Phytochemistry, Pharmacological Properties, and Ethnopharmacological Uses of Glaucium Mill. (Papaveraceae)

Abstract

The genus Glaucium Mill. (Papaveraceae), commonly referred to as horned poppies, comprises annual and perennial herbaceous plants native to the Mediterranean basin and widely distributed across southern Europe, North Africa, and Western to Central Asia. Several species of the genus have long been incorporated into traditional medical systems for the management of respiratory complaints, pain, inflammatory conditions, skin disorders, and gastrointestinal ailments. This extensive ethnopharmacological background has stimulated increasing scientific interest in the phytochemical composition and pharmacological potential of Glaucium species. Phytochemical investigations have demonstrated that Glaucium taxa possess a rich and structurally diverse secondary metabolite profile dominated by isoquinoline alkaloids. Aporphine-, protopine-, protoberberine-, and benzophenanthridine-type alkaloids, including glaucine, protopine, allocryptopine, sanguinarine, and chelerythrine, have been extensively identified and are regarded as the principal bioactive constituents of the genus. In addition to alkaloids, Glaucium species contain biologically relevant phenolic compounds, particularly flavonoids and phenolic acids, which contribute substantially to antioxidant-related effects. Pharmacological studies, conducted predominantly in vitro and in animal models, indicate that extracts, fractions, and isolated compounds derived from Glaucium species exhibit a broad spectrum of biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, neuroprotective, anticholinesterase, and anticancer-related effects. These activities are largely associated with alkaloid- and polyphenol-rich extracts and often involve multitarget mechanisms. This review critically summarizes current knowledge on the phytochemistry, pharmacological properties, and ethnopharmacological uses of Glaucium species. By integrating traditional knowledge with experimental evidence, the review highlights both the pharmacological relevance of the genus and the existing gaps in research, emphasizing the need for further systematic phytochemical, toxicological, and mechanistic studies to better elucidate the therapeutic potential and safety profiles of Glaucium taxa.