Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) – A Mediterranean medicinal plant with a versatile range of active compounds

Rosemary is one of the most important Mediterranean medicinal and culinary plants. Characteristic marker compounds such as carnosic acid, carnosol and rosmarinic acid play a central role in the analytical characterisation and quality assessment of raw materials and extracts.

Rosemary is far more than a popular culinary herb. Originally native to the Mediterranean region, the plant has been valued for centuries in traditional medicine as well as in the food and cosmetics industries. Alongside its characteristic aroma, it is distinguished by a complex range of bioactive constituents that make rosemary an analytically and pharmacologically interesting plant species.

Its most important phytochemical constituents include phenolic diterpenes such as carnosic acid, carnosol and rosmanol, which are largely responsible for the plant’s antioxidant properties. This active profile is complemented by rosmarinic acid, a characteristic compound with antioxidant and inflammation-modulating properties. In addition, rosemary contains a number of essential oil components such as camphor, 1,8-cineole, α-pinene and borneol, which shape its typical aroma and contribute to its overall character.

Owing to the different classes of compounds and their varying concentrations, the analytical investigation of rosemary raw materials and extracts calls for suitable separation and detection methods. The quantification of carnosic acid, carnosol and rosmarinic acid by HPLC or LC-MS in particular places high demands on the quality of the reference materials used. High-purity reference substances are decisive here for reliable identification, quantification and quality assessment.

Whether for routine analysis, stability studies or the development of new methods: with phyproof reference substances for the relevant marker compounds from Salvia rosmarinus, you create the basis for precise analytical characterisation and standardised quality control of this versatile medicinal and useful plant.