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<i> Monarda</i> L. represented by 20 species growing in North America is given.<i> M. fistulosa </i>L.,<i> M. didyma </i>L. and M. citriodora Cervantes ex Lag. are successfully cultivated in various regions of Russia. The essential oils of <i>Monarda </i>are distinguished by the high content of phenols (67-89 %). Their composition depends on the species of <i>Monarda </i>, 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- <i>trans - p </i>-coumaryl-β- <i>D </i>-glucopyranosyl)-5-O-(4,6-di-O-malonyl-β-<i> D </i>-glucopyranosyl)pelargonidine. The essential oil and extracts of <i>Monarda</i> have a high bactericidal, antiviral, antifungal activity, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, radioprotective, antioncological, etc . action. The oil extract of the aerial parts of<i> M. fistulosa </i>showed antimicrobial activity against pathogenic microorganisms: <i>Staphylococcus aureus , Enterobacter cloacae , Streptococcus faecalis , Escherichia coli</i> , 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 <i>Monarda </i>also possess pronounced fungicidal properties. The activity of oil, water and water-alcohol extracts of<i> M. fistulosa </i>against the yeast-like fungus<i> Candida albicans</i> was very high. Thymol and thymoquinone from <i>M. fistulosa</i> are cytotoxic against certain lines of human tumour cells. The essential oil from <i>M. citriodora </i>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 <i>Monarda </i>in culture.