Chemical studies on nine Salvia species yielded various polyphenolic acids. Eleven of them were depsides of R (+) β (3,4 dihydroxyphenyl) lactic acid and a caffeic acid derivative or caffeic acid dimer. Except the two known depsides, rosmarinic acid and lithospermic acid, this type of depsides has not been isolated from other plant materials before, so they were named salvianolic acid A, B, C, D, E, H, I, J and isosalvianolic acid C. Salvianolic acid F, G and przewalskinic acid A were new polyphenolic acids. Pharmacological studies of these polyphenolic acids showed potent antioxidant activities. The effects of these components in protecting against brain and heart damage have been studied.
