Some Medicinal Properties of Allium hirtifolium Boiss Species

Background: Shallot with the scientific name Allium hertifolium Boiss is one of the best-known plants in the Alliaceae family. In Iran, shallots have been used as food and medicine for a long time. Most chemical and biological studies on garlic and related Allium species have indeed predominantly focused on sulfur compounds because of their notable health benefits. Recently, however, there has been increasing interest in saponins. These water-soluble compounds are notable for their stability during cooking, which makes them particularly interesting for their potential health benefits. Saponins are being studied for their antioxidant properties, as well as their potential roles in reducing inflammation and boosting immune function. The main objective of this review was to evaluate some medicinal properties of Allium hirtifolium Boiss.Method: To gather comprehensive information on Allium hirtifolium, the details on used plant parts were collected, therapeutic properties, pharmacological effects, indications, and dosage forms from data collection, library sources, written articles, and reference books. Further information, such as the plant’s form and description, planting methods, and planting times, was obtained through firsthand experience by cultivating seedlings at the Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Agriculture and Natural Resources Research and Education Center. This approach provided a well-rounded understanding of the plant’s uses and cultivation requirements.Results: The biological activity of A. hirtifolium has been known since ancient times. Babylonians, Egyptians, Phoenicians, Greeks, and Romans used garlic as a remedy for intestinal diseases, respiratory infections, skin diseases, bacterial infections, worms, wounds and tumors. The effect of A. hirtifolium may be due to its antibacterial properties or its ability to block the formation of carcinogenic substances, halve the activation of carcinogenic substances, improve DNA repair, reduce cell proliferation or induce cell death. Epidemiological studies have shown that increased consumption of Allium spp. reduces the risk of prostate and stomach cancer, and this has been linked mainly to two main classes of compounds: the apolar sulfur compounds and the polar saponins. The compounds contained in A. hirtifolium have various beneficial biological effects such as antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-diabetic. Naringenin is the most important compound among the flavonoids, which has various pharmacological activities. In addition, the constituents of this plant play various roles in modulating signaling pathways to prevent cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Thus, A. hirtifolium and the compounds contained in this plant may be promising candidates for various diseases due to their diverse pharmacological activities.Conclusion: Allium hirtifolium, a medicinal plant collected from natural habitats in Iran, is extensively utilized by the local population and in traditional medicine. It is valued for its anti-hemolytic effect, making it a suitable herbal supplement in human nutrition. The therapeutic benefits of A. hirtifolium are largely attributed to its antioxidant activity, which helps scavenge free radicals. By neutralizing these harmful agents, the plant may contribute to the prevention of various diseases associated with oxidative stress.

کلیدواژه ها:

Antioxidant ، Cancer ، Medicinal plant ، Saponins ، Shallot