title: Phytochemical and biological studies of Stachys species in relation to chemotaxonomy: a review.
abstract: The genus Stachys is comprised of about 300 species spread throughout the world, hence representing one of the largest genera of the Lamiaceae. Several Stachys species have been exploited in traditional medicine as astringent, wound-healing, anti-diarrhoeal, anti-nephritic and anti-inflammatory agents. Moreover, antimicrobial, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of some Stachys species are documented. Iridoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids and diterpenoids are reported as secondary metabolites of different species of this genus. The aim of the present review is to summarize and to highlight the recent advances in current knowledge on Stachys species and to compile reports of chemical constituents isolated from the genus Stachys over the past decades, together with their structural features, biological activities, and structure-activity relationships. Diversity of chemical constituents is discussed in relationship with current Stachys infrageneric taxonomy, classification and relationships with systematically close genera.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende (CS), Italy. Electronic address: rosa.tundis@unical.it.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tundis
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peruzzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende (CS), Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Menichini
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D013045:Species Specificity; D031366:Stachys / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000975:Antioxidants; D064209:Phytochemicals
keywords: Betonica; Bioactivity; Phytochemicals; Sideritis; Stachys; Taxonomy