Botanical and pharmacological characteristics of the most popular species of medicinal plants in Iraq

1. Botanical and pharmacological characteristics of
the most popular species of medicinal plants in
Iraq
Dr. Danuta Sugier
Preparation from:
Nibal Mousa,
MSc. Biotechnology, USA,
Agriculture engineer manager,
2017/ 2nd Year, 1st Semester.

2. Introduction
The analysis of bioactive compounds present in the plant
extracts involving the applications of common phytochemical
screening assays, chromatographic techniques such as HPLC and,
TLC as well as non-chromatographic techniques such as
immunoassay and Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR).
Iraq is well known for the great variation in wild
plants due to the geographical diversity and climatic
circumstances. It is located at the meeting point of
three continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe, within
these continents there are many different floras. Some of these
medical plants are :

3. The Most common medicinal plants found in
Iraq
1. Anacardiaceae Rhus coriara L. Summak fruits
2 Asteraceae Matricaria chamomilla L Babonage flowers
3 Laminaceae Mentha piperita L Neana'a leaves
4 Lauraceae Cinnamomum zeylanicum L Darceen barks
5 Fabaceae Glyeyrrhiza glabra L Erksoos roots
6 Malvaceae Hibiscus sabdarifa L Shaie Kogarat flowers
7 Myrtaceae Eugenia caryophyllus Krenfe flowers
8 Apiaceae Foeniculum vulgare L. Habit Helwa fruits
9 Ranunculaceae Nigella sativa L. Habat Soda'a seeds
10 Zingiberaceae Elettaria cardamomum L Heal roots

4. 1.Rhus coriara
 Commonly known as sumac, has been used as a spice,
condiment, and as a souring agent for centuries.
 Morphology:
• growing up to 3 m high.
• Leaves :consisting of 9-15 leaves.
• Green and yellow flowers are gathered in a long and dense
forest .
• Flowering time June - July .
• Fruit - hairy drupe color red-brown.

5.  Active compounds: tannins, flavonoids, anthocyanins,
organic acids, flavones, proteins, fiber, volatile oils, nitrates,
and nitrites.
 The plant has been used in the treatment of :
• diarrhea,
• dysentery,
• ulcer,
• hemorrhoids,
• woundhealing,
• hematemesis,
• hemoptysis,
• leucorrhea,
• sorethroat,[Shabbir 2012].

6. 2. Matricaria chamomilla L.
 Is known as true chamomile.
Morphological:
• has daisy-like white flowers and procumbent stems;
• the leaves are alternate, bipinnate, finely dissected,
and downy to glabrous. The solitary, terminal flower
heads,
• rising 20–30 cm (8–12 in) above the ground,
• consist of prominent yellow disk flowers and silver-
white ray flowers.
• The flowering time is June and July.

7. • The biological activity of chamomile is mainly due
to the flavonoids apigenin,luteolin, quercetin,
patuletin and essential oil constituents such as α-
bisabolol and its oxides and azulenes.
• The pharmacological effect of ,is mainly
connected with its essential oil for its
• spasmolytic,
• Antimicrobial
• and disinfective properties [Sharafzadeh Alizadeh
2011]

8. Active compounds:
• Volatile oil (0.3-2%) including :
Bisabolol (up to 50 %),
Chamazulene(1-15%),
Bisabolol oxides A and B,
Proazulene (matricarin and matricin)
Chamazulene (blue colour)is formed from
during steam distillation of the oil.
• Flavonoids:apigenin,apignin glycoside,quercetin
,rutin,
• Coumarins:umbelliferone & heniarin.

9. Internal uses:
Carminative,Antispasmodic, mild sedative, anti-
inflammatory, anti-septic,Anti- catarrhal ,Travel
sickness, peptic ulcer.
External uses:
For hemorrhoids,
Leg ulcers,
Skin & mucous membrane diseases,
Bacyerila skin diseases(oral cavity & gums)
Inflammation & irritation of respiratory tract.

10. 3. Mentha piperita
 Is known as Peppermint ,is a hybrid mint, a cross between
watermint and spearmint.This herb is a perennial,
 Morphological:
 30–90 cm in height,
 The leaves are ovate-oblong, or somewhat lanceolate, rounded
at the base, deep-green,
 It grows wild in damp places and flowers from July to
September.

