title: Calamintha nepeta (L.) Savi and its Main Essential Oil Constituent Pulegone: Biological Activities and Chemistry.
abstract: Medicinal plants play an important role in the treatment of a wide range of diseases, even if their chemical constituents are not always completely recognized. Observations on their use and efficacy significantly contribute to the disclosure of their therapeutic properties. Calamintha nepeta (L.) Savi is an aromatic herb with a mint-oregano flavor, used in the Mediterranean areas as a traditional medicine. It has an extensive range of biological activities, including antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, as well as anti-ulcer and insecticidal properties. This study aims to review the scientific findings and research reported to date on Calamintha nepeta (L.) Savi that prove many of the remarkable various biological actions, effects and some uses of this species as a source of bioactive natural compounds. On the other hand, pulegone, the major chemical constituent of Calamintha nepeta (L.) Savi essential oil, has been reported to exhibit numerous bioactivities in cells and animals. Thus, this integrated overview also surveys and interprets the present knowledge of chemistry and analysis of this oxygenated monoterpene, as well as its beneﬁcial bioactivities. Areas for future research are suggested.
authors.affiliation: Rome Center for Molecular Design, Department of Drug Chemistry and Technology, Sapienza University, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy. mijat.bozovic@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Mijat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Božović
authors.affiliation: Rome Center for Molecular Design, Department of Drug Chemistry and Technology, Sapienza University, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy. rino.ragno@uniroma1.it.|Alchemical Dynamics s.r.l., 00125 Rome, Italy. rino.ragno@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Rino
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ragno
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry; D000081005:Cyclohexane Monoterpenes; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000737:chemistry; D019686:Lamiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D000081005:Cyclohexane Monoterpenes; D007306:Insecticides; D039821:Monoterpenes; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010938:Plant Oils; C039648:pulegone
keywords: Calamintha nepeta (L.) Savi; biological activity; essential oil; extract; pulegone