Phenolics and eudesmanolide from aged common sage exudate with sugar

Area of Science:

• Phytochemistry
• Natural Products Chemistry
• Organic Chemistry

Background:

• Common sage (Salvia officinalis) is a widely used medicinal herb.
• The chemical composition of aged common sage exudate with sugar (ACSE) is not well-characterized.
• Understanding the phytochemical profile of ACSE can reveal novel compounds and their potential applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and identify compounds from ACSE.
• To characterize the chemical differences between ACSE and fresh common sage.
• To discover new natural products from aged sage exudate.

Main Methods:

• Extraction and isolation of compounds from ACSE.
• Structure elucidation using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Mass Spectrometry (MS).
• Comparative analysis of compounds in ACSE and fresh common sage.

Main Results:

• Nineteen compounds were isolated from ACSE, including one new flavanone (6-methoxy-7,8,3',5'-tetrahydroxyflavanone, 12).
• Seven compounds (levodopa methyl ester, 1; (S)-8-hydroxy-4-hydroxy-phenylpropanoic acid, 3; 4-hydroxybenzoic acid ethyl ester, 4; esculetin, 7; (S)-8-hydroxy-3,4-dihydroxy-phenylpropanoic acid ethyl ester, 8; trans-caffeic acid ethyl ester, 14; and 1α-acetoxy-2-oxo-eudesman-3,7(11)-dien-8β,12-olide, 18) were newly identified in common sage.
• Fifteen phenolic compounds were detected in ACSE, whereas only trans-rosmarinic acid (10) was found in fresh common sage.

Conclusions:

• ACSE is a rich source of diverse phytochemicals, including novel compounds.
• The aging process significantly alters the chemical profile of common sage exudate.
• The identified compounds may contribute to the traditional uses and potential bioactivities of aged common sage preparations.