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Revealing the reviving secret of the white dead nettle (Lamium album L.)

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Abstract

Lamium album, commonly known as white dead nettle or non-stinging nettle is a flowering herbaceous plant, native throughout Europe, Western Asia and North Africa. From ancient times this plant has been endowed with revival, curative and culinary virtues. In the past, in the traditional and folk medicine white dead nettle has been used mainly for its anti-inflammatory, astringent and anti-septic activity. Nowadays significant amount of knowledge on the efficacy of extracts and raw material of L. album is accumulated and a number of health-related beneficial activities have been scientifically proven. In vitro analyses conducted in various model systems have demonstrated antiviral, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, cytoprotective, wound healing and other important pharmacological effects. The present review summarizes the recent information on the phytochemical features of this pharmacologically important species. The findings on the chemical composition, biological activities and the pharmacological properties underlying the revival secret of white dead nettle are described and discussed in the view of potential applications for treatment of human diseases. Trends for further research are outlined.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the Grant no. DTK-02-29/2009 of Ministry of Education, Youth and Science, Bulgaria.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University, “St. Kliment Ohridski”, 8 Dragan Tsankov blvd., 1164, Sofia, Bulgaria

    Zhenya P. Yordanova, Miroslava K. Zhiponova, Milena A. Dimitrova & Veneta M. Kapchina-Toteva

  2. Institute of Ornamental Plants, 1222, Negovan, Sofia, Bulgaria

    Elena T. Iakimova

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  1. Zhenya P. Yordanova
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  2. Miroslava K. Zhiponova
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  3. Elena T. Iakimova
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  4. Milena A. Dimitrova
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  5. Veneta M. Kapchina-Toteva
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Correspondence to Zhenya P. Yordanova.

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Yordanova, Z.P., Zhiponova, M.K., Iakimova, E.T. et al. Revealing the reviving secret of the white dead nettle (Lamium album L.). Phytochem Rev 13, 375–389 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-014-9356-2

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