LC-MS-based metabolomic profiling and anti-acetylcholinesterase study of selected Salvia subg. Perovskia species

Objective(s): This study focused on three Salvia subg. Perovskia species, Salvia yangii, Salvia abrotanoides, and Salvia artemisioides, aromatic perennials native to Iran’s Baluchestan region and traditionally used in European, Chinese, Iranian, and Ayurvedic medicine to manage memory impairment and dementia. The research aimed to characterize their extracts and essential oil (EO) metabolites, and to evaluate their anti-acetylcholinesterase potential to identify bioactive compounds associated with cognitive health.Materials and Methods: In this study, a high-performance liquid chromatography-based approach coupled with linear ion trap-Orbitrap mass spectrometry (HPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap) and GC-MS techniques were used for metabolomics of extracts and essential oils, respectively. Four pure compounds (carnosol, carnosic acid, cryptotanshinone, and ۱α-hydroxydemethylsalvicanol), as well as extracts and EOs, were tested for their ability to inhibit acetylcholinesterase using the Ellman method.Results: LC-MS analysis of ethyl acetate extracts revealed ۵۵ compounds, most of which were diterpenoids. The primary components found in all three species were carnosol, deoxocarnosol, carnosic acid, rosmanol, and ethoxyrosmanol. The most effective inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were found to be the pure substances cryptotanshinone and ۱α-hydroxydemethylsalvicanol, which demonstrated ۱۵.۷۸±۰.۱% and ۱۲.۱۷±۰.۱% inhibition at ۴۵۰ μg/ml, respectively. The EtOAc extract of Salvia abrotanoides aerial part (AP) showed ۱۲.۹۶%±۰.۱% inhibition, while S. atriplicifulia AP showed ۷.۸۳%±۰.۳% inhibition. EOs were weak inhibitors, not exceeding ۵%.Conclusion: The findings indicate that pure compounds from selected plants hold promise for developing dietary supplements for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), whereas extracts and EOs exhibited limited effects and no significant synergy.

کلیدواژه ها:

Alzheimer disease ، Cholinesterase Inhibitors ، Metabolomics ، Phytochemicals ، Plant extracts ، Salvia