[Diterpene and phenylpropanoid heteroside esters from Ballota nigra L]

A preliminary survey of the botanical characters of the species Ballota nigra and of its subspecies is reported. Phytochemical investigation of the flowered aerial parts led us to isolation and structural elucidation of one diterpene (13-hydroxyballonigrinolide) and four phenylpropanoid glycosides reported for the first time from the genus Ballota: verbascoside, forsythoside B, arenarioside and ballotetroside. These compounds appear to be characteristic of this species and could be used for the standardization of the drug. Moreover, the four phenylpropanoid glycosides isolated could justify the use of Ballota nigra as a neurosedative drug.