Anti-Inflammatory Bioactive Compounds from Salvia Plebeia

Summary

Salvia plebeia, a perennial herb long employed in traditional medicine, has been established as a rich source of anti-inflammatory agents. Phytochemical investigations have identified diverse classes of bioactive metabolites, notably flavonoids, phenolic acids, diterpenoids and glycosides. Major constituents such as nepetoidin B, rosmarinic acid and novel diterpenoid skeletons have demonstrated the ability to attenuate pro-inflammatory mediators—including nitric oxide, prostaglandin E₂ and cytokines—through modulation of key signalling pathways. In vitro studies in macrophage models have revealed suppression of nuclear factor-κB activity and activation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1 axis, resulting in enhanced antioxidant defences. Advances in chromatographic and spectrometric techniques have refined the isolation, structural elucidation and quantification of these compounds, enabling detailed structure–activity relationship analyses. The convergence of traditional knowledge with modern biochemical approaches underscores the potential of S. plebeia as a source of lead compounds for novel anti-inflammatory therapeutics with global relevance.

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Anti-Inflammatory Bioactive Compounds from Salvia Plebeia publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in anti-inflammatory bioactive compounds from salvia plebeia across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

NF-κB signalling pathway: A transcription factor cascade that regulates genes involved in inflammation, immune response and cell survival.

Nrf2/HO-1 pathway: A cytoprotective mechanism where Nrf2 induces expression of heme oxygenase-1 to mitigate oxidative stress.

Macrophages: Innate immune cells that produce inflammatory mediators and reactive oxygen species upon activation.

Flavonoids: Polyphenolic compounds with diverse structures, known for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Diterpenoids: A class of terpenoid compounds composed of four isoprene units, often exhibiting bioactive effects including anti-inflammatory activity.

References

  1. Nepetoidin B from Salvia plebeia R. Br. Inhibits Inflammation by Modulating the NF-κB and Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling Pathways in Macrophage Cells. Antioxidants (2021).
  2. Phenolic profiling and quantitative determination of common sage (Salvia plebeia R. Br.) by UPLC-DAD-QTOF/MS. European Food Research and Technology (2018).
  3. Diterpenoids from Saliva plebeia R. Br. and Their Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities. Molecules (2015).

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