Diterpenoids from Salvia deserta Schang with antibacterial activity

Bioassay-directed fractionation of the methylene chloride extract of the roots of Salvia deserta Shang was performed to identify the constituents with activity against Cryptococcus neformans and Staphylococcus aureus. The methylene chloride extract was fractionated into eleven fractions (A-L) and subjected to antibacterial bioassay evaluation. Fractions showed significant activity against C. neformans and S. aureus. Two diterpenoids from active fractions, namely taxodione and ferruginol, were isolated and purified by chromatographic methods and identified on the basis of spectroscopic data using ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Taxodione, ferruginol and others diterpenoids were evaluated against C. neformans and S. aureus and dose-response bioactivity data will be reported.