Identification of Salvia species using high-performance liquid chromatography combined with chemical pattern recognition analysis.[Pubmed: 29105962]

Salvia miltiorrhiza, also known as Danshen, is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and hematological abnormalities. The root and rhizome of Salvia przewalskii and Salvia yunnanensis have been found as substitutes for Salvia miltiorrhiza in the market. In this study, the chemical information of 14 major compounds in Salvia miltiorrhiza and its substitutes were determined using a high-performance liquid chromatography method. Stepwise discriminant analysis was adopted to select the characteristic variables. Partial least squares discriminant and hierarchical cluster analysis were performed to classify Salvia miltiorrhiza and its substitutes. The results showed that all of the samples were correctly classified both in partial least squares discriminant analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis based on the four compounds (caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid, salvianolic acid B, and salvianolic acid A). This method can not only distinguish Salvia miltiorrhiza and its substitutes, but also classify Salvia przewalskii and Salvia yunnanensis. The method can be applied for the quality assessment of Salvia miltiorrhiza and identification of unknown samples.

New phenolic acids from Salvia yunnanensis C.H.Wright.[Pubmed: 28415854]

Two new phenolic acids, ethyl pro-lithospermate (1), n-butyl pro-lithospermate (2) were isolated from Salvia yunnanensis C.H.Wright, along with nineteen known compounds (3-21). The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectrometry and by comparing their physical and spectroscopic data to the literature. Among them, compounds 11, 12 and 14-16 were firstly isolated from S. yunnanensis C.H.Wright. Some of the isolated compounds were evaluated for their neuroprotection. Compounds 10-12 showed significant neuroprotective effects in PC12 cells and compounds 1, 4-7 displayed moderate neuroprotective effects.

Diterpenoids from the Roots of Salvia yunnanensis.[Pubmed: 26667937]

Two new diterpenoids, salyunnanins I and J (1 and 2), together with ten analogues, were isolated from the roots of Salvia yunnanensis. The structures of the new isolates, possessing different neo-clerodane and seco-abietane diterpenoid skeletons respectively, were elucidated on the basis of comprehensive spectroscopic data. All of the compounds were tested for the inhibitory activities against six human tumor lines in vitro, and several ones showed moderate cytotoxic activities.

Cytotoxic diterpenoids from Salvia yunnanensis.[Pubmed: 25081107]

Forty-six abietane type diterpenoids possessing nine different fused ring systems were characterized from the roots of Salvia yunnanensis, six of which (salyunnanins A-F, 1-6) had different nor-abietane, homo-abietane, seco-abietane, and normal abietane architectures. Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive NMR and MS spectroscopic analyses. The inhibitory activities of these isolates against six human tumor lines were tested in vitro. Several of the compounds exhibited substantial cytotoxicity with IC50 values of 0.86-10.1μM.

Explorations of caffeic acid derivatives: total syntheses of rufescenolide, yunnaneic acids C and D, and studies toward yunnaneic acids A and B.[Pubmed: 24328186]

Yunnaneic acids A-D, isolated from the roots of Salvia yunnanensis , are hexameric (A and B) and trimeric (C and D) assemblies of caffeic acid that feature an array of synthetically challenging and structurally interesting domains. In addition to being caffeic acid oligomers, yunnaneic acids A and B are formally dimeric and heterodimeric adducts of yunnaneic acids C and D. Herein we report the first total syntheses of yunnaneic acids C and D featuring the formation of their bicyclo[2.2.2]octene cores in a single step from simple precursors via an oxidative dearomatization/Diels-Alder cascade that may have biogenetic relevance. In addition, exploitation of the key intermediate resulting from this cascade reaction has enabled rapid access to the structurally related caffeic acid metabolite rufescenolide through an unexpected Lewis acid-mediated reduction. Finally, we report the results of extensive model studies toward forming the dimeric yunnaneic acids A and B. These explorations indicate that the innate reactivities of the monomeric fragments do not favor spontaneous formation of the desired dimeric linkages. Consequently, enzymatic involvement may be required for the biosynthesis of these more complex family members.

[Chemical constituents of stems and leaves of Salvia yunnanensis and their anti-angiogeneic activities].[Pubmed: 23717962]

Present study was focused on the chemical constituents of the stems and leaves of Salvia yunnanensis C . H. Wright and their anti-angiogeneic activities. The compounds were isolated by column chromatography over silica gel and Sephadex LH-20, and other isolation techniques. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis and chemical evidences. Their anti-angiogeneic activities were evaluated by the chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) neovascularisation model. Seven compounds were separated and identified as ( + ) -spathulenol( 1), 5,7,4'-trihydroxyflavanone(2) , beta-amyrin(3), 3 beta-hydroxy-12-ursene(4), 2alpha,3 beta-dihydroxyursa-12-en-28-oic acid(5), ursolic acid (6) and 3-oxo-12-ursen-28-oic acid (7). Compounds 1, 2, 5 and 6 were obtained from this plant for the first time. Compounds 5 (an oleanane compound) and 6 (an ursane compound) could inhibit angiogenesis significantly in a dose-dependent manner.