From Traditional mountainTea to Modern Medicine: Chemical and Therapeutic insight into Sideritis species

Sideritis species, particularly Sideritis scardica and Sideritis perfoliata, commonly known as Greek Mountain Tea, are traditional medicinal plants of the Mediterranean region with considerable phytochemical and pharmacological potential. These plants contain diverse bioactive constituents, including phenylethanoid glycosides, flavonoids, phenolic acids, coumarins, and terpenes. Studies have demonstrated significant antioxidant activity of Sideritis extracts, with aqueous and methanolic extracts generally showing strong radical-scavenging and reducing properties. Various Sideritis extracts have also exhibited enzyme-inhibitory activities against acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, tyrosinase, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase, suggesting potential applications in neuroprotective, cosmetic, and metabolic health research. In vitro studies have reported antiviral and cytotoxic effects of selected Sideritis constituents and extracts. Of particular interest, S. perfoliata ethanolic extract demonstrated elastase-inhibitory activity with an IC₅₀ of 57.18 ± 3.22 μg/mL, supporting its potential relevance to anti-wrinkle and anti-aging formulations. A small randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study of a standardized Sideritis extract also reported improvements in selected cardiovascular and antioxidant parameters. Overall, the available evidence indicates that Sideritis species are promising sources of natural bioactive compounds for pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmetic applications. However, further standardized preclinical studies and larger, well-controlled clinical trials are required to establish their efficacy, safety, mechanisms of action, and appropriate therapeutic or cosmetic applications.