HPLC-SPE-NMR Characterization of Major Metabolites in Salvia fruticosa Mill. Extract with Antifungal Potential: Relevance of Carnosic Acid, Carnosol, and Hispidulin

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 2015-01, Vol.63 (2), p.457-463
• Main Authors: Exarchou, Vassiliki, Kanetis, Loukas, Charalambous, Zenovia, Apers, Sandra, Pieters, Luc, Gekas, Vassilis, Goulas, Vlasios
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antifungal Agents - chemistry; Antifungal Agents - isolation & purification; Antifungal Agents - metabolism; Antifungal Agents - pharmacology; antifungal properties; Aspergillus tubingensis; Botrytis cinerea; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Diterpenes, Abietane - chemistry; Diterpenes, Abietane - isolation & purification; Diterpenes, Abietane - metabolism; Diterpenes, Abietane - pharmacology; diterpenoids; ethyl acetate; flavones; Flavones - chemistry; Flavones - isolation & purification; Flavones - metabolism; Flavones - pharmacology; Fungi - drug effects; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; metabolites; Penicillium digitatum; phytopharmaceuticals; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Extracts - isolation & purification; Plant Extracts - metabolism; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; plant pathogenic fungi; Salvia - chemistry; Salvia - metabolism; Salvia fruticosa
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/jf5050734

Plant pathogenic fungi are considered of significant economic importance for adversely affecting both quantitatively and qualitatively fresh and processed produce. Extracts of Salvia fruticosa were initially screened for their antifungal activity, and the ethyl acetate fraction, being the most active, was further analyzed using HPLC-SPE-NMR hyphenation. The methoxylated flavones hispidulin, salvigenin, and cirsimaritin and the diterpenes carnosic acid, carnosol, and 12-methoxycarnosic acid were identified as the major components of the extract. In addition, the concentration levels of all identified components were determined using q-NMR. The antifungal activity of the crude extract and selected phytochemicals was estimated against the fungal species Aspergillus tubingensis, Botrytis cinerea, and Penicillium digitatum. The estimated MIC and MFC values of the ethyl acetate extract of S. fruticosa, as well as three of its major constituents, carnosic acid, carnosol, and hispidulin, support their antifungal activity, especially against B. cinerea and P. digitatum, suggesting their potential use in food and agricultural systems.