Rosmanol: a natural bioactive compound unveiling multifaceted nutritional, pharmacological, and health advantages

In recent years, as innovative research continues to highlight the health benefits of plants, there is now a growing global interest in using medicinal plants as alternatives to conventional drugs, especially in response to the widespread prevalence of chronic inflammation, the limitations of current treatment options, and the emerging issue of antibiotic resistance. Traditional Mediterranean medicine has long relied on rosemary, a medicinal plant and culinary spice, for centuries to treat a variety of illnesses. In this context, rosmanol, a phenolic diterpene lactone commonly found in various plants belonging to the Lamiaceae and Fabaceae families, has garnered attention from researchers due to its intriguing potential. Rosmanol has demonstrated significant pharmacological properties, including antidiabetic, anticancer, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, antinociceptive, neuroprotective, anti-allergic, and immunomodulatory activities, as indicated by several in silico, in vivo, and in vitro studies. It exhibits diverse anticancer effects by inducing cell cycle arrest, enhancing apoptosis and autophagy, and obstructing the signal transduction pathways that lead to tumor cell death. Moreover, regarding its antidiabetic activity, rosmanol could delay the availability of glucose in the bloodstream by blocking the key enzymes responsible for this action. Additionally, rosmanol exerts an anti-inflammatory action by suppressing lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). It also possesses antibacterial activity, acting on the bacterial membrane to impair electron transport and fatty acid production. Other findings showed that rosmanol presented a more effective antioxidant potential compared to synthetic antioxidants. Concerning its anti-viral properties, rosmanol demonstrated significant binding affinities for the major protease and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) and has been shown to inhibit human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 protease. With its ability to improve immune system function, rosmanol could be a promising drug for suppressing the main NF-κB pathway linked to allergic asthma. This bioactive molecule has proved beneficial in reducing anxiety, improving memory, and promoting neuroprotection. Therefore, the purpose of this first in-depth review, to the best of our knowledge, is to address the research gaps regarding rosmanol, focusing on its natural origins, extraction methods, biological potential, and specific mechanisms of action. By overcoming these major issues, this investigation will contribute to advancing our current scientific insight into rosmanol.