Minthostachys mollis: Chemical composition, biological activities and potential applications in a systematic and bibliometric review

• Autores: Eduardo, Karina, Marchena-Chanduvi, Rubén, Vásquez-Senador, Max
• Formato: artículo
• Fecha de Publicación: 2026
• Institución: Universidad Nacional de Trujillo
• Repositorio: Revistas - Universidad Nacional de Trujillo
• Lenguaje: inglés
• OAI Identifier: oai:ojs.revistas.unitru.edu.pe:article/7476
• Enlace del recurso: https://revistas.unitru.edu.pe/index.php/scientiaagrop/article/view/7476
• Nivel de acceso: acceso abierto
• Materia: muña; natural products; essential oils; thematic evolution; Latin American flora

Minthostachys mollis, commonly known as muña, is an aromatic medicinal plant widely distributed in the Andean region and traditionally used to treat various conditions. In recent years, scientific interest in this species has increased due to its chemical composition, biological activities, and potential applications in different sectors. The objective of this study was to systematically and bibliometrically analyze the scientific literature on Minthostachys mollis in order to synthesize the available evidence on its phytochemical composition, biological activities, and potential applications. To this end, a systematic search was conducted in the Scopus database from 2005 to 2026. The selection of studies was carried out following the guidelines of the PRISMA protocol. Likewise, a bibliometric analysis was performed to identify research trends. The results showed a progressive increase in the number of publications in recent years, with greater scientific output in countries in the Andean region, particularly Peru and Argentina. Phytochemical studies indicated that the essential oil of Minthostachys mollis is mainly composed of monoterpenes such as pulegone, menthone, and limonene. In addition, several studies reported relevant biological activities such as antimicrobial, antifungal, insecticidal, repellent, antioxidant, and pharmacological properties. These findings highlight the potential of this species as a source of bioactive compounds with applications in the pharmaceutical, agricultural, and food sectors. However, challenges remain related to variability in chemical composition, standardization of extracts, and evaluation of safety and efficacy under real-world conditions of use. In this context, future research should focus on phytochemical standardization, the development of innovative formulations, and the validation of their applications through more advanced experimental studies.