11.  Active compounds :
• Peppermint has a high menthol content. The oil also contains
menthone and carboxyl esters, particularly menthyl acetate.
• Dried peppermint typically has 0.3–0.4% of volatile oil
containing:
 menthol (7–48%)
 menthone (20–46%),
 menthyl acetate (3–10%),
 menthofuran (1–17%)
 and 1,8-cineol (3–6%).
 Peppermint oil also contains small amounts of many
additional compounds including limonene, pulegone,
caryophyllene and pinene.
• Peppermint contains terpenoids and flavonoids such as
eriocitrin, hesperidin, and kaempferol 7-O-rutinoside.

12. Peppermint oil uses:
 its potential as a short-term treatment for
irritable bowel syndrome,
also act as a carminative, cholagogue,
antibacterial, and secretolytic, and it has a
cooling action.Externally, peppermint oil has
been used for muscle pain, nerve pain
to relax the lower esophageal sphincter

13. 4.Cinnamomum zeylanicum
 The common name, cinnamon,
 Cinnamon is an evergreen tree characterized by oval-shaped
leaves, thick bark, and a berry fruit. When harvesting the
spice, the bark and leaves are the primary parts of the plant
used,
 is cultivated by growing the tree for two years, then
coppicing ,
 Chinese cinnamon is generally medium to light reddish
brown in colour, hard and woody in texture, and thicker (2–3
mm (0.079–0.118 in) thick), as all of the layers of bark are
used.
 Ceylon cinnamon, using only the thin inner bark, has a
lighter brown colour, a finer, less dense and more crumbly
texture. It is considered to be subtle and more aromatic in
flavour than cassia and it loses much of its flavour during
cooking.

14. cinnamon is composed of around :11% water,
81% carbohydrates (including 53% dietary
fiber), 4% protein, and 1% fat.

15. Medical part of Cinnamon [Tyler et al., 1981]
 Dried powder of the bark.
 Liquid extract of the bark.
 Tincture.
Oil of bark.
The cinnamon bark contains the active
compound such as, Essential oil,
cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, cinnamic acid,
phenol compounds, condesed tannins, catechin,
monoterpenoid which included, limonene, alpha
pinene, oxalate monoterpenoid , oxalates,
calcium, gum, starch and sugar [Evans
1996,mousa 2011].

16.  Cinnamon benefits are widely some of them:
 Brian Tonic,
 Blood purification,
 Blood circulation,
 antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, antiseptic properties,
 helps in stopping bleeding,
 removing the stiffness of muscles and joints,
 heart diseases, colon cancer,
 also aids indigestion, nausea, vomiting, upset stomach,
diarrhea and flatulence (Suppapitiporn et al., 2006).
 hepatoprotective and antioxidant factor against the
cyclophosphamide compound effects[Mousa 2011]

17. 5. Glyeyrrhiza glabra
Is know as Liquorice,
Botanical:
t is a herbaceous perennial,
 growing to 1 m in height,
 pinnate leaves about 7–15 cm long, with 9–17
leaflets.
 The flowers are 0.8–1.2 cm long, purple to pale
whitish blue, produced in a loose inflorescence.
The fruit is an oblong pod, 2–3 cm long, containing
several seeds.
The roots are stoloniferous [Brown 1995] .

18.  Active compounds:
 One of the most important compounds in Licorice appears to be
Glycyrrhizin, which is the sugar-bound form of Glycyrrhetic Acid
 A large number of components have been isolated from including;
o Triterpene saponins (4-20%),
o Flavonoids(liquiritin, liquiritigenin ,rhamnoliquiritin ,neoliquiritin,
chalcones isoliquiritin, isoliquiritigenin, neoisoliquiritin ,licuraside,
glabrolide and licoflavonol)
o Isoflavonoids (glabridin,galbrene, glabrone, shinpterocarpin, lico-
isoflavones A and B, formononetin, glyzarin, kuma-takenin)
o Chalcones, with Glycyrrhizic acid normally being considered to be
the main biologically active component [Asl and Hosseinzadeh
2008]

19. Pharmalogical :
 Antimicrobial
 antioxidant activities [ Karahan et al .2016]
 antiinflammatory,
 antiviral,
 antidiabetic,
 antiasthma,
 and anticancer activities
 immunomodulatory,
 gastroprotective,
 hepatoprotective,
 neuroprotective,
 cardioprotective effects. [Hosseinzadeh, and Nassiri-Asl 2015]

