Biological Activities of Lamiaceae Species: Bio-Guided Isolation of Active Metabolites from Salvia officinalis L.

Lamiaceae family includes various medicinal and aromatic plants used in cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. The present study aimed to investigate in vitro the cytotoxic, photoprotective and antioxidant activities of ten Lamiaceae taxa; Melissa officinalis subsp. altissima (Sm.) Arcang., Rosmarinus officinalis L., Salvia officinalis L., Sideritis cypria Post, S. euboea Heldr., S. perfoliata L. subsp. perfoliata, S. scardica Griseb., S. sipylea Boiss., Stachys iva Griseb., and Thymus vulgaris L. The aqueous extract of Salvia officinalis was bio-guided fractionated to obtain the main bioactive metabolites, which were evaluated for the aforementioned effects and their wound-healing potential. In total, five compounds were isolated and identified through NMR spectra, namely salvianic acid A, rosmarinic acid, salvianolic acid K, luteolin-3'-O-beta-D-glucuronide and hispidulin-7-O- beta-D-glucuronide. All the compounds were photoprotective and non cytotoxic, while no statistically significant oxidative stress reduction was obtained. Regarding the wound-healing potential, salvianolic acid K was the most promising candidate. Overall, this study suggests photoprotective natural agents from various Lamiaceae species, widely found in Greece, and provides a better insight into Salvia officinalis and its bioactive constituents.

Automated summary

This study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic, photoprotective, and antioxidant activities of ten Lamiaceae plants. The main bioactive metabolites of Salvia officinalis were extracted and evaluated for their wound-healing potential. The study found that several Lamiaceae plants have photoprotective properties, and provided a better understanding of Salvia officinalis and its bioactive constituents.