Phytochemical and biological activities of Eremurus spectabilis: A review

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62063/rev-200439

Keywords:

cytotoxicity, antibacterial activity, flavonoids, antioxidant effect, Eremurus spectabilis, foxtail lily

Abstract

Eremurus spectabilis M. Bieb., commonly known as the "foxtail lily," is a plant that is a member of the Xanthorrhoeaceae family. It is found in a variety of locations in Central and Western Asia, such as Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, and Turkey. Traditional medicine has long utilized E. spectabilis for its pharmacological properties, including antibacterial, antioxidant, cytotoxic, gastroprotective, and anti-inflammatory effects. Ethnobotanical research has indicated its use in treating dermatitis, diabetes, digestive issues, and inflammatory diseases. This review examines the therapeutic potential and phytochemical profile of E. spectabilis. The identification of thirty-five compounds that were isolated from the plant is given particular attention. Phenolic acids, terpenoids, flavonoids, and anthraquinones comprise these compounds. Furthermore, E. spectabilis was proven to be a source of essential nutrients, including polysaccharides, vitamins K, C, and D, as well as minerals like potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), and copper (Cu). Despite its promising bioactivities, further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms, evaluate its full pharmacological potential, and assess the safety, efficacy, and appropriate dosing for clinical use.

References

Abubaker, S. R. (2015). Anti-tumor potential of local Aslerk (Eremurus spectabilis) leaf extracts by HPLC and applying on cancer cell lines in vitro. Iraqi Journal of Cancer and Medical Genetics, 8(2). https://doi.org/10.29409/ijcmg.v8i2.155

Amiri, M. S., & Joharchi, M. R. (2013). Ethnobotanical investigation of traditional medicinal plants commercialized in the markets of Mashhad, Iran. Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine, 3(3), 254. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4075713/

Arıtuluk, Z. C., & Ezer, N. (2012). Halk arasında diyabete karşı kullanılan bitkiler Türkiye-II. Hacettepe University Journal of the Faculty of Pharmacy, 32(2), 179-208.

Aykutoğlu, G., Darendelioğlu, E., Öztürk, Z., Tartık, M., Dervişoğlu, G., Tuzcu, Z., Koçlar, G., Ağca, C. A., Baydaş, G., & Kaya, B. (2023). Eremurus spectabilis has antioxidant, anticancer activity and induces apoptosis in PC-3 cells.

Bayrak, B. B., & Yanardağ, R. (2021). Inhibitory effects of aqueous extract of Eremurus spectabilis M. Bieb. on diabetes mellitus and skin-related enzymes. Istanbul Journal of Pharmacy, 51(3), 357-364. https://doi.org/10.26650/IstanbulJPharm.2021.934461

Bayrak, B. B., & Refiye, Y. (2021). Histone Deacetylase, Xanthine Oxidase and Urease Inhibitory Activities of Eremurus spectabilis M. Bieb. Extracts. Experimed, 11(3), 156-161. https://doi.org/10.26650/experimed.2021.913680

Bircan, B., & Kırbağ, S. (2015). Determination of antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Eremurus spectabilis Bieb. Retrieved from https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/234060

Cınar, A., Ay, S. T., Ayas, F., Karabak, S., Guzelsoy, N., & Ucurum, O. (2017). Foxtail Lily (Eremurus spectabilis M. Bieb.) as a priority species of biodiversity for food and nutrition project of Turkey. ANADOLU Ege Tarımsal Araştırma Enstitüsü Dergisi, 27(2), 69-73. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/401886

Dervişoğlu, G., Öztürk, Z., Darendelioğlu, E., Aykutoğlu, G., Tartik, M., Tuzcu, Z., Agca, C. A., Koçlar, G., & Kaya, B. (n.d.). The antioxidant activity in water extract of Eremurus spectabilis.

