Quinone diterpenes from Salvia species: chemistry, botany, and biological activity

A total of 175 abietane quinone diterpenes with ortho- or para-quinone chromophore, namely 11,12-ortho-quinone abietane, 11,14-para-quinone abietane, seco-abietane and abeo-abietanes quinones were surveyed from 130 species of Salvia of central Asia/Mediterranean area, eastern Asia, and Central and South America. An organized information on the phytochemistry and the biological activities, i.e. anti-cancer, antioxidant, anxiolytic and antidepressant, anti-obesity, antinflammatory, as well as antimicrobial and toxicological aspects of these compounds was provided. Due to the many nomenclatural mistakes caused by the abundance of data, and the need to provide the plant knowledge for further chemotaxonomic studies, the results about the botany and the taxonomy of the plant source of these compounds were also summarized.