Labdane

Labdane is a class of natural products within the diterpene family. The defining feature is the labdane skeleton, a bicyclic framework forming a C20 diterpene, typically with various substituents that give rise to many derivatives. The name comes from labdanum, a sticky resin secreted by certain shrubs, notably Cistus ladanifer, used since antiquity in perfumery; labdanum supplies many naturally occurring labdane compounds that were first characterized from that resin.

Labdane diterpenes occur in a variety of plant sources, especially in essential oils and resins. Notable sources include labdanum resin and clary sage (Salvia sclarea), from which several labdane derivatives have been isolated. The class includes oxygenated derivatives such as sclareol, a prominent labdane diterpene found in clary sage that is used in fragrance chemistry and studies of biosynthesis.

Chemically, labdane compounds are characterized by a bicyclic, decalin-like core with side chains and various functional groups. They serve as intermediates in natural product biosynthesis and have attracted attention for potential biological activities, including antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as pharmaceutical and industrial applications.