Di Simone, S. C., Yagi, S., Acquaticci, L., Nilofar, N., Acquaviva, A., Orlando, G., Maggi, F., Menghini, L., Ferrante, C., & Zengin, G. (2024). Investigation of the chemical composition and biological activities of Eremurus spectabilis M. Bieb through antioxidant, enzyme inhibition, COX-2 and iNOS assessment. Chemistry & Biodiversity, e202401881. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.202401881

Falahi, E., Delshadian, Z., Ahmadvand, H., & Shokri Jokar, S. (2019). Head space volatile constituents and antioxidant properties of five traditional Iranian wild edible plants grown in west of Iran. AIMS Agriculture and Food. https://doi.org/10.3934/agrfood.2019.4.1034

Follmer, C. (2010). Ureases as a target for the treatment of gastric and urinary infections. Journal of Clinical Pathology, 63(5), 424-430. https://doi.org/10.1136/jcp.2009.072595

Gaggeri, R., Rossi, D., Mahmood, K., Gozzini, D., Mannucci, B., Corana, F., Daglia, M., Avanzini, A., Mantelli, M., & Martino, E. (2015). Towards elucidating Eremurus root remedy: Chemical profiling and preliminary biological investigations of Eremurus persicus and Eremurus spectabilis

root ethanolic extracts. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 9(41), 1038-1048. https://doi.org/10.5897/JMPR2015.5873

Genç, D., & Çelik, İ. (2024). Investigation of the effects of Eremurus spectabilis Bieb. lyophilized and nanoparticle extracts on the cellular and enzymatic immune system in experimentally induced hepatocellular carcinogenesis in rats. Frontiers in Life Sciences and Related Technologies, 5(2), 95-100. https://doi.org/10.51753/flsrt.1395612

The genus Eremurus. (2024). Retrieved from http://theplantlist.org/tpl/record/kew-305499

Gundogdu, G., Dodurga, Y., Elmas, L., Tasci, S. Y., & Karaoglan, E. S. (2018). Investigation of the anticancer mechanism of isoorientin isolated from Eremurus spectabilis leaves via cell cycle pathways in HT-29 human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells. The Eurasian Journal of Medicine, 50(3), 168. https://doi.org/10.5152/eurasianjmed.2018.17403

Hai, R., Yang, D., Zheng, F., Wang, W., Han, X., Bode, A. M., & Luo, X. (2022). The emerging roles of HDACs and their therapeutic implications in cancer. European Journal of Pharmacology, 931, 175216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2022.175216

Jahanbin, K., & Beigi, M. (2015). Characterization of a new glucomannan from Eremurus spectabilis roots. Proceedings of The IRES 5th International Conference, Barcelona, Spain.

Kanaani, S., & Mohamadi Sani, A. (2015). Chemical composition of essential oils and in vitro antibacterial activity of methanolic extract of Sonchus arvensis and Eremurus spectabilis against food-borne pathogenic bacteria. Journal of Essential Oil Bearing Plants, 18(5), 1093-1099. https://doi.org/10.1080/0972060X.2014.989185

Karakaya, L., Akgül, Y., & Nalbantsoy, A. (2017). Chemical constituents and in vitro biological activities of Eremurus spectabilis leaves. Natural Product Research, 31(15), 1786-1791. https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2017.1292268

Karaman, K., Polat, B., Ozturk, I., Sagdic, O., & Ozdemir, C. (2011). Volatile compounds and bioactivity of Eremurus spectabilis (Ciris), a Turkish wild edible vegetable. Journal of Medicinal Food, 14(10), 1238-1243. https://doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2010.0262

Karaman, S., & Kocabas, Y. Z. (2001). Traditional medicinal plants of K. Maras (Turkey). The Sciences, 1(3), 125-128. https://doi.org/10.3923/jms.2001.125.128

Karaoğlan, E. S., Albayrak, A., Kutlu, Z., & Bayır, Y. (2018). Gastroprotective and antioxidant effects of Eremurus spectabilis Bieb. methanol extract and its isolated component isoorientin on indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers in rats. Acta Cirurgica Brasileira, 33, 609-618. https://doi.org/10.1590/s0102-865020180070000006

Karaoglan, E. S., Gundogdu, G., Secme, M., Senol, O., Miloglu, F. D., Dodurga, Y., & Tufekci, A. R. (2018). Eremurus spectabilis, rich source of isoorientin: Isolation, quantification, and anti-cancer activity on SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Current Pharmaceutical Analysis, 14(6), 578-585. https://doi.org/10.2174/1573412913666170822162527

Koldas, S. (2023). Absolute configurations of biantraquinones from Eremurus spectabilis BIEB. Natural Product Research, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2023.2272779

Korkmaz, M., & Karakuş, S. (2015). Traditional uses of medicinal plants of Üzümlü district, Erzincan, Turkey. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 47(1), 125-134.

