extracts in human health and assessing their activity as potent functional regulators of food microbiota

Salvia officinalis L. has attracted scientific and industrial interest due to its pharmacological properties. However, its detailed phytochemical profile and its correlation with beneficial effects in the human microbiome and oxidative stress remained elusive. To unveil this, S. officinalis was collected from the region of Epirus and its molecular identity was verified with DNA barcoding. Phytochemical profile for both aqueous and ethanol-based extracts was determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and 103 phytochemicals were determined. The effect of S. officinalis extracts as functional regulators of food microbiota by stimulating the growth of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus strains and by suppressing evolution of pathogenic bacteria was verified. Furthermore, we recorded that both extracts exhibited a significant cellular protection against H2O2-induced DNA damage. Finally, both extracts exhibited strong inhibitory effect towards LDL oxidation. This study provides a comprehensive characterization of S. officinalis on its phytochemical components as also its potential impact in human microbiome and oxidative stress.

hydrosols mitigate aging related comorbidities in rats

Introduction

Aging is often linked to oxidative stress, where the body experiences increased damage from free radicals. Plants are rich sources of antioxidants, playing a role in slowing down aging and supporting the proper functioning and longevity of cells. Our study focuses on exploring the impact of Mentha rotundifolia (MR) and Salvia officinalis (SO) hydrosols on aging-related comorbidities.

Methods

The chemical composition of MR and SO hydrosols was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. 2,2-Diphenyl 1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,20-azino-bis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid radicals scavenging assays were used to assess their in vitro antioxidant activity, and heat induced albumin denaturation test was used to evaluate their anti-inflammatory activity. Subsequently, we administered 5% of each plant hydrosol in the drinking water of 18-month-old rats for six months. We then conducted behavioral tests, including open field, dark/light box, rotarod, and Y-maze assessments, and measured biochemical parameters in plasma, liver and brain tissues.

Results and discussion

At two years old, animals treated with MR and SO hydrosols displayed fewer physical and behavioral impairments, along with well-preserved redox homeostasis in comparison with animals in the control group. These results highlighted the significance of MR and SO hydrosols in addressing various aspects of age-related comorbidities. The study suggests that these plant-derived hydrosols may have potential applications in promoting healthy aging and mitigating associated health challenges.

Modeling and Optimization of Herb-Fortified Fresh Kombucha Cheese: An Artificial Neural Network Approach for Enhancing Quality Characteristics

In this study, an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model is used to solve the complex task of producing fresh cheese with the desired quality parameters. The study focuses on kombucha fresh cheese samples fortified with ground wild thyme, supercritical fluid extract of wild thyme, ground sage and supercritical fluid extract of sage and optimizes the parameters of chemical composition, antioxidant potential and microbiological profile. The ANN models demonstrate robust generalization capabilities and accurately predict the observed results based on the input parameters. The optimal neural network model (MLP 6-10-16) with 10 neurons provides high r2 values (0.993 for training, 0.992 for testing, and 0.992 for validation cycles). The ANN model identified the optimal sample, a supercritical fluid extract of sage, on the 20th day of storage, showcasing specific favorable process parameters. These parameters encompass dry matter, fat, ash, proteins, water activity, pH, antioxidant potential (TP, DPPH, ABTS, FRAP), and microbiological profile. These findings offer valuable insights into producing fresh cheese efficiently with the desired quality attributes. Moreover, they highlight the effectiveness of the ANN model in optimizing diverse parameters for enhanced product development in the dairy industry.

Comparative polyphenolic profiling of five ethnomedicinal plants and their applicative potential in the treatment of type 2 diabetes

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The medicinal plants Salvia officinalis, Trifolium pratense, Agrimonia eupatoria, Cichorium intybus and Vinca minor are traditionally used for the prevention and treatment of numerous diseases, including diabetes.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is one of the most common diseases nowadays, often accompanied by oxidative stress and microbial infections. The aim of our work was to examine the antidiabetic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties of ethanol extracts of five medicinal plants for the purpose of their possible use in the treatment of T2D.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The polyphenolic profile of the plant extracts was analyzed by Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography with a diode array detector configured with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (UHPLC/DAD/(-)HESI-MS2). In vitro antidiabetic activity of extracts was determined by measuring the percentage of α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition. The antioxidant activity of the extract was determined by different spectrophotometric methods, while the antimicrobial activity was determined by agar dilution and disc diffusion methods.

