Salvia officinalis L. from Italy: A Comparative Chemical and Biological Study of Its Essential Oil in the Mediterranean Context

Abstract

Salvia officinalis L. (sage) is one of the most appreciated plants for its plethora of biologically active compounds. The objective of our research was a comparative study, in the Mediterranean context, of chemical composition, anticholinesterases, and antioxidant properties of essential oils (EOs) from sage collected in three areas (S1–S3) of Southern Italy. EOs were extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory properties were investigated by employing Ellman’s method. Four in vitro assays, namely, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), ferric-reducing ability power (FRAP), and β-carotene bleaching tests, were used to study the antioxidant effects. Camphor (16.16–18.92%), 1,8-cineole (8.80–9.86%), β-pinene (3.08–9.14%), camphene (6.27–8.08%), and α-thujone (1.17–9.26%) are identified as the most abundant constituents. However, the content of these constituents varied depending on environmental factors and pedoclimatic conditions. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed. Based on Relative Antioxidant Capacity Index (RACI), S2 essential oil exhibited the highest radical potential with an IC50 value of 20.64 μg/mL in ABTS test and presented the highest protection of lipid peroxidation with IC50 values of 38.06 and 46.32 μg/mL after 30 and 60 min of incubation, respectively. The most promising inhibitory activity against BChE was found for S3 sample (IC50 of 33.13 μg/mL).

Laurus nobilis, Salvia sclarea and Salvia officinalis Essential Oils and Hydrolates: Evaluation of Liquid and Vapor Phase Chemical Composition and Biological Activities

“…About 1000 species belong to this genus and they are herbaceous, suffruticosus or shrubby perennial plants displaying a remarkable diversity in growth forms, in floral morphology and pollination biology, and in secondary metabolites production [ 20 ]. The chemical composition of Salvia species is particularly rich in sesquiterpenoids, diterpenoids, triterpenoids, steroids, polyphenols and others [ 21 , 22 ], and bioactive molecules were reported to exert proapototic and anticancer activities, to act in prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, to be therapeutic in liver diseases, to be active in the central nervous system as a potential cognitive protective, and to prevent or disaggregate beta amyloid and fibrils as inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase [ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ].…”

Antioxidant and Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition Capacity of Hyrosols From Lamiaceae Plants for Biopesticide Use. The Role of Phenolic Compounds

“…However, no activity towards AChE was determined for camphor and linalool [53], the major compounds detected in our study in sage/rosemary and lavender hydrosols, respectively. Other monoterpenes, like β-pinene and borneol found in S. o cinalis essential oil contributed to AChE activity inhibition [55], but they were not detected in Romanian sage hydrosol.…”

Pulsed Electric Field and Salvia officinalis L. Leaves: A Successful Combination for the Extraction of High Value Added Compounds

“…The compounds p-cymen-8-ol and (−)-γ-cadinene were previously identified in S. officinalis L. leaves extracted by supercritical CO 2 [38] or distillation-extraction [37]. Calarene and (−)-trans-pinocarveol were also previously reported [39,40].…”