Traditional Uses, Bioactive Compounds, and New Findings on Pharmacological, Nutritional, Cosmetic and Biotechnology Utility of Capsella bursa-pastoris

Abstract

Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. (shepherd's purse) is a medicinal plant recently introduced to European Pharmacopoeia. The main active compounds responsible for the activity profile of the raw material are flavonoids, phenolic acids, amino acids, phytosterols, vitamins and bioelements. This species is known for its properties supporting the functioning of the digestive system and antihemorrhagic properties in the ethnomedicine of Far Eastern countries. Modern research confirms these directions of activity. Additionally, the latest studies prove the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, acetylcholinesterase and anticancer properties and supportive action in the treatment of gynecological diseases. Shepherd's purse herb also has a strong position as an edible plant due to the growing interest in this plant as "healthy food". The protective, softening, antibacterial and antioxidant properties of sprout and herb extracts are useful in the production of modern cosmetics. Moreover, C. bursa-pastoris is valuable thanks to phytoremediation properties and the numerous practical uses in biotechnology for the creation of new resistant varieties of crop plants from the Brassicaceae family.

Keywords: Brassicaceae; new pharmacopeial plants; nutritional value; pharmacological properties; phytochemistry; shepherd’s purse.

Figure 1

Capsella bursa-pastoris plant (a); inflorescence shoot with cauline leaves (b); inflorescence shoot with flowers and heart-shaped siliques (c).

Figure 2

Capsella bursa-pastoris distribution map.

Figure 3

Aglycone structures of flavonoids found in Capsella bursa-pastoris extracts: kaempferol (a), apigenin (b), sinensetin (c), quercetin (d), luteolin (e), acacetin (f), isorhamnetin (g), diosmetin (h), chryseriol (i), icaritin (j), licoflavonol (k) and tricin (l).

Figure 4

Examples of phenolic glycosides reported in Capsella bursa-pastoris: lariciresinol-4′-O-β-D-glucoside (a); (+)-pinoresinol-β-D-glucoside (b); salidroside (c); β-hydroxy-propiovanillone-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (d).

Figure 5

New metabolites recently isolated from the herb—capselic acid A (a) and seeds of Capsella bursa-pastoris—capselloside (b); bursapastoris A (c); bursapastoris B (d); 10-(methylsulfinyl)decanoic acid (e); 11-(methylsulfinyl)undecanoic acid (f).