Experimental Informational Compilation on Isolation From Herbal Sources and Biological Activity of Rosmarinic Acid

Rosmarinic acid is a valuable polyphenolic molecule mainly found in species of Boraginaceae and Lamiaceae. The amount of rosmarinic acid varies according to the environmental condition in which the plant grows, temperature, and humidity. The content of 0.01 to 72 mg/g of rosmarinic acid has been determined in various plants. Biotechnological production of rosmarinic acid by plant cell culture is recommended for its high production. The investigations have mainly addressed sources of rosmarinic acid, its production, and its biological effects. It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and anticancer activities, and it is an important substance for the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries. In addition to its antioxidant effects, it has been tested in recent studies in neurodegenerative diseases and has been found to have beneficial effects in these diseases, especially on memory. In this chapter, attention was drawn to the importance of rosmarinic acid, a valuable chemical, and general information about its phytochemistry, production, and biological activities was reviewed.