Phytochemical And Biological Investigation Of Salvia Apiana

Abstract

Salvia apiana (white sage, Lamiaceae family) plant is native to California. Indian tribes consider S. apiana to be sacred and burn the leaves as incense for purification ceremonies [1]. The plant has been used to treat sore throats, coughs, chest colds, upper respiratory infections, systemic poison oak rashes and acute candidal vaginitis. Native Americans widely used this plant in traditional Chumash healing [2]. Infusion of the leaves is used as a diaphoretic or diuretic [3]. The aqueous ethanolic extract of S. apiana showed moderate CB1 activity (58.3% displacement). The extract was fractionated on silica gel column chromatography using hexanes-acetone gradient to yield 15 fractions. Repeated column chromatography led to isolation of ten compounds, which were identified to be four diterpenes: rosmadial (I), carnosol (II), 16-hydroxycarnosol (III) & sageone (IV), two flavonoids: cirsimaritin (V), & salvigenin (VI), three triterpenes: oleanolic acid, erythrodiol, ursolic acid and a fatty acid: montanic acid. All the fractions and isolated compounds were submitted for biological studies to check for cannabinoid and opioid receptor binding.