Mediterranean Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) is a producer of cyclobutane-containing terpenes

Mediterranean Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) is a producer of cyclobutane-containing terpenes Full article

Journal

PTOLEMY JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
ISSN: 3135-0542

Output data

Year: 2026, Volume: 6, Number: 1, Pages: 17-24 Pages count : 8 DOI: 10.30538/psrp-pjc2026.0027

Authors

Dembitsky V.M. ¹ , Hanuš L. ² , Maslov L.N. ³ , Terent’ev A.O. ¹

Affiliations

1	N.D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky Prospect, 47, Moscow, 119334
2	Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Ein Kerem, Campus, Jerusalem, Israel , 91120
3	Cardiology Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, Tomsk, Russia, 634012

For the first time, the chemical composition of essential oils obtained from the leaves and flowers of Mediterranean rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) collected in forested areas surrounding Jerusalem has been investigated. Gas chromatographic analysis revealed that the essential oils are dominated by structurally unusual terpenoids containing a cyclobutane ring. A comprehensive survey of the literature further demonstrates that S. rosmarinus is a prolific natural source of cyclobutane-containing terpenes, with approximately 40 such compounds reported to date. These rare terpenoid frameworks are of particular interest due to their uncommon ring strain and distinct biosynthetic origin. In addition, available data on the biological activities of the major cyclobutane-containing terpenes are summarized, highlighting their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cytotoxic properties. Collectively, these findings underscore rosemary as a unique producer of cyclobutane terpenoids and emphasize the pharmacological potential of this rare class of natural products.

Dembitsky V.M. , Hanuš L. , Maslov L.N. , Terent’ev A.O.
Mediterranean Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) is a producer of cyclobutane-containing terpenes
PTOLEMY JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY. 2026. V.6. N1. P.17-24. DOI: 10.30538/psrp-pjc2026.0027 OpenAlex

Accepted:	Feb 12, 2025
Submitted:	Dec 26, 2025
Published online:	Apr 23, 2026

≡ OpenAlex:

W7172353572