Neuroprotective Effects of Carnosic Acid
Carnosic acid is a diterpenoid abundantly present in plants belonging to the genus Rosmarinus and Salvia of the family Lamiaceae, accounting for their application in traditional medicine. The diverse biological properties of carnosic acid that include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticarcinogenic activities have instigated studies on its mechanistic role, providing further insights into its potential as a therapeutic agent. Accumulating evidence has established the relevance of carnosic acid as a neuroprotective agent exhibiting therapeutic efficacy in combatting neuronal-injury-induced disorders.
Neuronal injury is a major factor contributing to various neurological disorders. Despite advancements in the field of medicine and neuroscience, most neurological disorders remain incurable. Currently approved drugs for the treatment of neurological disorders focus on symptomatic relief rather than cure. Recently, there has been an interest in natural products and their therapeutic potential against these disorders. The plants from the genus Rosmarinus and Salvia, belonging to the family Lamiaceae, are the natural sources of carnosic acid (CA) and other natural compounds, which are being widely studied for their therapeutic effects against various conditions .
Salvia Rosmarinus, belonging to the family Lamiaceae, is native to the Mediterranean but is now found abundantly throughout the world. Commonly referred to as ‘rosemary’, it has been used as an herbal spice in food and has been a constituent of traditional therapies for various illnesses, including inflammatory diseases, headaches, and gastrointestinal issues . Rosemary possesses significant intrinsic antioxidant activity that has been attributed to its major constituents, rosmarinic acid and carnosic acid (CA), which have demonstrated neuroprotective activity in various neurodegenerative diseases
CA is the most abundant compound in rosemary leaves, accounting for 90% of its antioxidant activity CA is a diterpenoid with an abietane skeleton. Its structure comprises abieta-8,11,13-triene substituted by hydroxy groups at positions 11 and 12 and a carboxy group at position 20. This carbotricyclic polyphenolic compound is a monocarboxylic acid and a conjugate acid of a carnosate . It is a lipophilic antioxidant that scavenges singlet oxygen, hydroxyl radicals, and lipid peroxyl radicals, thus preventing lipid peroxidation and disruption of biological membranes
