Journal of Medicinal Plants Research Vol. 5(26), pp. 6257-6259, 16 November, 2011 Available online at http://www.academicjournals.

org/JMPR ISSN 1996-0875 2011 Academic Journals DOI: 10.5897/JMPR11.250

Short Communication

Myrtus communis Linn. (Pharmacological activity)

H. M. Asif, M. Akram, Shahab Uddin, Zahoor Ul Hasan, Abdul Sami, Asif Iqbal, Umar Tauseef and Abdul Bari
Faculty of Eastern Medicine, Hamdard University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Accepted 23 September, 2011

Myrtus communis L. (Myrtaceae) is an annual plant that has been used since ancient times for medicinal, food and spices purposes. In this review article description, introduction, active constituents, pharmacological activity and antioxidant activity of M. communis has been described herewith. Key words: Active constituents, pharmacological activity. INTRODUCTION Myrtus communis, also known as true myrtle, or simply myrtle, is an evergreen shrub which has been grown in the Mediterranean regions for centuries. It can reach up to 15 ft (4.5 m) tall, but is smaller when regularly pruned. All its parts are scented. It has small deep-green leaves, white flowers and small dark fruits. The true myrtle is a showy evergreen shrub that is relatively frost hardy, and that can give a Mediterranean aspect to USDA zones 8b gardens and warmer. Myrtle (M. communis L., Myrtaceae) is widely distributed in the Mediterranean area and is used as a culinary spice and an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent in folk medicine (Rossi et al., 2009). It grows spontaneously throughout the Mediterranean area and has been used for medicinal, food and spice purposes since ancient times. The leaves and fruit are traditionally used as antiseptic, disinfectant, and hypoglycemic agents (Elfellah et al., 1984). In folk medicine, the fruit of the plant is used in the treatment of various infectious diseases, including diarrhea and dysentery, whereas the leaves are used as antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agents, as a mouthwash, for treatments of candidiasis, for healing wounds, as well as in the therapy of urinary diseases (Mansouri et al., 2001; Cakir, 2004). The leaves contain tannins, flavonoids such as quercetin, catechin and myricetin derivatives and volatile oils (Romani et al., 1999). The fruits of this plant are mostly composed of volatile oils, tannins, sugars, flavonoids and organic acids such as citric and malic acids (Martin et al., 1999). The aim of this study is to review the published literature on M. communis. METHODOLOGY Relevant articles were searched using the terms M. communis, active constituents, medicinal and pharmacological activity. Active constituents Myrtenol, myrtenol acetate, limonene (23%), linalool (20%), pinene (14%), cineol (11%), furthermore, pcymene, geraniol, nerol, phenylpropanoid, methyleugenol. myrtucommulone-A, myrtucommulone-B, semimyrtucommulone, galloylated alkylphloroglucinol glycosides, that is, gallomyrtucommulone-A, gallomyrtucommulone-B, gallomyrtucommulone-C and gallomyrtucommulone-D, oligomeric acylphloroglucinol, myrtucommulone-A, semimyrtucommulone, the galloylated alkylphloroglucinol, glycosides, gallomyrtucommulones-A, B, C and D, -pinene (18%), limonene (20%), 1.8 cineole (5%), linalool (16%), linalyl acetate (8.16%), myrtenyl acetate (9%), geranyl acetate (3%), -humulene (2%), -terpineol (1.5%), transcaryophyllene (1%), methyl eugenol (1%), trans-ocimene (0.9%) , -terpinolene (0.9%), along with minor quantities of eugenol (0.4%), neryl acetate (0.4%), terpinyl acetate (0.5%), p-cymene (0.8%), -terpinene

*Corresponding author. E-mail: makram_0451@hotmail.com. Tel: 92-021-6440083. Fax: 92-021-6440079.