RESULTS

A. eupatoria extract contains the highest percentage of flavonoids (94%, with isoquercetin, vitexin, and rutin as the most abundant) in relation to the concentration of total phenolic compounds and exhibits excellent antidiabetic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activity. S. officinalis extract contains 60% flavonoids (predominately cirsimaritin and epigallocatechin gallate) and 40% phenolic acids (with rosmarinic acid being the most abundant from this group) and exhibits weak antidiabetic activity, significant antioxidant activity, and excellent antibacterial activity. A 45% percentage of flavonoids (with isoquercetin as the most abundant one) and 55% of phenolic acids (with ferulic acid as the most abundant) were measured in the extract of T. pratense, which had excellent antidiabetic activity but weaker antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. A similar percentage of flavonoids (52%, with epigallocatechin gallate in the highest concentration) and phenolic acids (48%, with chlorogenic acid as the most abundant) was measured in the extract of C. intybus which showed moderate antidiabetic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. The extract of V. minor was the richest in phenolic acids (80%, with the most abundant chlorogenic acid), which resulted in weaker antidiabetic and antioxidant activities (except for Fe2+ chelating ability) and antimicrobial activity.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that specific phenolic compounds are responsible for the different biological activities of the plant extracts. Among the investigated plants, the extract of A. eupatoria has the greatest potential for applications in the treatment of T2D.

Synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic activities of green sol-gel ZnO nanoparticles using Abelmoschus esculentus and Salvia officinalis: A comparative study versus co-precipitation-synthesized nanoparticles

Background

The development of green chemistry methods involving plant-based nanoparticle synthesis presents an affordable and eco-friendly approach for wastewater treatment and color removal. This study aimed to synthesize ZnO nanoparticles using the sol-gel method with Salvia officinalis and Abelmoschus esculentus plants, examining their photocatalytic efficiency for organic dye removal.

Methods

To compare the properties of ZnO nanoparticles, another type of ZnO-NPs was synthesized using the co-precipitation method. The characterization of synthesized nanoparticles was performed using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA-DTG), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Zeta potential (ZP), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and UV-Vis spectrophotometry.

Results

Based on XRD results, the average crystalline size of nanoparticles was calculated using the Debye-Scherer equation for synthesized nanoparticles using the S. officinalis at 22.99 nm and for the A. esculentus at 29.79 nm, and for the co-precipitation method at 18.83 nm. The FE-SEM images showed spherical ZnO nanoparticles. Photocatalytic properties of ZnO-NPs were investigated for remove of methylene blue organic dye in the presence of UV light. The pH 10 was identified as the best pH, which had the highest percentage of color degradation. All three types of nanoparticles were tested by up to 360 min to optimize the dyeing time. For A. esculentus, the highest percentage of color removal occurred in the first 90 min (41.0 %), for S. officinalis nanoparticles between 75 and 90 min (86.9 %), and for chemically synthesized nanoparticles between 30 and 45 min (100 %).

Conclusions

In conclusion, the best MB dye degradation capacity belonged to co-precipitation ZnO nanoparticles followed by S. officinalis and A. esculentus nanoparticles.

Extraction Optimization and Qualitative/Quantitative Determination of Bioactive Abietane-Type Diterpenes from Three Salvia Species (Common Sage, Greek Sage and Rosemary) by 1H-qNMR

The objective of this study was the optimization of the extraction process and the qualitative and quantitative determination of the bioactive metabolites: 12-O-methylcarnosic acid (12MCA), carnosic acid (CA), carnosol (CS), 7-O-methyl-epi-rosmanol (7MER) and rosmanol (RO) in infusions, decoctions, turbulent flow extracts, tinctures and oleolites from three Salvia species: Salvia officinalis L. (common sage, SO), Salvia fruticosa Mill. (Greek sage, SF) and Salvia rosmarinus Spenn (syn Rosmarinus officinalis L.) (rosemary, SR), using Quantitative Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1H-qNMR). Regarding the aqueous extracts, decoctions appeared to be richer sources of the studied metabolites than infusions among the three plants. For SR, the turbulent flow extraction under heating was the most efficient one. The optimum time for the preparation of decoctions was found to be 5 min for SF and SO and 15 min for SR. It is noteworthy that SR tinctures were not stable in time due to decomposition of the abietane-type diterpenes CA and CS because of the polar solvent used for their preparation. Contrary to this finding, the oleolites of SR appeared to be very stable. Olive oil as a solvent for extraction was very protective for the contained abietane-type diterpenes. A preliminary stability study on the effect of the storage time of the SF on the abietane-type diterpenes content showed that the total quantity of abietanes decreased by 16.51% and 40.79% after 12 and 36 months, respectively. The results of this investigation also demonstrated that 1H-qNMR is very useful for the analysis of sensitive metabolites, like abietane-type diterpenes, that can be influenced by solvents used in chromatographic analysis.

