In the present study, the methanol, chloroform, and hexane extracts were isolated from the stems of Nepeta leucophylla using maceration method, soxhlet extraction method, and ultrasonic assisted extraction method. These extracts were analyzed for their total flavonoids content (TFC), total polyphenolic content (TPC), and antioxidant potential using nitric oxide scavenging (NOS), DPPH˙ (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The results of percentage yield, TPC, and TFC for various extracts varied from 0.99 to 12.16%, 0.34 to 133.7 mg GAE/g DPE, and 20.21 to 282.74 mg RE/g DPE, respectively, whereas the results of antioxidant potential of TAC, FRAP, percentage inhibition of NO and DPPH˙ scavenging activity ranged from 0.11 to 40.74 mg AAE/g DPE, 4.41 to 148.65 mg Fe (II) E/g DPE, 1.29 to 35.56%, and 14.93 to 90.43%, respectively. N. leucophylla is an important wild Himalayan aromatic plant. Traditionally, it is used for the cure of malarial fever and its leaves are consumed as herbal tea. It is also known to have antifungal and antibacterial activity. The present results indicate that the SEM is the best technique for the isolation of naturally occurring antioxidants (NOAs) using methanol as a solvent from the powdered stem of N. leucophylla. Our research findings also indicate that the various extracts obtained from the stem of N. leucophylla show high antioxidant potential (FRAP, TAC, NO, and DPPH˙ radical scavenging activity) and are rich source of different NOAs viz. polyphenolics, flavonoids, coumarins, steroids etc. These classes of NOAs are also well known for their therapeutic potential like antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties. Hence, the stem of N. leucophylla may play a promising role in health benefits, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and functional foods development.

Medicinal plants are rich in phytochemicals, which have been used as a source of raw material in medicine since ancient times. Presently they are mostly used to treat Henoch–Schonlein purpura, hemoptysis, and bleeding. The manuscript covers the classification, traditional applications, phytochemistry, pharmacology, herbal formulations, and patents of Cirsium. The main goal of this review is to impart recent information to facilitate future comprehensive research and use of Cirsium for the development of therapeutics. We investigated numerous databases PubMed, Google Scholar, Springer, Elsevier, Taylor and Francis imprints, and books on ethnopharmacology. The plants of the genus Cirsium of the family Asteraceae contain 350 species across the world. Phytochemical investigations showed that it contains flavonoids, phenols, polyacetylenes, and triterpenoids. The biological potential of this plant is contributed by these secondary metabolites. Cirsium plants are an excellent and harmless agent for the cure of liver diseases; therefore, they might be a good clinical option for the development of therapeutics for hepatic infections. The phytochemical studies of different Cirsium species and their renowned pharmacological activities could be exploited for pharmaceutic product development. Furthermore, studies are required on less known Cirsium species, particularly on the elucidation of the mode of action of their activities.