Investigation of metabolits and pharmacological effects of medicinal plant Salvia rhytidea Benth

Different Salvia species have been used as medicinal plants in different parts of the world and therefore attracted the attention of researchers for exploring their chemical constituents. Salvia rhytidea Benth. is one of the endemic species that grows widely in the eastern parts of Iran. In traditional medicine Salvia rhytidea Benth. is known for promoting blood flow and resolving blood stasis and for its antidiabetic and antioxidant properties. Recently researchers have discovered new and potentially bioactive secondary metabolites from this plant.The results of phytochemical screening of different fractions of the methanolic extract of Salvia rhytidea Benth. aerial parts(flowered browse) showed different levels of flavonoids ,tannins and rosmarinic acid. In addition the researchers investigated the petroleum ether extract of the root of this plant.They reported the isolation of different diterpenoids. Results showed that Salvia rhytidea Benth. exhibited a strong antifungal effect against some Candida isolates, hypoglycaemic effect and inhibitory action of alphaglucosidase. Wide range of medicinal properties such as antibacterial, antifungal, antileishmanial, ant-iprotozoal activity against Plasmodium falciparum and Trypanosoma bruceirhodesiense(two micro-organisms responsible for malaria and sleeping diseases, antitumor, anticancer, enzyme inhibition, antioxidant, cytotoxic, antihypertensive, anticholinesterase, insecticideal are reported from different compounds of the roots of Salvia rhytidea Benth.