Analysis of polyphenols , phytosterols , and bitter principles in Teucrium L

Teucrium species have been used for centuries in folk medicine as cholagogic, diuretic, antispasmodic, and antidiabetic agents [1]; as antirheumatic, antiinflammatory, antiseptic, anthelmintic, carminative and flavouring agents [2]; and as antipyretics and stimulants [3]. The genus Teucrium comprises approximately 200 herbs and shrubs spread all over the world, especially in the Mediterranean region, which has about 140 species. A few species are spread throughout South America, mountainous tropical Northeast and South Africa, and Australia [4]. According to Domac [5], 10 Teucrium species are growing in Croatia: T. arduini L., T. botrys L., T. chamaedrys L., T. flavum L., T. fruticans L., T. marum L., T. montanum L., T. polium L., T. scordium L. subsp. scordioides Schreb., and T. scorodonia L. Some of them are used in folk medicine in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina: T. arduini for stomach diseases; T. chamaedrys for spleen diseases, cough, diarrhea, metabolic disorders, and as a diuretic; T. marum for gall diseases; T. montanum for liver and stomach diseases; T. polium for stomach diseases and T. scordium for diarrhea [6,7]. Previous chemical investigations of Teucrium species revealed the presence of flavonoids, steroidal compounds, volatile oil, tannins, and bitter principles (mostly diterpenoids) [8-17]. Quantitative analysis Cent. Eur. J. Biol. • 7(3) • 2012 • 542-550 DOI: 10.2478/s11535-012-0040-5