Charge Transfer Copper Chelating Complex and Biogenically Synthesized Copper Oxide Nanoparticles Using Salvia officinalis Laves Extract in Comparative Spectrofluorimetric Estimation of Anticancer Dabrafenib

Cancer is a broad category of disease that can affect virtually any organ or tissue in the body when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably, invade surrounding tissue, and/or spread to other organs. Dabrafenib is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. In the present study, two newly developed spectrofluorimetric probes for the detection of the anticancer drug Dabrafenib (DRF) in its authentic and pharmaceutical products using an ecologically synthesized copper oxide nanoparticle (CuONPs) from Salvia officinalis leaf extract and a copper chelate complex are presented. The first system is based on the influence of the particular optical properties of CuONPs on the enhancement of fluorescence detection. The second system, on the other hand, acts through the formation of a copper charge transfer complex. Various spectroscopic and microscopic studies were performed to confirm the environmentally synthesized CuONPs. The fluorescence detections in the two systems were measured at λex 350 and λem of 432 nm. The results showed the linear concentration ranges for the DRF-CuONPs-SDS and DRF-Cu-SDS complexes were determined to be 1.0-500 ng mL- 1 and 1.0-200 ng mL- 1, respectively. FI = 1.8088x + 21.418 (r = 0.9997) and FI = 2.7536x + 163.37 (r = 0.9989) were the regression equations. The lower detection and quantification limits for the aforementioned fluorescent systems were determined to be 0.4 and 0.8 ng mL- 1 and 1.0 ng mL- 1, respectively. The results also showed that intra-day DRF assays using DRF-CuONPs-SDS and DRF-Cu(NO3)2-SDS systems yielded 0.17% and 0.54%, respectively. However, the inter-day assay results for the above systems were 0.27% and 0.65%, respectively. The aforementioned two systems were effectively used in the study of DRF with excellent percent recoveries of 99.66 ± 0.42% and 99.42 ± 0.56%, respectively. Excipients such as magnesium stearate, titanium dioxide, red iron oxide, and silicon dioxide used in pharmaceutical formulations, as well as various common cations, amino acids, and sugars, had no effect on the detection of compound.

Exogenous Putrescine Changes Biochemical (Antioxidant Activity, Polyphenol, Flavonoid, and Total Phenol Compounds) and Essential Oil Constituents of Salvia officinalis L

Polyamines are small polycationic molecules containing amines that are present in almost all cells of living organisms and act in a wide range of physiological processes, growth, and development, biological and protection of cells against free radicals. This research is based on principal component analysis (PCA) and calculation of selection criteria (SC) to investigate the effect of foliar spraying of polyamine putrescine on essential oil yield, essential oil compounds, antioxidant activity, and biochemical compounds (polyphenol, flavonoid, and total phenol compounds) of Salvia officinalis. The treatments used included four levels of putrescine, Put (Control: 0, Put1: 500, Put2: 1000, and Put3: 1500 mg L-1 ) with five replications. Based on our results, four factors had eigenvalues≥1 and showed a cumulative variance percentage of 92.57 % by applying different concentrations of putrescine. According to the results of this research, putrescine had significant effects on the amount of total phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity. The best attention to improving the essential oil yield of sage was 1000 mg L-1 . The crucial essential oil compounds of different Put treated sage were: cis-thujone (35.34 %), camphor (15.60 %), trans-thujone (9.90 %), 1,8-cineole (9.46 %), α-humulene (3.85 %), viridiflorol (3.62 %), camphene (3.58 %), α-pinene (3.50 %), β-pinene (2.78 %), and limonene (1.23 %). The results showed that the amount of total phenol, the phenolic composition of catechin, and the antioxidant activity of sage plant extract increased significantly when putrescine was used at 1000 mg/liter. Results can use the current research to optimize the production management of medicinal plants and improve the quality of their products. In addition, the advantage of using putrescine is that it increases antioxidants and reduces oxidative damage, and can replace medicinal plants as suitable natural preservatives, thus improving food quality and safety.

