52nd International Chemistry Olympiad, Istanbul, TURKEY
Preparatory problems: THEORETICAL
Problem 1. Salvia Species Growing in Turkey: Isolation and Total Synthesis of Abietane Diterpenoids The genus Salvia, named after a Latin word, salvare (“healer”), has a variety of species with important medicinal activities. They have been used for the treatment of colds, flu, and menstrual disorders in most regions of the world since ancient times. In Turkish folk medicine, Salvia L. species have also been used as a carminative, diuretic, hemostatic, spasmolitic, and stomachic, and in the treatment of mouth and throat irritations due to their antibacterial and wound healing properties. The genus Salvia includes over 900 species across the world, 58 of which are endemic in Turkey. Female Turkish scientists Ulubelen & Topçu with co-workers have studied Anatolian Salvia plants growing in Turkey, and isolated and characterized more than 320 natural products, most of which are terpenoids, while one third are new diterpenoids.
In one of their studies on Salvia multicaulis Vahl., Ulubelen & Topçu isolated four new aromatic abietane norditerpenoids (1–4), which showed strong antituberculous activity. In addition to the antibacterial and antifungal activities of the isolated diterpenoids, the plant extracts also showed antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and cholinesterase inhibitory activities. S. multicaulis has folkloric use in Anatolia, such as an appetizer, for wound healing, against scorpion stings, and in the treatment of respiratory and urinary infections and diabetes.
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