Antidiabetic and cytotoxic polyhydroxylated oleanane and ursane type triterpenoids from Salvia grossheimii

[Display omitted] •Nine oleanane and ursane triterpenoids were isolated from Salvia grossheimii.•The compounds were tested for α-glucosidase inhibitory and cytotoxic activities against MCF-7.•The compounds were analyzed by molecular docking to investigate the SAR of their α-glucosidase inhibition. Two polyhydroxylated oleanane and seven ursane triterpenoids were isolated from aerial parts of Salvia grossheimii. The chemical structures of the undescribed triterpenoids (1–6) were characterized using 1 and 2 D NMR and ESI-MS spectral data as; 2α, 3β, 11α –trihydroxy-olean-12- ene (1), 2α, 3β, 11α-trihydroxy-olean-18-ene (2), 2α- acetoxy-urs-12-ene-3β, 11α, 20β-triol (3), 3-keto-urs-12-ene-1β, 11α, 20β -triol (4), 2α, 3β-diacetoxy-urs-12-ene-1β, 11α, 20β -triol (5), and 3β-acetoxy-urs-12-ene-1β, 11α, 20β –triol (6). All compounds were evaluated for the in vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory and cytotoxic activities against MCF-7 human cancer cell line. Compounds 1, 2, 4, and 6 showed in vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC50 = 43.6–198.4 µM, which were more potent than the antidiabetic medicine, acarbose. The remaining compounds; 3, and 7–9 showed potent cytotoxic activity (IC50 = 6.2–31.9 µM) against the cancerous cell line, while the potent α-glucosidase inhibitors were inactive. Molecular docking analysis and kinetic studies were applied to investigate the structure activity relationships and mechanisms of the human and Saccharomyces cerevisiae α-glucosidase inhibitory of the purified compounds. Comparing the high cytotoxicity and α-glucosidase inhibitory of the oleanane and ursane type triterpenoids suggest them as potential lead compounds for further research in anticancer and antidiabetic research.