P-Coumaric Acid Ester with Potential Antioxidant Activity from the Genus Salvia

Abstract

A phytochemical analysis of the acetone extract of the aerial parts of the plants Salvia splendens and Salvia lanigra yielded a long chain alkyl p-coumaric acid ester; eicosanyl-cis-p-coumarate (1), which has not previously been isolated from Salvia genus, together with two triterpenoids; oleanolic acid (2) and echinocystic acid (3) and two flavonoids; 7-methoxyapigenin (4) and luteolin-7-O-glucoside (5). The structures of these compounds were assigned by spectroscopic analysis and comparison with literature data of known compounds. The antioxidant potential of the p-coumaric acid ester (1) was evaluated, in vitro, by using DPPH for free radical scavenging activity. A moderate free radical scavenging ability was observed.