title: Acetylcholine esterase inhibitors and melanin synthesis inhibitors from Salvia officinalis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Salvia officinalis is a traditionally used herb with a wide range of medicinal applications. Many phytoconstituents have been isolated from S. officinalis, mainly phenolic diterpenes, which possess many biological activities.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate the ability of the phenolic diterpenes of S. officinalis to inhibit acetylcholine esterase (AChE) as well as their ability to inhibit melanin biosynthesis in B16 melanoma cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  The phenolic diterpenes isolated from the aerial parts of S. officinalis were tested for their effect on melanin biosynthesis in B16 melanoma cell lines. They were also tested for their ability to inhibit AChE using Ellman's method. Moreover, a molecular docking experiment was used to investigate the binding affinity of the isolated phenolic diterpenes to the amino acid residues at the active sites of AChE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven phenolic diterpenes-sageone, 12-methylcarnosol, carnosol, 7b-methoxyrosmanol, 7a-methoxyrosmanol, isorosmanol and epirosmanol-were isolated from the methanolic extract of the aerial parts of S. officinalis. Isorosmanol showed a melanin-inhibiting activity as potent as that of arbutin. Compounds 7a-methoxyrosmanol and isorosmanol inhibited AChE activity by 50% and 65%, respectively, at a concentration of 500 µM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that isorosmanol is a promising natural compound for further studies on development of new medications which might be useful in ageing disorders such as the declining of cognitive functions and hyperpigmentation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516 Egypt. Electronic address: amal14sallam@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Amal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sallam
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516 Egypt.
authors.forename: Amira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mira
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516 Egypt.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ashour
authors.affiliation: Department of Agro-environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Kuniyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimizu
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000187:drug effects*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004534:Egypt; D006801:Humans; D008543:Melanins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010636:Phenols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D027543:Salvia officinalis / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D004224:Diterpenes; D008543:Melanins; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000109:Acetylcholine
keywords: Acetylcholine esterase; Melanin; Phenolic diterpenes; Salvia officinalis