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(0.6%), terpinen-4-ol (0.3%), methyl chavicol (0.7%) and methyl iso-eugenol (0.2%) (Bonjar, 2004). Medicinal uses In past times, ripe fruits were used as food integrators because of their high vitamin contents. The fruit decoction was used to bath new-borns with reddened skin, while the decoction of leaves and fruits was useful for sore washing. The decoction of the leaves is still used for vaginal lavage, enemas and against respiratory diseases (Maccioni et al., 1994). Pharmacological activity Antidiarrheal, antibiotic, antiseptic, aromatic, astringent, balsamic, carminative, haemostatic and tonic Myrtle (M. communis, Myrtaceae) was originally from North Africa but it is now widely cultivated around the Mediterranean region. The leaves are aromatic, balsamic, haemostatic and tonic. Recent research has revealed a substance in the plant that has an antibiotic action. The active ingredients in myrtle are rapidly absorbed and give a violet-like scent to the urine. The plant is taken internally in the treatment of urinary infections, digestive problems, vaginal discharge, bronchial congestion, sinusitis and dry coughs. In India, it is considered to be useful in the treatment of cerebral affections, especially epilepsy. Externally, it is used in the treatment of acne, wounds, gum infections and hemorrhoids. An essential oil obtained from the plant is antiseptic. It contains the substance myrtol - this is used as a remedy for gingivitis. The oil is used as a local application in the treatment of rheumatism. The fruit is carminative. It is used in the treatment of dysentery, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, internal ulceration and rheumatism. Myrtus communis was used for medicinal purposes by the ancient Greeks and Romans for a variety of ailments and as an aphrodisiac (Williamson et al., 2004). Myrtle inhibits a number of health benefits which include antibacterial, (Bonjar, 2004; Rotstein et al., 1974; Appendino et al., 2006) antiprotozoal (Mahdi and Gany, 2006), anti-inflammatory (Feisst et al., 2005) antioxidant (Rosa et al., 2003; Montoro et al., 2006), antimutagenic and hypoglycemic activities. Myrtus communis and Mycobacterium tuberculous A study was done previously to determine the effect of M. communis on M. tuberculous organism. As a conclusion, results from the myrtle oil showed a good activity towards M. tuberculosis but not toward M. paratuberculosis. The MIC registered against M. tuberculosis was 0.17% (v/v) in

comparison with an MIC of 2% (v/v) observed toward M. paratuberculosis (Stefania et al., 2010). Diabetes mellitus and M. communis Plants used in traditional medicine to treat diabetes mellitus represent a valuable alternative for the control of this disease. A study was done previously to determine the effect of M. communis on diabetes mellitus. Of various plants, M. communis has been widely reported for its antihyperglycemic properties (Elfellah et al., 1984). Antioxidant activity of M. communis The fruits of eight myrtles, M. communis L. accessions from the Mediterranean region of Turkey were evaluated for their antioxidant activities and fatty acid contents. The antioxidant activities of the fruit extracts were determined by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and carotene-linoleic acid assays. The fatty acid contents of fruits were determined by using gas chromatography. The methanol extracts of fruits exhibited a high level of free radical scavenging activity. There was a wide range (74.51 to 91.65%) of antioxidant activity among the accessions in the -carotene-linoleic acid assay. The amount of total phenolics (TP) was determined to be between 44.41 to 74.44 g Gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/mg, on a dry weight basis. Oleic acid was the dominant fatty acid (67.07%), followed by palmitic (10.24%), and stearic acid (8.19%), respectively. These results suggest the future utilization of myrtle fruit extracts as food additives or in chemoprevention studies. Conclusion Myrtus communis is antidiarrheal, antibiotic; antiseptic; aromatic and astringent. The pharmacological activities as antioxidant and for the treatment of diabetes mellitus and tuberculoaia have been documented. Due to presence of antioxidant constituents, it has free radicals scavenging activity. It can be used for medicinal purposes. In conclusion, M. communis has wide range of medicinal uses and can be used either as single drug or compound drugs to treat different ailments. It can be used as preventive medicine due to its potential against oxidative stress.

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