Correction to: Increasing the synthesis of bioactive abietane diterpenes in Salvia sclarea hairy roots by elicited transcriptional reprogramming.[Pubmed: 30097677]

Unfortunately, the second author name was wrongly published in the original publication. The correct author name should read as follows.

Coactivation of MEP-biosynthetic genes and accumulation of abietane diterpenes in Salvia sclarea by heterologous expression of WRKY and MYC2 transcription factors.[Pubmed: 30030474]

Plant abietane diterpenoids (e.g. aethiopinone, 1- oxoaethiopinone, salvipisone and ferruginol), synthesized in the roots of several Salvia spp, have antibacterial, antifungal, sedative and anti-proliferative properties. Recently we have reported that content of these compounds in S. sclarea hairy roots is strongly depending on transcriptional regulation of genes belonging to the plastidial MEP-dependent terpenoid pathway, from which they mostly derive. To boost the synthesis of this interesting class of compounds, heterologous AtWRKY18, AtWRKY40, and AtMYC2 TFs were overexpressed in S. sclarea hairy roots and proved to regulate in a coordinated manner the expression of several genes encoding enzymes of the MEP-dependent pathway, especially DXS, DXR, GGPPS and CPPS. The content of total abietane diterpenes was enhanced in all overexpressing lines, although in a variable manner due to a negative pleiotropic effect on HR growth. Interestingly, in the best performing HR lines overexpressing the AtWRKY40 TF induced a significant 4-fold increase in the final yield of aethiopinone, for which we have reported an interesting anti-proliferative activity against resistant melanoma cells. The present results are also informative and instrumental to enhance the synthesis of abietane diterpenes derived from the plastidial MEP-derived terpenoid pathway in other Salvia species.

Phytochemical Compositions and Antidiabetic Potentials of Salvia sclarea L. Essential Oils.[Pubmed: 30012894]

Salvia sclarea (SS) is characterized by its valuable essential oils (Eos) and potent biological activities. This study aimed at investigating the phytochemical composition of SS Eos collected in within the same week, from two different regions in Lebanon, Beirut (SS-Bt) and Taanayel (SS-Tl), utilizing GC-MS methods, and to explore their acute and subchronic antidiabetic potentials. Moreover, studying the phytochemical diversity of twenty SS Eos established on our work and literature descriptions in order to recognize the origin of the Lebanese active chemotype(s). The Eos have been obtained by hydro-distillation and identified via GC-MS analyses. Five chemotypes of SS Eos have been identified. The Lebanese Eos, SS-Bt and SS-Tl, studied here have shown evidence to belong to two different chemotypes 1 and 5, respectively. SS-Bt has shown to belong to chemotype 1, which is characterized by high linalool (LL) concentration (average 40.2%). On the other hand, SS-Tl has shown to belong to chemotype 5, which is characterized by high linalyl acetate (LA) concentration (average 50.4%). The acute and subchronic antidiabetic activities of these EOs have been monitored along with LL and LA, in order to find the most active chemotype. Chemotypes 1 (owned to high LL content), present at low altitude places of Lebanon and Poland, has shown significantly higher acute and subchronic antidiabetic activities than that of chemotype 5 (owned to high LA content). In conclusion, Salvia sclarea Eos have shown potential antidiabetic activities, and their Eos might be used in the future as a complementary or an alternative medicine in the management of diabetes and related complications.

Activity of selected essential oils on spoiling fungi cultured from Marzolino cheese.[Pubmed: 29936811]

Microscopic fungi can be present on a variety of foodstuff, including cheese. They can be responsible for fungal spoilage, causing sensory changes making food unacceptable for human consumption, and posing severe health concerns. Furthermore, some of these organisms are able to resist antimicrobial preservatives provided for by law. Antifungal activity of 15 chemically defined EOs, alone and in mixture, were checked by a microdilution test against isolates of Penicillium funiculosum and Mucor racemosus cultured from rinds of Marzolino, a typical Italian fresh pecorino cheese. Origanum vulgare yielded the lowest MIC values, followed by Salvia sclarea, Ocimum basilicum and Cymbopogon citratus, while Citrus paradisi and Citrus limon were not active. All mixtures showed antifungal activity at lower concentration with respect to MIC values of each EO component, when not in combination. This study is the first to describe the setting up of EOs mixtures to limit spoiling moulds.

New insights into the in vitro biological effects, in silico docking and chemical profile of clary sage - Salvia sclarea L.[Pubmed: 29772456]

Salvia sclarea L. is traditionally used to manage common human ailments and is consumed as a food product. This study aimed to establish the phytochemical profile and antioxidant potential of ethyl acetate, methanol, and water extracts of Salvia sclarea. The inhibitory action of the extracts against α-amylase, α-glucosidase, acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, and tyrosinase was also investigated. Methanol extract showed the highest phenolic and flavonoid contents (81.78 mg GAE/g extract and 40.59 mg RE/g extract, respectively). Reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector analysis revealed that S. sclarea was rich in rosmarinic acid. The water extract exhibited the lowest inhibitory activity against α-amylase but the upmost activity against α-glucosidase (0.19 and 18.24 mmol ACAE/g extract, respectively). Experimental data showed that only the water extract (8.86 mg KAE/g extract) significantly inhibited tyrosinase. Docking studies showed that quercetin binds to tyrosinase by two hydrogen and a pi-pi bonds. Salvia sclarea showed interesting biological activity against key enzymes involved in the pathogenesis of common ailments.

Comparison of Chemical Profile and Antioxidant Capacity of Seeds and Oils from Salvia sclarea and Salvia officinalis.[Pubmed: 28865183]

Composition of tocopherols, tocotrienols, carotenoids, fatty acids, as well as hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidant activities, were determined in seeds of two Salvia species and oils obtained from them. Both seeds contained a large amount of oil (around 20%) rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids. While Salvia officinalis seed oil can be classified as oleic-linoleic oil, the predominant fatty acid in Salvia sclarea was α-linolenic acid (around 54%). Among tocols, the main isomers in both seeds and oils were γ-tocopherol, followed by α-tocopherol. Concerning carotenoids, their concentration was around 0.75 mg/100 g of seeds and 0.16 mg/100 g of oils, with a predominance of lutein. Oil and seeds of S. officinalis exhibited higher antioxidant potential compared to S. sclarea investigated samples which could be attributed to higher content of total vitamin E and carotenoids. This study provides results that enables use of two Salvia species as new alternative sources of vegetable oils.