A Review on Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacological Activities of Verbascum thapsus

Abstract

Verbascum thapsus is annual or biennial herb, which belongs to the family Scrophulariaceae. It has becomes naturalized in most temperature regions of the world, where it can be found in abundance on roadsides, meadows, and pasture lands. The plant V. thapsus is commonly known as “Mullein.” V. thapsus has a broad native range including Europe, North Africa, Western and Central Asia. It has been introduced to Japan, Sri Lanka, the United States of America, Australia, and New Zealand. The herb has been utilized as a medicinal herb since ancient times, and has a great potential to treat a number of ailments. Mullein is supposed to be loaded with significant number of bioactive constituents including triterpene, tetraglycosides, saponins, terpenes, flavonoids, carotenoids, tannins, carbohydrates, phenolic acid, sugars, proteins, and minerals. Due to the presence of these potent phytoconstituents, it has been traditionally used as a folk medicine for a majority of locals in different parts of world. Reported literature of the plant available from primary and secondary search engines unveil a number of pharmacological activities of the plant, including antitumor, cardiovascular, antiinflammatory, hepatoprotective, antibacterial, antiviral, nephroprotective, anthelmintic, analgesic activity, etc. The aim of this chapter is to provide a comprehensive review of the various therapeutic activities of the plant along its phytochemical constituents which are responsible for its medicinal status.