Journal of Medicinal Plants Research Vol. 5(26), pp.

6257-6259, 16 November, 2011

Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/JMPR
ISSN 1996-0875 ©2011 Academic Journals
DOI: 10.5897/JMPR11.250

Short Communication

Myrtus communis Linn. (Pharmacological activity)

H. M. Asif, M. Akram, Shahab Uddin, Zahoor Ul Hasan, Abdul Sami, Asif Iqbal, Umar Tauseef
and Abdul Bari
Faculty of Eastern Medicine, Hamdard University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Accepted 23 September, 2011

Myrtus communis L. (Myrtaceae) is an annual plant that has been used since ancient times for
medicinal, food and spices purposes. In this review article description, introduction, active
constituents, pharmacological activity and antioxidant activity of M. communis has been described
herewith.

Key words: Active constituents, pharmacological activity.

INTRODUCTION

Myrtus communis, also known as true myrtle, or simply flavonoids and organic acids such as citric and malic
myrtle, is an evergreen shrub which has been grown in acids (Martin et al., 1999). The aim of this study is to
the Mediterranean regions for centuries. It can reach up review the published literature on M. communis.
to 15 ft (4.5 m) tall, but is smaller when regularly pruned.
All its parts are scented. It has small deep-green leaves,
white flowers and small dark fruits. The true myrtle is a METHODOLOGY
showy evergreen shrub that is relatively frost hardy, and
that can give a Mediterranean aspect to USDA zones 8b Relevant articles were searched using the terms M.
gardens and warmer. Myrtle (M. communis L., communis, active constituents, medicinal and
Myrtaceae) is widely distributed in the Mediterranean pharmacological activity.
area and is used as a culinary spice and an antiseptic
and anti-inflammatory agent in folk medicine (Rossi et al.,
2009). It grows spontaneously throughout the Active constituents
Mediterranean area and has been used for medicinal,
food and spice purposes since ancient times. The leaves Myrtenol, myrtenol acetate, limonene (23%), linalool
and fruit are traditionally used as antiseptic, disinfectant, (20%), pinene (14%), cineol (11%), furthermore, p-
and hypoglycemic agents (Elfellah et al., 1984). In folk cymene, geraniol, nerol, phenylpropanoid,
medicine, the fruit of the plant is used in the treatment of methyleugenol. myrtucommulone-A, myrtucommulone-B,
various infectious diseases, including diarrhea and semimyrtucommulone, galloylated alkylphloroglucinol
dysentery, whereas the leaves are used as antiseptic and glycosides, that is, gallomyrtucommulone-A,
anti-inflammatory agents, as a mouthwash, for treatments gallomyrtucommulone-B, gallomyrtucommulone-C and
of candidiasis, for healing wounds, as well as in the gallomyrtucommulone-D, oligomeric acylphloroglucinol,
therapy of urinary diseases (Mansouri et al., 2001; Cakir, myrtucommulone-A, semimyrtucommulone, the
2004). The leaves contain tannins, flavonoids such as galloylated alkylphloroglucinol, glycosides,
quercetin, catechin and myricetin derivatives and volatile gallomyrtucommulones-A, B, C and D, α-pinene (18%),
oils (Romani et al., 1999). The fruits of this plant are limonene (20%), 1.8 cineole (5%), linalool (16%), linalyl
mostly composed of volatile oils, tannins, sugars, acetate (8.16%), myrtenyl acetate (9%), geranyl acetate
(3%), α-humulene (2%), α-terpineol (1.5%), trans-
caryophyllene (1%), methyl eugenol (1%), trans-β-
ocimene (0.9%) , α-terpinolene (0.9%), along with minor
*Corresponding author. E-mail: makram_0451@hotmail.com. quantities of eugenol (0.4%), neryl acetate (0.4%), α-
Tel: 92-021-6440083. Fax: 92-021-6440079. terpinyl acetate (0.5%), p-cymene (0.8%), γ-terpinene
6258 J. Med. Plants Res.
(0.6%), terpinen-4-ol (0.3%), methyl chavicol (0.7%) and
methyl iso-eugenol (0.2%) (Bonjar, 2004).
Medicinal uses
In past times, ripe fruits were used as food integrators
because of their high vitamin contents. The fruit
decoction was used to bath new-borns with reddened
skin, while the decoction of leaves and fruits was useful
for sore washing. The decoction of the leaves is still used
for vaginal lavage, enemas and against respiratory
