Chemical constituents of Salvia urica Epling, and their antihyperglycemic and antipropulsive effects

Background: Salvia urica Epling is taxonomically and phylogenetically related to Salvia amarissima Ortega. The last species has pharmacological relevance by its contents of bioactive metabolites. Nowadays, Salvia urica has no reports about its chemical constituents and pharmacological activities. Hypothesis: Does the close relationship between S. amarissima and S. urica led both species produce similar specialized metabolites? Does Salvia urica display similar pharmacological effects as S. amarissima? Studied species: Salvia urica Epling (Lamiaceae). Study site and dates: The plant material was collected in Teopisca, Chiapas, Mexico, in December 2021. Methods: Metabolites of the acetone extract from Salvia urica were identified by GC-MS and HPLC-PDA profiling. In parallel, a phytochemical study was conducted, and the individual purified constituents, previously characterized by 1D NMR, were assayed on antihyperglycemic effect in diabetic mice and a charcoal-gum arabic-induced hyperperistalsis model in rats. Results: The volatile compounds identified by GC-MS were alkanes, aromatics and triterpenes. The principal constituents of the acetone extract of Salvia urica were amarissinin A and 5,6-dihydroxy-7,3',4'-trimethoxyflavone, which were also quantified by HPLC-PDA. The extract and both metabolites isolated showed an antihyperglycemic effect on streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, suggesting a possible synergic effect. In addition, the compound 5,6-dihydroxy-7,3',4'-trimethoxyflavone (IC50 = 0.79 mg/kg) showed a better antipropulsive effect than loperamide (IC50 = 16.6 mg/kg). Conclusions: The phytochemical composition of an acetone extract of Salvia urica was determined by first time. The metabolites isolated from this plant support the phylogenetic relationship of S. urica with Salvia amarissima, and they showed antipropulsive and antihyperglycemic effects.