title: Phytochemical analysis, biological evaluation and micromorphological study of Stachys alopecuros (L.) Benth. subsp. divulsa (Ten.) Grande endemic to central Apennines, Italy.
abstract: Stachys alopecuros subsp. divulsa (Lamiaceae), a perennial herb endemic to central Italy growing on mountain pastures, was investigated for the first time for the content of secondary metabolites, for the micromorphology and histochemistry of glandular trichomes, and for the biological activity of the volatile oil, namely cytotoxic, antioxidant and antimicrobial. The plant showed the molecular pattern of iridoids, among which a new iridoid diglycoside (4'-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-teuhircoside) was detected, together with a sterol glucoside and a phenylethanoid glycoside. The essential oil from the flowering aerial parts was characterized by a high proportion of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (65.1%), with (E)-caryophyllene (33.2%) as the most abundant, while other main components were germacrene D (7.6%), α-humulene (6.4%) and the oxygenated cis-sesquisabinene hydrate (10.2%). Taken together, polar and apolar chemical profiles support the classification of the species within the section Betonica of the genus Stachys. Micromorphological study revealed three types of glandular hairs secreting different classes of compounds, with type A peltate hairs producing the bulk of the essential oil. MTT assay revealed the potential of the volatile oil in inhibiting A375, HCT116 and MDA-MB 231 tumor cells (IC₅₀ values below 20 μg/ml).
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: alessandro.venditti@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Venditti
authors.forename: Armandodoriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
authors.forename: Luana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Quassinti
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bramucci
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lupidi
authors.forename: Luca Agostino
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Vitali
authors.forename: Dezemona
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Petrelli
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Papa
authors.forename: Sauro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vittori
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lucarini
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maleci Bini
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giuliani
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maggi
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002965:Classification; D035263:Flowering Tops / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D039823:Iridoids / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007558:Italy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D031366:Stachys / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000648:ultrastructure; D064201:Trichomes / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000975:Antioxidants; D039823:Iridoids; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012717:Sesquiterpenes
keywords: Biological activity; Essential oil; Iridoids; Lamiaceae; Stachys alopecuros subsp. divulsa; Verbascoside