Chemistry of South African Lamiaceae: Structures and Biological Activity of Terpenoids

South Africa flora is one of the most important mega floras with high endemic species percentage. Lamiaceae is an important family in South Africa with ±308 species in 41 genera and contains many important plants (~23%) traditionally used for treatment of different human diseases. The chemical profile of Lamiaceae is very rich in terpenoids in general and more specifically diterpenes. Genera like Leonotis and Plectranthus are well studied, while on the other hand, genus like Stachys (~41 species, ~50% endemic) didn’t receive any attention. Different classes of diterpenes were identified and some of them demonstrating important biological activities.