Lippia dulcis Trevis

Zusammenfassung

Die weltweite Suche nach neuen Süßungsmitteln für diätetische Zubereitungen und Arzneimittel konzentriert sich neben synthetischen Verbindungen auch auf pflanzliche Naturstoffe. Ein interessantes Beispiel dafür ist die Verbenaceae Lippia dulcis Trevis., Aztekisches Süßkraut, die das Sesquiterpen (+)-Hernandulcin enthält. Es hat die etwa 1000fache Süßkraft von Saccharose. Die Pflanze besitzt eine lange therapeutische Tradition bei der Behandlung von Husten, Bronchitis und Koliken. Eine Neubewertung von Lippia dulcis als Süßstoffpflanze bzw. als Arzneipflanze zur Behandlung von Erkältungskrankheiten erscheint lohnenswert.

Summary

Lippia dulcis Trevis. - an Aztecan sweet herb of potential interest.

The demand for new alternative »low calorie«-sweeteners for dietetic and diabetic purposes has increased worldwide. On one hand, the current commercial sources of highly sweet sucrose substitutes are mostly synthetic compounds (e.g. saccharin, aspartame). On the other hand, the search for such compounds from natural sources is continuing and some natural products are used, e.g. stevioside (diterpene), glycyrrhizin (triterpenoid saponin) or thaumatin (protein). Recent progress in research oriented towards the discovery and evaluation of potentially non-cariogenic sweeteners from plants has focused on terpenoid substances. An interesting example is Lippia dulcis Trevis., a Verbenaceae from Central America containing sesquiterpenoid sweeteners in the essential oil like (+)-hernandulcin and 4β-hydroxyhernandulcin which are 1000 times sweeter than sucrose. The name Aztec Sweet Herb points to the fact that the plant has been used for a long time in traditional medicine especially for the treatment of coughs, colds, bronchitis, asthma, and colic. Due to the sweet taste, the composition of the essential oil, and other natural products in the extract, the plant might be of interest for use in herbal remedies as a sweetener or for treating common colds.

Key words

Lippia dulcis Trevis. - sweetener - natural products - traditional medicine

Literatur

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