Title:Pharmacological Activity and Mechanisms of Action of Terpenoids from
Laurus nobilis L.
Volume: 13
Issue: 7
Author(s): Boniface Pone Kamdem*, Eutrophe Le Doux Kamto, Désiré Soh, Dieudonné Emmanuel Pegnyemb, Stéphane Zingue, Hugues Kamdem Paumo, Lebogang Maureen Katata-Seru, Aboubakar Abou, Montsho Maiyane Rosinah, James Ajeck Mbah and Fabrice Fekam Boyom
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Laboratory for Phytobiochemistry and Medicinal Plants Study, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University
of Yaoundé, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Keywords:
Laurus nobilis, terpenoids, pharmacological activity, essential oil, ethnopharmacological uses, toxicity.
Abstract: Native to the Southern Mediterranean region, Laurus nobilis L. (Family Lauraceae) is an
evergreen shrub or tree found in warm climate regions with high rainfall. The leaves and essential
oil of this plant have been widely used as condiments, spices, and flavoring agents in the culinary
and food industries. The whole plant is also used for the traditional treatment of various diseases,
including cough, asthma, hemorrhoids, rheumatic pain, diarrhea, intestinal, and cardiac diseases.
Previous phytochemical investigation of this plant demonstrated the presence of a variety of secondary
metabolites, especially terpenoids. The present study aims to critically analyze comprehensive
literature on the pharmacological activity and mechanisms of action of terpenoids from Laurus nobilis
L. The available information on the pharmacological activity of terpenoids from L. nobilis L. was
obtained from textbooks, theses, as well as published articles through a variety of libraries and electronic
databases. The present study demonstrated that L. nobilis is rich in terpenoids, with more than
200 entities identified in reported studies. Terpenoids from L. nobilis have shown a wide range of
pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antifungal, antibacterial, immunomodulatory,
anticonvulsant, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities. The mechanisms of action of
most of these terpenoids included the imbalance of the ionic permeability of the cell membrane (anti-
inflammatory and antimicrobial activities), modulation of the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid
(GABA) nergic neurotransmission (anticonvulsant activity), and the inhibition of inflammatory
responses, prevention of metastasis, and induction of apoptosis (cytotoxic effect), among others.
Referring to in vitro studies, terpenoids of L. nobilis L. have shown a variety of biological activities.
However, more cytotoxic and in vivo studies and detailed mechanisms of action of the bioactive
terpenoids are recommended.
