Dr. Vikas Sharma, Abeeda Mushtaq
Hyssopus officinalis, popularly known as Gul-e-zofa, Zufah (in Urdu), Zufah-yabis (in Hindi), Hyssop (in English), Jufa (in Sanskrit), belongs to the Lamiaceae (mint) family native to Europe, Asia and Africa, however, it has naturalized in some areas of the USA.
In India, it is found in the Western Himalayan region from Garhwal to Kashmir at an altitude of 1800-2400 m. The existence of several common names for the same plant species in different areas may confuse end users for selection and utilization of a genuine drug. The authenticated plant which is identified as Gul-e-zofa is Hyssopus officinalis. The other plants substituted for Gul-e-zofa are Nepeta bracteata, Nepeta ispahanica and Nepeta micrantha. The plant is mentioned many times in the Bible as spiritually purifying, giving it the moniker of “The Holy Herb.” In its natural habitat, it grows on dry banks, among rocks and ruins with a height ranging from 50 to 120 cm.
Gul-e-zofa is gaining increased importance as a minty flavor, condiment and spices in food industries as well. Due to its fresh, clean and pleasant aroma, dried leaves are often placed in cupboards and coatrooms. It is an ornamental plant and gardens or areas along walkways are often decorated by its bright flowering shrub. Gul-e-zofa has a particularly fine odour, significant in the perfumery industry. Its volatile oils are used as a fragrance component in soaps, perfumes, creams and other cosmetic products, as well as in aromatherapy. The herb possesses numerous valuable therapeutic properties and is used for healing respiratory diseases such as tuberculosis, asthma, coughs, sore throat, respiratory infections, fevers and the common cold. It is also used in baths as it relaxes peripheral blood vessels and promotes sweating. Preparations of this plant are effective in curing some digestive and intestinal problems, including liver/gall bladder conditions, intestinal pain and gas, loss of appetite, urinary tract infection, menstrual pains and cramps and formation of kidney stones.
Flowers of the plant are useful for green salads or vegetables, in various sauces and gravies and for baking pita bread. Whole herb chopped in small pieces is used for soups, stews, and herbal teas, while fresh leaves alone are suitable for seasoning of soft cheeses (feta and cottage cheese, in particular), flavored butters, sandwiches and pasta dishes. Bright and aromatic flowers of hyssop attract honeybees and honey from these bees is of high quality: clear, golden in color, with a specific and very pleasant taste. Gul-e-zofa could be cultivated as a honey herb. A medicinal preparation of Gul-e-zofa, so-called hyssop oxymel, is made from the fresh or dried herb, macerated in honey and some apple cider vinegar. Gul-e-zofa extracts and EOs possess insecticidal properties against flies, flea beetles, green caterpillars, mites, larvae of some worms, cabbage moths, slugs, etc., but they attract humming birds, butterflies, bees, etc., who are good pollinators for the plants growing in its neighborhood. Gul-e-zofa oils, exhibiting toxic, antibacterial and antifungal properties are used against many plant diseases, for example, potato’s late blight.
Tea prepared from the green tops of the plant not only has an agreeable flavor, but also can help digestion of fatty foods and shows anthelmintic activity. Decoctions or EOs of Gul-e-zofa could be used on the skin for treating burns, frostbites, bruises, skin irritations and diminishing the effects of skin aging. Gul-e-zoofa oils are active against drug-resistant clinical herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2 strains and for treating skin disorders, such as dermatitis and eczema. The plant extracts exhibit antibacterial activity to acnes, as the causative bacteria of acne. Some patented cosmetics and skin-conditioning and anti-wrinkle topical formulations contain Gul-e-zofa EOs and ethanolic extracts. The plant essential oil is also used externally to treat toothache, earache and rheumatism. Gul-e-zofa volatile oils are also suitable for massage and effective against poor blood and lymph circulation, as a muscle-relaxing treatment. In addition, crude extracts of dried leaves have shown strong anti-HIV activity and may be useful in the treatment of patients with AIDS. It is also used as an expectorant, carminative, anti-inflammatory, anti-catarrhal and antispasmodic in traditional medicine in many parts of the world.
People who are pregnant or nursing should avoid Gul-e-zofa. Miscarriage is possible while taking this herb. It is also recommended that children avoid taking Gul-e-zofa. This is because seizures are a possible, severe side effect that can occur when taking this plant.
(The authors are from the Division of Biochemistry, SKUAST-Jammu)
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