20. 6.Hibiscus sabdarifa L
Is known Roselle ,
Botanical :
It is an annual or perennial herb or woody-based
subshrub,
growing to 2–2.5 m tall.
The leaves are deeply three- to five-lobed, 8–15 cm
long, arranged alternately on the stems.
The flowers are 8–10 cm in diameter, white to pale
yellow with a dark red spot at the base of each petal,
and have a stout fleshy calyx at the base, 1–2 cm wide,
enlarging to 3–3.5 cm , fleshy and bright red as the fruit
matures. They take about six months to matur

21.  It requires 4-8 months growth with night-time temperatures
with a minimum of 20 °C, as well as 13 h of sunlight and a
monthly rainfall ranging from 5–10″ (130–250 mm) during
the first few months to prevent premature flowering
 Phytochemistry
Nutritional value :
 protein (1.9 g/100 g),
 fat (0.1 g/100 g),
 carbohydrates (12.3 g/100 g)
 and fibre (2.3 g/100 g).
 They are rich in :
• vitamin C (14 mg/100 g),
• β-carotene (300 μg/100 g),
• calcium (1.72 mg/100 g)
• and iron (57 mg/100 g) [smail, Ikram, & Nazri, 2008]

22.  Pharmacological:
 organic acids
hibiscus acid ( 13–24%) ;citric acid (12–20%) ;malic acid 2–9%;
tartaric acid 8% ; 0.02–0.05% of ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
;hydroxycitric acid, and oxalic
 anthocyanins
delphinidin-3-sambubioside (hibiscin), ;cyanidin-3-sambubioside
(gossypicyanin),;cyanidin-3,5-diglucoside,;delphinidin
(anthocyanidin) and others [Williamson, Driver, & Baxter, 2009]
 flavonoids
hibiscitrin (hibiscetin-3-glucoside); sabdaritrin ; gossypitrin ;
gossytrin and other gossypetin glucosides, quercetin and luteolin ;
achlorogenic acid,;protocatechuic acid;pelargonidic acid,
eugenol,;uercetin, luteolin ;the sterols β-sitosterol and ergosterol
[McKay, 2009; Williamson et al., 2009]
 Mucilage, pectin and carbohydrates (polysaccharides)
 Volatile compounds

23. Uses:
are traditionally used for their diuretic,
cholerectic, febrifugal and hypotensive effects,
decreasing the viscosity of the blood and
stimulating intestinal peristalsis. [Morton, 1987].
to treat cardiac and nerve diseases and also to
increase the production of urine (diuresis)
to relieve pain in urination and indigestion.
to treat liver disorders and high blood pressure
[Rocha et al. 2014]

24. 7.Eugenia caryophyllus
Is known as Cloves,
Botanical:
The clove tree is an evergreen that grows up to 8–12 m
tall,
 large leaves and crimson flowers grouped in terminal
clusters.
The flower buds initially have a pale hue, gradually turn
green, then transition to a bright red when ready for
harvest.
Cloves are harvested at 1.5–2.0 cm long, and consist of
a long calyx that terminates in four spreading sepals,
and four unopened petals that form a small central ball.

25. Chemical compounds:
 Eugenol composes 72–90% of the essential oil extracted
from cloves and is the compound most responsible for clove
aroma.
 Other important essential oil constituents of clove oil
include:
o acetyl eugenol,
o beta-caryophyllene and vanillin,
o crategolic acid, tannins such as bicornin, gallotannic acid,
methyl salicylate (painkiller),
o the flavonoids eugenin, kaempferol, rhamnetin, and
eugenitin,
o triterpenoids such as oleanolic acid, stigmasterol, and
campesterol and several sesquiterpenes [Kamatou et al.
2012]

26. Uses:
 natural anthelmintic.
 Applied to a cavity in a decayed tooth, it also relieves
toothache,
 treat hiccup and to fortify the kidney yang,
 is a local anesthetic used in oral ulceration and
inflammation. Eugenol (or clove oil generally) is mixed
with zinc oxide to form a temporary tooth cavity filling.
 Clove oil can be used to anesthetize fish, and prolonged
exposure to higher doses (the recommended dose is 400
mg/l) is considered a humane means of euthanasia

27. 8.Foeniculum vulgare
 Is known ,Fennel,
 Botanical:
 perennial herb with yellow flowers and feathery leaves.
 It is erect, glaucous green,
 grows to heights of up to 2.5 m, with hollow stems.
 The leaves grow up to 40 cm long; they are finely dissected,
with the ultimate segments filiform (threadlike), about 0.5 mm
wide.
 The flowers are produced in terminal compound umbels 5–15
cm wide, each umbel section having 20–50 tiny yellow
flowers on short pedicels.
 The fruit is a dry seed from 4–10 mm long, half as wide or
less, and grooved.[Blamey& Wilson 1989].

