The sterol, amino acid, mineral, total phenolic, and total flavonoid
contents, and the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antibiofilm activities of
Salvia candidissima subsp. candidissima mericarps were investigated. The
mericarps were collected in the province of Bayburt, Turkey. Gas
chromatography was used for sterol analysis, Prominence ultra-fast liquid
chromatography for amino acid analysis, and ICPMS for mineral analysis.
Folin-Ciocalteu, Al(NO3)3, and DPPH radical scavenging activity assays were
performed on ethanol extracts of the mericarps to evaluate the total
phenolic and flavonoid contents, and antioxidant potential, respectively.
The ethanol and hexane extracts of the mericarps were tested for their
antimicrobial activity against seven bacterial and three fungal strains
using the microdilution method and for antibiofilm activity against
Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm using the crystal violet staining method. The
sterol, amino acid, and mineral contents and antibiofilm activity of the
mericarps were studied for the first time. The most abundant components of
the mericarps are determined as ?-sitosterol (69.8%), glutamic acid (4895
mg/100 g), and potassium (11474 ?g/g). The results of total phenolic and
flavonoid contents and DPPH free radical scavenging activity were 3.47 ?g
GAE/mg extract, 0.35 ?g QE/mg extract, and 79.79%, respectively. Both of the
tested extracts exhibited antimicrobial activity against all the tested
microorganisms, however, the efficiency of the extracts was not as strong as
the reference drugs ampicillin and fluconazole. While both extracts were
effective in preventing biofilm formation, the ethanol extract was found to
be more effective than the hexane extract in preformed biofilm inhibition.
In conclusion, S. candidissima subsp. candidissima mericarps have good
nutritional potential with high amounts of amino acids, sterols (especially
?-sitosterol), minerals, and phenolics and flavonoids. Additionally, our
findings provide important preliminary data for the literature in terms of
the antibiofilm activity of Salvia candidissima subsp. candidissima
mericarps.