Murathan, Z. T., Arslan, M., & Erbil, N. (2018). Evaluation of antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antimutagenic properties in Eremurus spectabilis Bieb. grown in different ecological regions. Fresenius Environmental Bulletin, 27, 9491-9499.

Pourfarzad, A., Habibi Najafi, M. B., Haddad Khodaparast, M. H., & Hassanzadeh Khayyat, M. (2015). Characterization of fructan extracted from Eremurus spectabilis tubers: A comparative study on different technical conditions. Journal of Food Science and Technology, 52, 2657-2667. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4397333/

Pourfarzad, A., Najafi, M. B. H., Khodaparast, M. H. H., Khayyat, M. H., & Malekpour, A. (2014). Fractionation of Eremurus spectabilis fructans by ethanol: Box–Behnken design and principal component analysis. Carbohydrate Polymers, 106, 374-383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2014.01.048

Prakash, V., & Sagar, A. (2021). Analysis of Achyranthes aspera L. extracts for their α-amylase and urease inhibitory activities. Journal of Drug Delivery and Therapeutics, 11(2), 108–112. https://doi.org/10.22270/jddt.v11i2.4678

Salehi, B., Ayatollahi, S., Segura-Carretero, A., Kobarfard, F., Contreras, M. d. M., Faizi, M., Sharifi- Rad, M., Tabatabai, S., & Sharifi-Rad, J. (2017). Bioactive chemical compounds in Eremurus persicus (Joub. & Spach) Boiss. essential oil and their health implications. Cellular and Molecular Biology, 63(9), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.14715/cmb/2017.63.9.1

Taskin, T., Bitis, L., & Birteksöz, S. (2012). Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of different extracts from Eremurus spectabilis leaves. Spatula DD-Peer Reviewed Journal on Complementary Medicine and Drug Discovery, 2(4), 213.

Tegin, İ., Hallaç, B., Sabancı, N., Sadik, B., Fidan, M., & Yabalak, E. (2024). A broad assessment of Eremurus spectabilis M. Bieb: Chemical and elemental composition, total phenolic and antimicrobial activity analysis, and quantum chemical calculations of radical scavenging potential. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 34(4), 2124–2139. https://doi.org/10.1080/09603123.2023.2214100

Tosun, M., Ercisli, S., Ozer, H., Turan, M., Polat, T., Ozturk, E., Padem, H., & Kilicgun, H. (2012). Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of foxtail lily (Eremurus spectabilis). Acta Scientiarum Polonorum. Hortorum Cultus, 11(3). https://agro.icm.edu.pl/agro/element/bwmeta1.element.agro-1aa89fb6-54b3-4176-8c1e-c066a06b6e43

Tuncer, B. (2020). In vitro germination and bulblet and shoot propagation for wild edible Eremurus spectabilis M. Bieb. Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca, 48(2), 814–825. https://doi.org/10.15835/nbha48211883

Tuzcu, Z., Koclar, G., Agca, C. A., Aykutoglu, G., Dervisoglu, G., Tartik, M., & Sahin, K. (2017). Antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer effects of different extracts from wild edible plant Eremurus spectabilis leaves and roots. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 10(3), 4787–4797. https://www.academia.edu/download/52843920/eremurus_pdf.pd

Downloads

Published

10.07.2025

How to Cite

Alhalak, N., & Sekerler, T. (2025). Phytochemical and biological activities of Eremurus spectabilis: A review. EUCHEMBIOJ Reviews, 1(2), e25008. https://doi.org/10.62063/rev-200439

Issue

Section

Review