28. Phytochemistry:
Nutritional value in 100 g
1 Carbohydrates 52 g Dietary fiber 40 g
2 Fat 14.9 g Saturated 0.5 g; monounsaturated 9.9 g; polyunsayurated
1.7 g.
3 Protein 15.8 g
4 Vitamins Thiamine (B1) 0.41 9 mg (36%); Riboflavin (B2) (0.35
mg-29%) ; Niacin (B3) (6.1 mg -41%) ; Vitamin B6(0.47
mg -36%) ; Vitamin C(21 mg- 25%).
5 Minerals Calcium (120%) 1196 mg
Iron (142%) 18.5 mg
Magnesium (108%) 385 mg
Manganese (310%) 6.5 mg
Phosphorus (70%) 487 mg
Potassium (36%) 1694 mg
Sodium (6%) 88 mg
Zinc (42%) 4 mg

29. Pharmacological:
• The major constituent of fennel oil is anethole.
Other constituents include alpha pinene, beta
myrcene, beta pinene, bitter fenchone, camphene,
estragole (methyl-chavicol), fenchone, limonene,
p-cymen, and safrole.
• Volatile oil containing anethole, fenchone,
limonene, and apiole; flavonoids, including rutin,
kaempferol, and quercetin; coumarins, including
bergapten.

30. Uses:
Anti-carcinogenic and anti-inflammatory
effects
Anticoagulant effects,
Anti-diabetic effects,
Antispasmodic effects,
Gastric acid secretion properties,
Muscle relaxant effects,
Mucociliary effects.

31. 9.Nigella sativa
Is known black-caraway,
Botanical:
is an annual flowering plant,
 grows to 20–30 cm tall, with finely divided,
linear (but not thread-like) leaves.
The flowers are delicate, and usually colored
pale blue and white, with five to ten petals.
The black caraway fruit is a large and inflated
capsule composed of three to seven united
follicles, each containing numerous seeds
which are used as spice, sometimes as a
replacement for black cumin

32. Photochemistry :Nutrient and Pharmacological
 Eight fatty acids(99.5% - linoleic acid 55.6%; oleic acid 23.4%;
palmitic acid 12.5%; )
 32 compunds(86.7%) fixed in and volatile oils(trans- anethole
38.3%; p-cymene 14.8%; limonene 4.3%; carvone 4%;Thymoquione
0.6%).
 Protien 16-19.9%:Arginine, glutamic acid,leucine,lysine,methionine,
tyrosine, proline, threonine.
 Minerlaes:1.79-3.74%: calicium, phosphorus, potassium ,sodium,
iron.
 Carbohydrates:33.9%
 Fibers:5.5
 Water: 6% [Kaseb and Selim 2009].

33. Uses:
NS oil, thymoquinone or α-hederin showed
anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory
effects in seven studies .
NS extracts, thymoquinone or α-hederin
demonstrated a bronchodilatory or relaxant
effect in six studies ,
The anti-histaminic effect was shown in
four studies used NS oil/aqueous extract,
nigellone or α-hederin,
Pathological improvements were detected
by thymoquinone or NS oil in five
studies[Koshak et al, 2017]

34. 10. Elettaria cardamomum
 Commonly known as green or true cardamom .
 Botanical:
 is a herbaceous perennial plant ,
 growing to about 2–4 m) in height.
 The leaves are alternate in two ranks, linear-lanceolate, 40–
60 cm long, with a long pointed tip.
 The flowers are white to lilac or pale violet, produced in a
loose spike 30–60 cm long.
 The fruit is a three-sided yellow-green pod 1–2 cm long,
containing several black and brown seeds.

35. Photochemistry :Nutrient and Pharmacological:
twenty five components and green cardamom oil is
particularly rich on
o oxygenated monoterpenes (88.7%)
o followed by monoterpenes hydrocarbons (8.2%).
o The main components were α-terpinyl acetate (45.6%),
o 1,8-cineole (26%),
o linalyl acetate(5.6%),
o linalool (5.2%),
o α-terpineol and limonene (2.9% both components)
Volatile oil with cineole, limonene, terpineol, and
linalool.[Mejdi et al 2016]

36.  USE
• Given for flatulent indigestion and to
stimulate the appetite in people with
anorexia.
• It is for coughs, colds, bronchitis,
asthma and indigestion, uses as a tonic
and for urinary incontinence.