Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences

Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences

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

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Zahra Sadeghi 1
Zahra Alizadeh 2
Nunziatina De Tommasi 3
1 Department of Production and Utilization of Medicinal Plants, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Saravan, Saravan, Sistan and Baluchestan, Iran
2 Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, Fisciano, SA 84084, Italy
3 Dipartimento di Farmacia, Universit`a degli Studi di Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, Fisciano, SA 84084, Italy
10.22038/ijbms.2026.95707.20637
Abstract
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 1α-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 55 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 1α-hydroxydemethylsalvicanol, which demonstrated 15.78±0.1% and 12.17±0.1% inhibition at 450 μg/ml, respectively. The EtOAc extract of Salvia abrotanoides aerial part (AP) showed 12.96%±0.1% inhibition, while S. atriplicifulia AP showed 7.83%±0.3% inhibition. EOs were weak inhibitors, not exceeding 5%.
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.
Keywords
Alzheimer disease
Cholinesterase inhibitors
Metabolomics
Phytochemicals
Plant extracts
Salvia
Subjects
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Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 26 September 2026