Abietane diterpenoids and triterpenoic acids from Salvia cilicica and their antileishmanial activities

Abstract

Bioguided-fractionation of an acetone extract of the roots of Salvia cilicica (Lamiaceae) led to isolation of two new diterpenes, 7-hydroxy-12-methoxy-20-nor-abieta-1,5(10),7,9,12-pentaen-6,14-dione and abieta-8,12-dien-11,14-dione (12-deoxy-royleanone), together with oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, ferruginol, inuroyoleanol and cryptanol. Their structures were determined spectroscopically, which included HREIMS and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis. The new abietane derivatives showed appreciable in vitro antileishmanial activity against intracellular amastigote forms of both Leishmania donovani (IC50 values of 170 and 120 nM, respectively) and Leishmania major (IC50 values of 290 and 180 nM, respectively). The triterpenoic acids were found to be potently active against amastigote (IC50 values of 7-120 nM) and moderately active against promastigote stages (IC50 values of 51-137 nM) of the two Leishmania species. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.