Salvia x jamensis J. Compton: Trichomes, essential oil constituents and cytotoxic-apoptotic activity

Salvia x jamensis J. Compton is a hybrid between Salvia greggii A. Gray and Salvia microphylla Kunt. In this study, we describe three hair types identified by Scanning Electron Microscopy. In the essential oil of the aerial parts of S. jamensis 56 different compounds were identified. The two main constituents were β-caryophyllene (14.8%) and β-pinene (6.8%). Cytotoxic-apoptotic activity of S. x jamensis essential oil has been investigated by using U937 cell line. The essential oil EC50 for cell number and for cell apoptosis have been shown to be 360 and 320 µg mL(-1), respectively. Among the constituents of the oil examined, only β-caryophyllene, β-pinene and α-pinene displayed cytotoxic and apoptotic activities. For the first time, it has been demonstrated that some of the pure constituents identified within S. x jamensis essential oil are responsible for its cytotoxic-apoptotic activity when properly combined.

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Salvia x jamensis Essential Oil

This is the first report about the composition of the essential oil of Salvia x jamensis. The major compounds identified by GC-MS were β-caryophyllene (14.8 %), β-pinene (6.8 %), caryophyllene oxide (6.0 %), δ-cadinene (5.5 %), α-pinene (5.2 %) and spatulenol (5.2 %). The oil showed antimicrobial activity against three Gram (+) bacteria: Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, and S. epidermidis, and three Candida strains: C. albicans, C. glabrata and C. tropicalis, while it was inactive against three Gram (-) bacteria: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Enterobacter cloacae.

Chemical Constituents of two Sages with Free Radical Scavenging Activity

From the aerial parts of Salvia trichoclada Bentham and S. verticillata L. one new and two known phenolic acids, 3-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-hydroxymethyl propionic acid (1), 3-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl) lactic acid (2), and rosmarinic acid (3); two flavonoids, apigenin 4′-methyl ether 7- O-glucuronide (4), and luteolin 7- O-β glucuronide (5); two lupan type triterpene aglycones, lupeol (6), and 30-hydroxylup-20 (29)-en-3-on (7); an oleanane-type triterpene acid, oleanolic acid (8); and an ursan-type triterpene acid, ursolic acid (9) were isolated. The structures of the compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. Different extracts of the plants were examined for their free radical scavenging activities by DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay. Some of the polar extracts showed high free radical scavenging activity.

Biological Activity of Bicyclic and Tricyclic Diterpenoids from Salvia Species of Immediate Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Interest

Diterpenoids are a class of compounds that derive from the condensation of four isoprene units that leads to a wide variety of complex chemical structures, including acyclic bi-, tri-and tetra-cyclic compounds; in Salvia species, only bi-, tri-and tetra-cyclic compounds have been found. This review covers a wide range of biological activities and mode of action of diterpenoids isolated from Salvia species that might raise some pharmacological and pharmaceutical interest.

We have produced a synoptic table where the biological activities of the main active principles are summarized. Our analysis emphasizes that diterpenoids from Salvia species continue to be a plant defence system since their antimicrobic activity. Experimental studies show that most of diterpenoids considered have cytotoxic and / or antiproliferative activity. Some of them have also cardiovascular and central effects. In a less extended manner, diterpenoids from Salvia species show gastrointestinal, urinary, antinflammatory, antidiabetic, ipolipidemic and antiaggregating effects.

In the last decade, several clinical trials have been developed in order to investigate the real value of Salvia extracts treatment; results obtained are promising and confer scientific basis in the use of medicinal plants from folk medicine.

Phytotoxic Activity of Salvia x jamensis

A study has been carried out on the surface exudate of Salvia x jamensis, which showed a significant phytotoxic activity against Papaver rhoeas L. and Avena sativa L.. Bioguided separation of the exudate yielded active fractions from which 3β-hydroxy-isopimaric acid (1), hautriwaic acid (2), betulinic acid (3), 7,8β-dihydrosalviacoccin (4), isopimaric acid (5), 14α-hydroxy-isopimaric acid (7), 15,16-epoxy-7α,10β-dihydroxy-clerod-3,13(16),14-trien-17,12;18,19-diolide (8), cirsiliol (5,3′,4′-trihydroxy-6,7-dimethoxyflavone, 9) and two new neoclerodane diterpenes (6 and 10) were isolated. The structures of 6 and 10 were identified as 15,16-epoxy-10β-hydroxy-clerod-3,13(16),14-trien-17,12;18,19-diolide and 15,16-epoxy-7α,10-dihydroxy-clerod-2,13(16),14-trien-17,12;18,19-diolide respectively on the basis of spectroscopic data analysis. All compounds, but 7, 8 and 10, were active in inhibiting the germination of the tested species.

The Effect of Temperature on the Essential Oil Components of Salvia potentillifolia Obtained by Various Methods

The chemical compositions of the essential oils of Salvia potentillifolia (Lamiaceae) were analyzed by GC and GCMS. The oils were obtained by four different methods (hydrodistillation, steam distillation, and two extraction methods) to investigate the effect of temperature on the volatile compounds. In total, 121 components were detected in the various oils. The major compounds characterized were α-pinene (30.2, 31.2, 10.6, and 14.8 %) and β-pinene (15.0, 14.6, 7.6, and 11.4%), respectively. Surprisingly, the percentage concentrations of α-pinene and β-pinene in the hydrodistilled and steam distilled oils were high, even though prepared at high temperature, whereas the contents of both compounds were lower in the essential oils obtained by the extraction methods prepared without added heat. The percentage concentration of 8,13-epoxy-labda-14-en-2-one, a diterpenoid, in the extracted essential oil was 22 times higher than in the hydrodistilled and steam distilled essential oils. However, the concentrations of cis-p-menth-2-en-1-ol was four times, and β-bourbonene and β-caryophyllene two times superior than their percentage concentrations in the hydrodistilled and steam distilled essential oils.