of the diet to boost the body's overall health based on scientific evidence.

Keywords: bioactives; cancer; curcumin; frankincense; ginger; myrrh; volatile and nonvolatile fractions.

Figure 1

Myrrh (a) and frankincense (b).

Figure 2

Characteristic compounds found in frankincense; (a) α-pinene; (b) α-thujene.

Figure 3

Chemical structure of the most important boswellic acids (BAs); (a) 3-O-acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid; (b) 11-keto-β-boswellic; (c) acetyl-β-boswellic acid; (d) β-boswellic acid.

Figure 3

Chemical structure of the most important boswellic acids (BAs); (a) 3-O-acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid; (b) 11-keto-β-boswellic; (c) acetyl-β-boswellic acid; (d) β-boswellic acid.

Figure 4

The most important chemical compounds found in myrrh; (a) β-elemene; (b) curzerene; (c) furanoeudesma-1,3-diene; (d) germacrene-B.

Figure 5

Raw ginger root.

Figure 6

The most important group of chemicals found in ginger root; (a) α-zingiberene; (b) linalool; (c) ar-curcumene; (d) zingiberol; (e) α-farnezene; (f) camphene; (g) shogaol.

Figure 7

Turmeric powder.

Figure 8

Chemical structures of the nonvolatile important components of turmeric; (a) diferuloylmethane; (b) desmethoxycurcumin; (c) bisdesmethoxycurcumin.

Figure 8

Chemical structures of the nonvolatile important components of turmeric; (a) diferuloylmethane; (b) desmethoxycurcumin; (c) bisdesmethoxycurcumin.

Figure 9

Characteristic compounds found in turmeric oil; (a) ar-turmerone; (b) β-turmerone; (c) α-zingiberene; (d) β-sesquiphellandrene; (e) (E)-γ-atlantone; (f) (Z)-β-ocimene; (g) β-selinene; (h) β-bisabolene.