diseases (Maccioni et al., 1994).
Pharmacological activity
Antidiarrheal, antibiotic, antiseptic, aromatic,
astringent, balsamic, carminative, haemostatic and
tonic
Myrtle (M. communis, Myrtaceae) was originally from
North Africa but it is now widely cultivated around the
Mediterranean region. The leaves are aromatic,
balsamic, haemostatic and tonic. Recent research has
revealed a substance in the plant that has an antibiotic
action. The active ingredients in myrtle are rapidly
absorbed and give a violet-like scent to the urine. The
plant is taken internally in the treatment of urinary
infections, digestive problems, vaginal discharge,
bronchial congestion, sinusitis and dry coughs. In India, it
is considered to be useful in the treatment of cerebral
affections, especially epilepsy. Externally, it is used in the
treatment of acne, wounds, gum infections and
hemorrhoids. An essential oil obtained from the plant is
antiseptic. It contains the substance myrtol - this is used
as a remedy for gingivitis. The oil is used as a local
application in the treatment of rheumatism. The fruit is
carminative. It is used in the treatment of dysentery,
diarrhea, hemorrhoids, internal ulceration and
rheumatism. Myrtus communis was used for medicinal
purposes by the ancient Greeks and Romans for a
variety of ailments and as an aphrodisiac (Williamson et
al., 2004). Myrtle inhibits a number of health benefits
which include antibacterial, (Bonjar, 2004; Rotstein et al.,
1974; Appendino et al., 2006) antiprotozoal (Mahdi and
Gany, 2006), anti-inflammatory (Feisst et al., 2005)
antioxidant (Rosa et al., 2003; Montoro et al., 2006),
antimutagenic and hypoglycemic activities.
Myrtus communis and Mycobacterium tuberculous
A study was done previously to determine the effect of M.
communis on M. tuberculous organism. As a conclusion,
results from the myrtle oil showed a good activity towards
M. tuberculosis but not toward M. paratuberculosis. The
MIC registered against M. tuberculosis was 0.17% (v/v) in
comparison with an MIC of 2% (v/v) observed toward M.
paratuberculosis (Stefania et al., 2010).
Diabetes mellitus and M. communis
Plants used in traditional medicine to treat diabetes
mellitus represent a valuable alternative for the control of
this disease. A study was done previously to determine
the effect of M. communis on diabetes mellitus. Of
various plants, M. communis has been widely reported
for its antihyperglycemic properties (Elfellah et al., 1984).
Antioxidant activity of M. communis
The fruits of eight myrtles, M. communis L. accessions
from the Mediterranean region of Turkey were evaluated
for their antioxidant activities and fatty acid contents. The
antioxidant activities of the fruit extracts were determined
by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and β-
carotene-linoleic acid assays. The fatty acid contents of
fruits were determined by using gas chromatography.
The methanol extracts of fruits exhibited a high level of
free radical scavenging activity. There was a wide range
(74.51 to 91.65%) of antioxidant activity among the
accessions in the β-carotene-linoleic acid assay. The
amount of total phenolics (TP) was determined to be
between 44.41 to 74.44 µg Gallic acid equivalent
(GAE)/mg, on a dry weight basis. Oleic acid was the
dominant fatty acid (67.07%), followed by palmitic
(10.24%), and stearic acid (8.19%), respectively. These
results suggest the future utilization of myrtle fruit extracts
as food additives or in chemoprevention studies.
Conclusion
Myrtus communis is antidiarrheal, antibiotic; antiseptic;
aromatic and astringent. The pharmacological activities
as antioxidant and for the treatment of diabetes mellitus
and tuberculoaia have been documented. Due to
presence of antioxidant constituents, it has free radicals
scavenging activity. It can be used for medicinal
purposes. In conclusion, M. communis has wide range of
medicinal uses and can be used either as single drug or
compound drugs to treat different ailments. It can be
used as preventive medicine due to its potential against
oxidative stress.
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