Medicinal plants are a valuable source of bioactive metabolites, and current research focuses particularly on increasing their productivity and studying previously little-known species. Of particular interest are representatives of the families Lamiaceae, Apiaceae, and Asteraceae, for which either no data exists or only brief information is available regarding their chemical composition and biological properties. In this context, the family Lamiaceae, one of the dominant families in the flora of Kazakhstan, deserves special attention. Within the republic, it is represented by 233 species, grouped into 45 genera. The genus Dracocephalum L. is a key component of the Lamiaceae, comprising more than 70 species grouped into four subgenera and eight sections. In ethnomedical systems, various species of the genus are used to treat respiratory diseases, fever, digestive disorders, liver and gallbladder diseases, cardiovascular pathologies, diabetes, as well as gynecological, urological, dermatological, and dental diseases. Phytochemical studies have confirmed that species of the genus Dracocephalum are a rich source of polyphenols, including flavonoids and phenolic acids. Approximately 22 species of the genus have been recorded in the flora of Kazakhstan, distributed in steppe and mountainous regions (Altai, Tien Shan, Zhetysu Alatau, Karatau). This review systematizes current data on the chemical composition and biological activity of Dracocephalum species, highlighting their pharmacological potential and the prospects for further study and utilization of Kazakhstan’s flora.

Streptococcus mutans is the primary etiological agent of dental caries due to its ability to form acidogenic biofilms on tooth surfaces. Natural monoterpenes have attracted considerable interest as potential antibiofilm agents for oral healthcare. The present study investigated the antibiofilm activity and possible mechanism of action of (+)-endo-borneol isolated from the essential oil of Achillea millefolium against S. mutans. The chemical composition of the essential oil was characterized by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and (+)-endo-borneol was isolated by chromatographic separation. Antibiofilm activity was evaluated using the crystal violet biofilm assay, while antimicrobial activity was determined by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) assays. The influence of subinhibitory concentrations of (+)-endo-borneol on the expression of the biofilm-associated genes gtfB and yycF was assessed by quantitative real-time PCR. Molecular docking was performed to investigate ligand–protein interactions, using a ligand geometry pre-optimized by density functional theory (DFT, B3LYP/6-31G**). The essential oil inhibited S. mutans biofilm formation by up to 98%, whereas isolated (+)-endo-borneol reduced biofilm biomass by 97–98% at concentrations of 2–10 mg/mL. The MIC and MBC values of (+)-endo-borneol were 2.5 and 5.0 mg/mL, respectively. Gene expression analysis demonstrated that subinhibitory concentrations of (+)-endo-borneol modulated the transcription of gtfB and yycF, indicating activation of bacterial regulatory responses. Molecular docking revealed favorable binding of (+)-endo-borneol to biofilm-related protein targets. These findings demonstrate that (+)-endo-borneol is a promising natural antibiofilm compound with potential application in the development of novel preventive and therapeutic oral healthcare products targeting S. mutans biofilms.

Background/Objectives: Ferula varia Trautv. is a promising medicinal plant of the Apiaceae family and a potential source of biologically active secondary metabolites. The present study aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition and biological activities of F. varia root extract. Methods: The non-volatile compounds were characterized using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC–QTOF–ESI-MS/MS) method. Furthermore, the total phenolic and flavonoid contents (TPC and TFC), antioxidant activity, and antimicrobial potential of the extract were evaluated using spectrophotometric and microdilution assays. Results: HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS analysis enabled the tentative identification of 25 metabolites in the F. varia root extract, predominantly sesquiterpene coumarins together with organic acids, phenolic acids, coumarins, sesquiterpene esters, and prenylated aromatic compounds. The extract contained 30.06 ± 3.00 mg GAE/g_extr of total phenolics and 1.42 ± 0.04 mg RuE/g_extr of total flavonoids. Antioxidant assays revealed Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) values of 0.10 ± 0.00 mM, 110.31 ± 4.94 mg AsAE/g_extr, and 21.95 ± 0.00 mg TE/g_extr, respectively, while the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay showed weak radical scavenging activity (IC₅₀ > 1 mg/mL). The extract also demonstrated stronger antimicrobial activity against yeasts than against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, with minimal inhibitory concentration values ranging from 2.5 to 5 mg/mL and 10–20 mg/mL, respectively. Conclusions: These findings indicate that F. varia roots are a promising source of bioactive compounds exhibiting antioxidant and antimicrobial potential.