BIOACTIVE DITERPENOIDS ISOLATED FROM SALVIA-MELLIFERA

Eight diterpenoids were isolated from the roots of Salvia mellifera Gr eene, Their structures were elucidated by comparison to their physical and spectroscopy data with those reported in the literature or that o f authentic samples as: abieta-8,11,13-triene, ferruginol, 15-deoxi-fu erstione, taxodione, isotanishinone III, rolyeanone, 7 alpha-hydroxi-r olyleanone and demethylsalvicanol, Demethylsalvican-11-12-dione was ob tained by oxidation with Ag2O from demethylsalvicanol, Compounds ferru ginol, taxodione, isotanshinone III, and 7 alpha-hydroxi-royleanone sh owed cytotoxic activity against both HeLa and Hep-2 cells in culture, Royleanone and demethylsalvican-11-12-dione were active on Hep-2 and H eLa cells respectively, Antimicrobial activity against some Gram (+) b acteria was observed for the diterpenoids ferruginol, taxodione, 7 alp ha-hydroxi-royleanone and demethylsalvican-11-12-dione. None of them w as active on Gram (-) bacteria or Candida albicans.