The genus Stachys represents one of the most extensive genera within the subfamily Lamioideae and ranks as one of the largest genera in the Lamiaceae family. Many Stachys species are associated with a rich history in traditional medicine across various cultures, and their extracts and essential oils are rich in non-volatile and volatile compounds. Because of their complex profile of bioactive substances, Stachys members are considered to possess an extensive spectrum of therapeutic properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial, cytotoxic, and wound-healing effects, as well as benefits for memory enhancement, lipid profile regulation, blood glucose control, and weight management. Despite the wide distribution and chemical diversity of the genus, studies on its biological activities remain limited. The aim of this review is to summarize the most relevant data from studies on the bioactive compounds, traditional uses, and pharmacological properties of Stachys species found in databases such as Science Direct, PubMed, and Scopus. Specific keywords were used in the search strategy, including “bioactive compounds”, “Stachys”, “Lamiaceae”, “Stachys extract”, “Stachys essential oil”, “traditional uses”, “chemical composition”, “therapeutic potential”, “clinical trials”, “in vivo studies”, “in vitro studies”. The search strategy was performed according to the guidelines for Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Data from 171 studies were included. The manuscript highlights the drug-discovery potential of Stachys species, emphasizing their potential applications in medicine, cosmetics, dietary supplements, and the food industry. Moreover, it provides important data that could assist Stachys research programs.

Stachys germanica L. (Lamiaceae) is a plant associated with a rich history in the traditional medicine of Iran, Turkey, and Serbia. However, researchers have not fully investigated the pharmacological potential of the herb, and scientific data on this plant species are limited. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the chemical composition of the essential oil (EO) obtained from the aerial parts of S. germanica L. growing wild in Bulgaria and to perform a comparative analysis of the chemical composition of EOs obtained from the same plant species from other geographical regions. For the evaluation of the chemical profile of the isolated EO, gas chromatographic analysis with mass spectrometry was performed. The most abundant terpene class was oxygenated monoterpenes, which accounted for 59.30 of the total EO composition. The bicyclic monoterpene camphor, as a compound of this class, was identified as the major constituent in the EO, accounting for 52.96 of the total oil composition. The chemical profile of Bulgarian EO is quite different compared to that of EOs from other regions. It is the only one to contain more than 50 camphor. In addition, EO contains significant amounts of the diterpene geranyl p-cymene (10.49). This is the first study describing the chemical composition of EO from Bulgarian Stachys germanica L., and our results reveal some future perspectives for the evaluation of the biological activity of EO from the studied plant species as a new therapeutic agent or natural remedy targeting different medical conditions. The EO has a promising potential to be used as a biopesticide and repellent as well, an environmentally friendly and safer alternative to standard pesticides.

The present study investigated the chemical composition of the main components of five commonly occurring Thymus species in Bulgaria: T. sibthorpii Benth., T. pulegioides L., T. glabrescens Willd. (syn. T. odoratissimus Mill.), T. callieri Borbas ex Velen. (syn. T. roegneri K. Koch), and T. zygioides Griseb. The phytochemical profiling of the Thymus species was performed using GC-MS for the analysis of essential oils and HPLC for the identification and quantification of phenolic compounds in the ethanolic extracts. Linalool was the dominant essential oil constituent in T. sibthorpii (48.17%), T. pulegioides (50.96%), and T. callieri (38.08%) while thymol prevailed in T. glabrescens (35.35%). A novel chemotype was observed in T. zygioides. The HPLC analysis confirmed rosmarinic acid as the major phenolic acid across all species. Rutin was the predominant flavonoid in four species whereas T. sibthorpii exhibited a remarkably high concentration of (+)-catechin. Overall, the high chemical diversity within the Thymus genus was confirmed. Due to the variability of compounds among plant species, the findings of the present study suggest that, along with essential oils, phenolic components may also contribute to the chemotaxonomic classification of the Thymus genus and influence the pharmacological activity of the species, which requires further study.