Teucrium polium L.

Teucrium genus contains over 290 species and is one of the most important Lamiaceae (labiatae) family genera which widely distributed mainly in Europe, North Africa and in the temperate parts of Asia mainly in the Mediterranean region.

Teucrium species mostly observed as perennial and infrequently annual. The members of the genus are shrubs, subshrubs, woody at base, and rarely herbaceous. Teucrium species leaves are opposite, petiolate, sessile or subsessile, simple, with entire or toothed margin, lobed or pinnatifid. Small capitula, with racemouse, paniculate or capitate inflorescence[1].

Teucrium polium has terminal and corymbose inflorescences with bisexual flower; white or reddish–white corolla, racemose or head–like, flowers arranged in axillary verticillate cymes or terminal racemes with a dense spherical to ovate shape. linear-spatulate bracts (shorter than flowers 12–15 mm in diameter), calyx is 5-lobed tubular-campanulate (4 mm). Leaves are sessile and simple, oblong-linear, spatulate, crenate margin and obtuse apex, opposite blade, shorter than flowers (10–15 mm long, 3–5 mm wide), crenulated at least in upper half, strongly revolute. 

Teucrium polium It is used traditionally for treating abdominal pain, indigestion, common cold, diabetes, and urogenital diseases also for hypolipidemia, nociceptive and anti-inflammatory conditions[2].

Teucrium genus contains different classes of natural compounds such as monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, fatty acid esters, diterpenes, flavonoids and polyphenolics[3].

Teucrium polium main components of the essential oil was completely dependent on the geographical features. Based on these local details several categories were characterized. Balkanian category has the highest content of germacrene D (15.0%) and a relatively high content of β-caryophyllene (5.1–6.9%), δ-cadinene (3.6–4.5%) and γ-cadinene (3.6–4.1%) while North African type exhibited high content of β-pinene (20-30 %), germacrene D (up to 15.0 %) and α-pinene (5-10 %). In Mediterranean type trans- caryophyllene (up to 30 %), limonene (up to 30%) and germacrene D (up to 15.0 %) constitute main compositions of essential oil[4-7]. 

**This content is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician.

References

1          I. C. Hedge, Advances in Labiatae science 1992, 7.

2          S. Bahramikia, P. H. H. Gavyar and R. Yazdanparast, Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine 2022, 12, 224.

3          S. Abdul Azim S, E. Hamzeh H and S. Ungve H,  1987.

4          G. Catinella, N. Badalamenti, V. Ilardi, S. Rosselli, L. De Martino and M. Bruno, Molecules 2021, 26, 643.

5          S. Chabane, A. Boudjelal, E. Napoli, A. Benkhaled and G. Ruberto, Journal of essential oil research 2021, 33, 143.

6          H. Sadeghi, S. Jamalpoor and M. H. Shirzadi, Industrial crops and Products 2014, 54, 130.

7   V. Mitić, O. Jovanović, V. Stankov-Jovanović, B. Zlatkovic and G. Stojanovic, Natural Product Communications 2012, 7, 1934578X1200700129.