Ethnopharmacology of Lippia alba

Chemical, ethnopharmacological and pharmacological research on Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E. Brown and the evidence that exists for its various usages have been looked for, focusing on high quality studies.

The species is mainly used against digestive and respiratory ailments, and as a sedative and antihypertensive remedy.

Seven chemotypes exist for the essential oil, the non-volatile compounds are iridioids, phenylethanoids, flavone glycosides and biflavonoids.

Some positive, although partial, results have been obtained on sedative and anxiolytic activities. Real effects in other traditional uses can mainly be explained by anti-infectious and analgesic properties, at the moment.

Well conducted biological studies are still needed for several indications of this species. Its use as a sedative deserves a clinical investigation. The chemical variability of the species seems important both in the essential oil and in non-volatile compounds, so future research on the pharmacological properties of these extracts should provide more chemical data which will increase their validity.