Phytochemistry and Biological Profile of <i>Gaultheria procumbens</i> L. and Wintergreen Essential Oil: From Traditional Application to Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets
<i>Gaultheria procumbens</i> L. is a medicinal plant whose aerial parts (leaves, stems, and fruits) and methyl salicylate-rich essential oil (wintergreen oil) are used in phytotherapy to treat inflammation, muscular pain, and infection-related disorders. This overview summarises the curr...
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/25/1/565 |
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| author | Piotr Michel Monika Anna Olszewska |
| author_facet | Piotr Michel Monika Anna Olszewska |
| author_sort | Piotr Michel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Gaultheria procumbens</i> L. is a medicinal plant whose aerial parts (leaves, stems, and fruits) and methyl salicylate-rich essential oil (wintergreen oil) are used in phytotherapy to treat inflammation, muscular pain, and infection-related disorders. This overview summarises the current knowledge about ethnobotany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, molecular mechanisms, biocompatibility, and traditional use of <i>G. procumbens</i> and the wintergreen oil distilled from different plant organs. Over 70 hydrophilic compounds, including methyl salicylate glycosides, flavonoids, procyanidins, free catechins, caffeoylquinic acids, and simple phenolic acids, have been identified in <i>G. procumbens</i> plant parts. Moreover, aliphatic compounds, triterpene acids, and sterols have been revealed in lipophilic fractions. Furthermore, over 130 volatile compounds have been detected in wintergreen oil with dominating methyl salicylate (96.9–100%). The accumulated research indicates that mainly hydrophilic non-volatiles are responsible for the pharmacological effects of <i>G. procumbens</i>, primarily its potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and photoprotective activity, with mechanisms verified in vitro and ex vivo in cellular and cell-free assays. The biological effectiveness of the dominant methyl salicylate glycoside—gaultherin—has also been confirmed in animals. Wintergreen oil is reported as a potent anti-inflammatory agent exhibiting moderate antioxidant and antimicrobial activity in vitro and significant insecticidal and larvicidal capacity. Together, <i>G. procumbens</i> accumulate a diverse fraction of polyphenols, triterpenes, and volatiles with validated in vitro and ex vivo biological activity but with the absence of in vivo studies, especially clinical trials concerning effective dose determination and toxicological verification and technological research, including drug formulation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T15:04:49Z |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T15:04:49Z |
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| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-c13c85e971fe420d88d31d981f3f5e232024-01-10T15:00:01ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672024-01-0125156510.3390/ijms25010565Phytochemistry and Biological Profile of <i>Gaultheria procumbens</i> L. and Wintergreen Essential Oil: From Traditional Application to Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic TargetsPiotr Michel0Monika Anna Olszewska1Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lodz, Muszyńskiego 1, 90-151 Lodz, PolandDepartment of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lodz, Muszyńskiego 1, 90-151 Lodz, Poland<i>Gaultheria procumbens</i> L. is a medicinal plant whose aerial parts (leaves, stems, and fruits) and methyl salicylate-rich essential oil (wintergreen oil) are used in phytotherapy to treat inflammation, muscular pain, and infection-related disorders. This overview summarises the current knowledge about ethnobotany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, molecular mechanisms, biocompatibility, and traditional use of <i>G. procumbens</i> and the wintergreen oil distilled from different plant organs. Over 70 hydrophilic compounds, including methyl salicylate glycosides, flavonoids, procyanidins, free catechins, caffeoylquinic acids, and simple phenolic acids, have been identified in <i>G. procumbens</i> plant parts. Moreover, aliphatic compounds, triterpene acids, and sterols have been revealed in lipophilic fractions. Furthermore, over 130 volatile compounds have been detected in wintergreen oil with dominating methyl salicylate (96.9–100%). The accumulated research indicates that mainly hydrophilic non-volatiles are responsible for the pharmacological effects of <i>G. procumbens</i>, primarily its potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and photoprotective activity, with mechanisms verified in vitro and ex vivo in cellular and cell-free assays. The biological effectiveness of the dominant methyl salicylate glycoside—gaultherin—has also been confirmed in animals. Wintergreen oil is reported as a potent anti-inflammatory agent exhibiting moderate antioxidant and antimicrobial activity in vitro and significant insecticidal and larvicidal capacity. Together, <i>G. procumbens</i> accumulate a diverse fraction of polyphenols, triterpenes, and volatiles with validated in vitro and ex vivo biological activity but with the absence of in vivo studies, especially clinical trials concerning effective dose determination and toxicological verification and technological research, including drug formulation.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/25/1/565<i>Gaultheria procumbens</i>American wintergreeneastern teaberrywintergreen oilphytochemistrytraditional use |
| spellingShingle | Piotr Michel Monika Anna Olszewska Phytochemistry and Biological Profile of <i>Gaultheria procumbens</i> L. and Wintergreen Essential Oil: From Traditional Application to Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets International Journal of Molecular Sciences <i>Gaultheria procumbens</i> American wintergreen eastern teaberry wintergreen oil phytochemistry traditional use |
| title | Phytochemistry and Biological Profile of <i>Gaultheria procumbens</i> L. and Wintergreen Essential Oil: From Traditional Application to Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets |
| title_full | Phytochemistry and Biological Profile of <i>Gaultheria procumbens</i> L. and Wintergreen Essential Oil: From Traditional Application to Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets |
| title_fullStr | Phytochemistry and Biological Profile of <i>Gaultheria procumbens</i> L. and Wintergreen Essential Oil: From Traditional Application to Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets |
| title_full_unstemmed | Phytochemistry and Biological Profile of <i>Gaultheria procumbens</i> L. and Wintergreen Essential Oil: From Traditional Application to Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets |
| title_short | Phytochemistry and Biological Profile of <i>Gaultheria procumbens</i> L. and Wintergreen Essential Oil: From Traditional Application to Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets |
| title_sort | phytochemistry and biological profile of i gaultheria procumbens i l and wintergreen essential oil from traditional application to molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets |
| topic | <i>Gaultheria procumbens</i> American wintergreen eastern teaberry wintergreen oil phytochemistry traditional use |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/25/1/565 |
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