Comprehensive in silico screening of flavonoids against SARS-CoV-2 main protease

In the current pandemic caused by the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), computational drug discovery can play an essential role in finding potential therapeutic agents. Thanks to its anti-viral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, sage (Salvia officinalis) is used in traditional medicine. In this study, drugs proposed against COVID-19, including Lopinavir, Remdesivir, Favipiravir, and main flavonoids of sage, were docked favorably against novel coronavirus main protease. Molecular docking findings indicate that Rutin, Luteolin-7-glucoside, Apigenin, and Hispidulin make strong interactions with better binding affinity than selected commercial drugs in the study. But Rutin is the only flavonoid that makes strong hydrogen bond interactions with catalytic dyad and crucial Mpro residues and has more binding affinity than protease inhibitor PF-07321332 as an oral antiviral (PAXLOVID™). Further analysis of Molecular Dynamics and MM-PBSA predicted that chosen ligands could form stable complexes with the main protease. Also, ADMET analysis shows that main flavonoids are expected to have appropriate pharmacokinetic and no toxic properties. The results of the in silico study suggest that Salvia officinalis as a rich source of potent anti-coronavirus flavonoids may play a significant role in counteracting the replication of SARS-CoV-2.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Comparison monoterpene and sesquiterpene, herbage yield of Satureja hortensis, Thymus vulgaris, and Salvia officinalis from the Fars province of Iran

Recently, numerous side effects of synthetic drugs have led to using medicinal plants as a reliable source of new therapy. Pain is a global public health problem with a high impact on life quality and a huge economic implication, becoming one of the most important enemies in modern medicine. The medicinal use of plants as analgesic or antinociceptive drugs in traditional therapy is estimated to be about 80% of the world population. The lamiaceae family, one of the most important herbal families, incorporates a wide variety of plants with biological and medical applications. In this study, the main active compounds of Thymus vulgaris (thymol (51.59%), p-cymene (15.41%), carvacrol (4.52%) and γ-terpinene (12.63%), Salvia officinalis; cis-thujone (38.05%), camphor (16.08%), 1,8-cineole (11.97%), trans-thujone (5.88%), camphene (4.79%), α -pinene (4.69%) and carvacrol (50.68%), γ-terpinene (34.44%) and α-terpinene (3.72%) in Satureja hortensis was determined. The highest EO contents (w/w %) was obtained in the plants of summer savory (2.05%), followed by the garden thyme (1.83%) and common sage (0.55%). It is necessary to identify the most effective compounds in order to extract or synthesise in pure form for future use in the pharmaceutical industry. Also, might be used for isolation of potentially active compounds from some of these medicinal plants in future and formulation of commercial therapeutic agents.

Effect of Salvia officinalis scent on postmenopausal women's sexual function and satisfaction: a randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Sexual function is one of the important aspects of quality of life which is often impaired after menopause. Given the side effects of hormone therapy on postmenopausal women, alternative treatments such as aromatherapy have won popularity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of aromatherapy using Salvia officinalis on the sexual function and satisfaction of postmenopausal women.

METHODS

This was a double-blind randomized controlled trial conducted on postmenopausal women referring to health centers in Kermanshah, Iran, in 2018. The participants were randomly divided into two groups: Salvia officinalis (n = 32) and control (n = 32). Women in the intervention group received 2 drops of Salvia officinalis essential oil by inhalation twice a day for 5 consecutive days of a week continued for 6 weeks. The control group received almond oil in the same dosage and frequency. Sexual function and satisfaction were evaluated using the Lindberg sexual satisfaction questionnaire and the female sexual function index, respectively before the intervention and 6 weeks after it.

RESULTS

After 6 weeks of intervention, the total mean scores of sexual function (28.8 ± 2.13 vs.17.9 ± 1.59 P < 0.001) and sexual satisfaction (71.53 ± 5.86 vs. 50.44 ± 10.41) were significantly higher in the Salvia officinalis group compared with the control group, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The findings showed that aromatherapy using Salvia officinalis has a significant effect on improving sexual function and satisfaction in postmenopausal women. Therefore, given the prevalence of sexual disorders in postmenopausal women, aromatherapy using Salvia officinalis is recommended to be used for improving these disorders.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials; https://en.irct.ir/user/trial/50212/view (IRCT20160427027633N6), registered (12/08/2020).

