In-vitro activity of S. lavandulaefolia (Spanish sage) relevant to treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

Salvia lavandulaefolia Vahl. (Spanish sage) essential oil and individual monoterpenoid constituents have been shown to inhibit the enzyme acetylcholinesterase in-vitro and in-vivo. This activity is relevant to the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, since anticholinesterase drugs are currently the only drugs available to treat Alzheimer's disease. Other activities relevant to Alzheimer's disease include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and estrogenic effects. Results of in-vitro tests for these activities are reported here for S. lavandulaefolia extracts, the essential oil and its major constituents. Antioxidant activity (inhibition of bovine brain liposome peroxidation) was found in the EtOH extract of the dried herb (5 mg mL(-1)) and the monoterpenoids (0.1 M) alpha- and beta-pinene and 1,8-cineole. Thujone and geraniol had lower antioxidant effects, while camphor had no antioxidant effects. Possible anti-inflammatory activity (eicosanoid inhibition in rat leucocytes) was found in the EtOH extract (50 microg mL(-1)) and was shown by the monoterpenoids alpha-pinene and geraniol (0.2 mM), but not 1,8-cineole, thujone or camphor. Possible estrogenic activity (via induction of beta-galactosidase activity in yeast cells) was found in the essential oil (0.01 mg mL(-1)) and the monoterpenoid geraniol (0.1-2 mM). 1,8-Cineole, alpha- and beta-pinene and thujone did not exhibit estrogenic activity in this analysis. These results demonstrate that S. lavandulaefolia, its essential oil and some chemical constituents have properties relevant to the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and provide further data supporting the value of carrying out clinical studies in patients with Alzheimer's disease using this plant species.

Effects of Cholinesterase Inhibiting Sage (Salvia officinalis) on Mood, Anxiety and Performance on a Psychological Stressor Battery

“…This suggests that treatments that predominantly inhibit BuChE (as here) may prove particularly efficacious in the augmentation of ACh levels. Added to this, the mood improvements seen here and elsewhere in humans, and other key properties that may slow the pathogenesis of disease or natural decline (eg antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, oestrogenic (Perry et al, 2001), suggest that sage may well confer a number of benefits above and beyond current treatments. Preliminary support for this is provided by the two studies that have assessed the effects of sage species in AD.…”

Inhibitory effect of some tropical green leafy vegetables on key enzymes linked to Alzheimer’s disease and some pro-oxidant induced lipid peroxidation in rats’ brain

“…Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was assessed by a modified colorimetric method of Ellman (Perry et al 2000). The AChE activity was determined in a reaction mixture containing 200 μL of brain AChE solution (EC 3.1.1.7) in 0.1 M phosphate buffer, pH 8.0, 100 μL of a solution of 5,5′-dithio-bis(2-nitrobenzoic) acid (DTNB 3.3 mM in 0.1 M phosphate buffered solution, pH 7.0, containing NaHCO 3 6 mM), vegetable extracts (0-100 μl) and 500 μL of phosphate buffer, pH 8.0.…”

Effect of Sage Extract on Alkaline Phosphatase, Enterocyte Proliferative Activity and Growth Performance in Chickens

“…Previous studies demonstrated that many Salvia species and their isolated constituents possess antioxidant activity (Zupko et al 2001), antiinflammatory activity (Howes et al 2003) and cholinesterase inhibition effect (Perry et al 2001.…”