An Updated Review on Ziziphora L.: A Valuable Source of Phytoconstituents for Potential Health Benefits

Ziziphora L. (Lamiaceae) is a genus of annual or perennial medicinal plants. These species are characterized by their aromatic features and are widely distributed across Southern and Eastern Europe, Asia, and North-West Africa. In Türkiye, the genus comprises eleven taxa, namely Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam., Z. clinopodioides subsp. elbursensis, Z. clinopodioides subsp. filicaulis,        Z. clinopodioides subsp. kurdica, Z. clinopodioides subsp. rigida, Z. capitata L., Z. persica Bunge, Z. tenuior L., Z. taurica M.Bieb., Z. taurica Bieb. subsp. taurica, and Z. taurica Bieb. subsp. cleonioides (Boiss.) Davis. Ziziphora species have been used in Turkish, Kazakh, and Iranian folk medicine, especially in the form of infusion, decoction, and maceration, owing to their antiseptic, expectorant, stomachic, carminative, and sedative effects. Ziziphora species have also been used against the common cold, coughing, migraine, fever, inflammation, diarrhea, and depression. There is a high number of studies documenting the phytochemical features and biological activities of Ziziphora species. Although the essential oil composition of the Ziziphora genus was the primary focus of earlier studies, these species also contain triterpenes, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. They were demonstrated to display antimicrobial, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory activities. Given their diverse biological activities and phytoconstituents, Ziziphora species represent a promising candidate for further pharmacological research. In the present review, ethnobotanical records, phytochemical profiles, and bioactivities of Ziziphora species will be extensively presented.