Two new abietane diterpenoids, 2-oxocandesalvone A and salvipalestinoic acid, and a new methoxylupane derivative have been isolated from the aerial parts of Salvia palaestina. Several previously known triterpenes and abietane diterpenes have also been found in the same plant, together with sitosterol, 5-hydroxy-7,4′-dimethoxyflavone and a mixture of fatty acid esters of tyrosol. The structures of the new compounds [11,12,14-trihydroxy-19(4 → 3)- abeo-3,8,11,13-abietatetraen-2,7-dione (2-oxocandesalvone A), 12,14-dihydroxy-7-oxo-2,3-seco-8,11,13-abietatrien-2,11-olide-3-oic acid (salvipalestinoic acid) and 2α-methoxylup-20(29)-en-3β-ol] were established by spectroscopic means.© 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved