Abstract
Genus
Stachys
, the largest genera of the family Lamiaceae, and its species are frequently used as herbal teas due to their essential oils. Tubers of some
Stachys
species are also consumed as important nutrients for humans and animals due to their carbohydrate contents. Three new
neo
-clerodane diterpene peroxides, named stachaegyptin F-H (
1, 2,
and
4
), together with two known compounds, stachysperoxide (
3
) and stachaegyptin A (
5
), were isolated from
Stachys aegyptiaca
aerial parts. Their structures were determined using a combination of spectroscopic techniques, including HR-FAB-MS and extensive 1D and 2D NMR (
1
H,
13
C NMR, DEPT,
1
H-
1
H COSY, HMQC, HMBC and NOESY) analyses. Additionally, a biosynthetic pathway for the isolated compounds (
1
–
5
) was discussed. The chemotaxonomic significance of the isolated diterpenoids of
S. aegyptiaca
in comparison to the previous reported ones from other
Stachys
species was also studied.