Studies on di- and triterpenoids from Salvia staminea with cytotoxic activity.

A new ursane-type triterpenoid, 3 beta,11 alpha,21 alpha-trihydroxyurs-12-ene, named salvistamineol (1), has been isolated from the methanol extract of Salvia staminea. In addition to 1, the methanol extract yielded four known compounds and the acetone extract yielded twelve known compounds consisting of two sesquiterpenes, six diterpenoids, a triterpenoid, two steroids and one flavone. DNA damaging properties of the extracts and some isolated diterpenes were investigated against three yeasts and only taxodione gave a positive response and also showed the highest cytotoxic activity against a panel of cell lines among the investigated compounds in this study.