Chemical Composition and Biological Activity of Rosmatin, a Dry Extract from Dracocephalum moldavica L.

Moldavian dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica L.) is an annual herb. A new variety (Nezhnost) of this herb has been bred at the All-Russian Research Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (ARRIMAP), and a technology for obtaining a dry purified extract named “Rosmatin” has been developed. The NMR (1H and 13C) and HPLC-UV-MS analysis of the extract using standard samples and published data has determined the qualitative and quantitative composition of Rosmatin. The following phenolic compounds have been identified: rosmarinic, caffeic, and ferulic acids; rosmarinic acid 3-O-glucoside; luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucuronide; acacetin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (tilianin); apigenin-7-O-β-D-glucoside (cosmosiin); apigenin-7-O-β-D-glucuronide; apigenin-7-O-β-D-(6''-O-malonyl) glucoside; chrysoeryol-7-O-β-D-glucuronide; acacetin-7-O-β-D-glucuronide; acacetin-7-O-β-D-(6''-malonyl) glucoside; and schizotenuin F. The content of rosmarinic acid in the Rosmatin extract is 56.6%, and the total content of flavonoids is ~27%. The anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective activity of Rosmatin at the dosages of 10 and 100 mg/kg has been studied. A dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effect with the suppressed development of the exudative phase of inflammation as well as a dose-dependent gastroprotective effect significantly exceeding that of the reference drug (omeprazole) has been revealed. As found earlier, Rosmatin also has a tonic effect on the cardiovascular and nervous systems.