Uzbek Stachys species - an herb against many diseases.
Plants of the genus Stachys are used in the traditional medicine of Uzbekistan for the broad treatment of many diseases, such as inflammation, gastrointestinal, kidney and respiratory disorders, hypertension, epilepsy, rheumatism, gout and jaundice. However, a scientific inventory of the herbal active ingredients has not yet been conducted. IPB scientists, together with partners from Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, have now investigated the essential oils of the Uzbek species Stachys byzantina, S. hissarica and S. betoniciflora.
Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis resulted in a total of 143 different metabolites, some of which were typical for the respective species and could be used for quality control of teas and tinctures in the future. For the first time, the constituents of Uzbek Stachys species were also analyzed in terms of their effects. Numerous antioxidant metabolites were found as well as substances with inhibitory effects on certain human enzymes. Thus, in the future, the bioactive Stachys substances could be used as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors for the treatment of dementia or as glucosidase inhibitors in the fight against diabetes.
The Greek physician Dioscorides described the medicinal plant in his Materia Medica as early as the 1st century as an effective remedy for a variety of ailments. Its importance and multiple uses were repeatedly emphasized in many herbal books until the 19th century. Nevertheless, in the 20th century, the knowledge of Stachys as a medicinal plant fell into oblivion, probably because it was believed that there was no herb against so many different diseases. However, new studies prove the plausibility of traditional indications based on the actual ingredients. This is especially the case for the treatment of diseases of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts, the urinary system, and as an analgesic for pain.
