Bioactive Diterpenoids Isolated from Salvia mellifera

Eight diterpenoids were isolated from the roots of Salvia mellifera Greene. Their structures were elucidated by comparison to their physical and spectroscopy data with those reported in the literature or that of authentic samples as: abieta‐8,11,13‐triene, ferruginol, 15‐deoxi‐fuerstione, taxodione, isotanishinone III, rolyeanone, 7αsl‐hydroxi‐rolyleanone and demethylsalvicanol. Demethylsalvican‐11‐12‐dione was obtained by oxidation with Ag2O from demethylsalvicanol. Compounds ferruginol, taxodione, isotanshinone III, and 7αsl‐hydroxi‐royleanone showed cytotoxic activity against both HeLa and Hep‐2 cells in culture. Royleanone and demethylsalvican‐11‐12‐dione were active on Hep‐2 and HeLa cells respectively. Antimicrobial activity against some Gram (+) bacteria was observed for the diterpenoids ferruginol, taxodione, 7α‐hydroxi‐royleanone and demethylsalvican‐11‐12‐dione. None of them was active on Gram (−) bacteria or Candida albicans.