Inhibition of squalene synthase of rat liver by abietane diterpenes derivatives.

In the current study, chemical composition of cultivated Salvia canariensis L was determined. Carnosol was the main product isolated. We prepared more lipophilic derivatives from carnosol, and both isolated and semisynthetic abietane diterpenes were evaluated in vitro as inhibitors of squalene synthase. Among the compounds tested, carnosol was the most potent inhibitor (IC50 = 17.6 μM). These results highlight the great potential of this species for the production of new ingredients in nutritional supplements for the treatment of hyperlipidemia.