Polyphenolics of Salvia—a review

• Published in: Phytochemistry 2002-01, Vol.59 (2), p.117-140
• Main Authors: Lu, Yinrong, Yeap Foo, L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents - chemistry; Antineoplastic Agents - isolation & purification; Antioxidants - chemistry; Antioxidants - isolation & purification; Biological and medical sciences; Chemical constitution; Flavonoids - chemistry; Flavonoids - isolation & purification; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Hydroxybenzoates - chemistry; Hydroxybenzoates - isolation & purification; Phenols - chemistry; Phenols - isolation & purification; Plant physiology and development; Plants, Medicinal - chemistry; Polymers - chemistry; Polymers - isolation & purification; Salvia - chemistry
• ISSN: 0031-9422; 1873-3700
• DOI: 10.1016/S0031-9422(01)00415-0

Salvia is an important genus widely cultivated and used in flavouring and folk medicines. The genus has attracted great interest so much so that it has been the subject of numerous chemical studies. It is a rich source of polyphenols, with an excess of 160 polyphenols having been identified, some of which are unique to the genus. A large number of these polyphenolic compounds are apparently constructed from the caffeic acid building block via a variety of condensation reactions. The nature of these polyphenols which have been reported is compiled in this report together with some bioactivity data in an effort to show the rapid development in the phytochemistry and the therapeutic applications of the Salvia species. The intense interest in the chemistry and bioactivity of the genus Salvia is reflected in the proliferation of the reports made on the genus. This review covers 168 studies which described in excess 160 diverse type of polyphenols, many of which are unique to the genus and characterised by their construction via a variety of condensation reactions involving caffeic acid as the building blocks.