Genus <i>Monarda</i> (Lamiaceae): Chemical Composition, Biological Activity and Practical Application (a Review)
The review of the data on the chemical composition and biological activity of the genus Monarda L. represented by 20 species growing in North America is given. M. fistulosa L., M. didyma L. and M. citriodora Cervantes ex Lag. are successfully cultivated in various regions of Russia. The essential oils of Monarda are distinguished by the high content of phenols (67-89 %). Their composition depends on the species of Monarda , vegetation phase, site of growth, weather conditions. Under the conditions of a sharply continental Siberian climate (Novosibirsk), M. fistulosa has a high content (up to 4.16 %) of essential oil, more than in the Crimea and the North Caucasus. The phenolic complex contains flavonoids, anthocyanins and phenolic acids. Specific to the species of this genus is monardein, 3-O-(6-O- trans - p -coumaryl-β- D -glucopyranosyl)-5-O-(4,6-di-O-malonyl-β- D -glucopyranosyl)pelargonidine. The essential oil and extracts of Monarda have a high bactericidal, antiviral, antifungal activity, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, radioprotective, antioncological, etc . action. The oil extract of the aerial parts of M. fistulosa showed antimicrobial activity against pathogenic microorganisms: Staphylococcus aureus , Enterobacter cloacae , Streptococcus faecalis , Escherichia coli , etc . The aqueous-ethanolic and aqueous extracts showed high antiviral activity against influenza virus, subtype A/Aichi/2/68 (H3N2) (human) and A/chicken/Kurgan/05/2005 (H5N1) (birds). The extracts of Monarda also possess pronounced fungicidal properties. The activity of oil, water and water-alcohol extracts of M. fistulosa against the yeast-like fungus Candida albicans was very high. Thymol and thymoquinone from M. fistulosa are cytotoxic against certain lines of human tumour cells. The essential oil from M. citriodora and its main component, thymol, inhibit the proliferation of HL-60, MCF-7, PC-3, A-549 and MDAMB-231 cancer cells. Carvacrol also has an antioxidant and antitumour effect. Essential oil is used in the cosmetic and food industry to flavour vermouths, stabilize wines, and also as a natural flavouring agent, preservative and antioxidant instead of synthetic food additives. To expand the domestic market of raw materials, it is advisable to grow Monarda in culture.