Synergistic Anticandidal Effectiveness of Greenly Synthesized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles with Antifungal Agents against Nosocomial Candidal Pathogens

The high prevalence of fungal resistance to antifungal drugs necessitates finding new antifungal combinations to boost the antifungal bioactivity of these agents. Hence, the aim of the present investigation was to greenly synthesize zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) using an aqueous leaf extract of Salvia officinalis and investigate their antifungal activity and synergistic efficiency with common antifungal agents. The biofabricated ZnO-NPs were characterized to detect their physicochemical properties. A disk diffusion assay was employed to investigate the antifungal effectiveness of the greenly synthesized ZnO-NPs and evaluate their synergistic patterns with common antifungal agents. The Candida tropicalis strain was detected to be the most susceptible strain to ZnO-NPs at both tested concentrations of 50 and 100 µg/disk, demonstrating relative suppressive zones of 19.68 ± 0.32 and 23.17 ± 0.45 mm, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ZnO-NPs against the C. tropicalis strain was 40 µg/mL, whereas the minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) was found to be 80 µg/mL. The highest synergistic efficiency of the biogenic ZnO-NPs with terbinafine antifungal agent was detected against the C. glabrata strain, whereas the highest synergistic efficiency was detected with fluconazole against the C. albicans strain, demonstrating relative increases in fold of inhibition area (IFA) values of 6.82 and 1.63, respectively. Moreover, potential synergistic efficiency was detected with the nystatin antifungal agent against the C. tropicalis strain with a relative IFA value of 1.06. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis affirmed the morphological deformations of candidal cells treated with the biosynthesized ZnO-NPs as the formation of abnormal infoldings of the cell wall and membranes and also the formation of pores in the cell wall and membranes, which might lead to the leakage of intracellular constituents. In conclusion, the potential synergistic efficiency of the biogenic ZnO-NPs with terbinafine, nystatin, and fluconazole against the tested candidal strains highlights the potential application of these combinations in formulating novel antifungal agents of high antimicrobial efficiency. The biogenic ZnO nanoparticles and antifungal drugs exhibit powerful synergistic efficiency, which highlights their prospective use in the formulation of efficient antimicrobial medications, including mouthwash, ointments, lotions, and creams for effective candidiasis treatment.

The Effect of Salvia Officinalis on Hot Flashes in Postmenopausal Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

The experience of hot flashes during menopause has a negative effect on quality of life and can cause disturbance in the workplace and disrupt daily activities. Phytoestrogens in Salvia officinalis reduce menopause symptoms due to their anti-dopaminergic effects. This study was conducted to systematically review and summarize the results of clinical trials on the effect of Salvia officinalis on hot flashes in postmenopausal women.

Methods

In this systematic review, databases including Pubmed, Web of Science, Cochrane library, Scopus, SID, and Magiran were searched using keywords such as menopause, hot flashes, Salvia officinalis, and herbal medicines; all possible combinations of these words were used with the Boolean operators of "OR" and "AND". To evaluate the quality of articles, we used Cochrane's Risk of bias tools.

Results

After eliminating the duplicates, a total of 148 articles were found. Following the exclusion of irrelevant articles, 4 studies with number of 310 people were examined. Among them, 3 out of 4 studies examined the effect of Salvia officinalis on the frequency of hot flashes, 3 out of 4 studies examined the severity of hot flashes, and only 1 out of 4 studies examined the effect of Salvia officinalis on the duration of hot flashes. All 4 reviewed studies indicated that the use of Salvia officinalis reduced the frequency and severity of hot flashes in postmenopausal women. Meta-analysis results showed that the effect of Salvia Officinalis on the frequency [ES=-1.12 (%95 CI:-2.37; 0.14), I2=71%] of hot flashes in postmenopausal women was significant compared to placebo, but severity [ES=-2.05 (%95 CI:-6.53; 2.43), I2=70%] was not significant.

Conclusion

Salvia officinalis can be used to reduce the frequency of menopausal hot flashes. Expansive use of this plant can be suggested in case it is confirmed in further investigations.

Changes in Metabolite Profiling and Expression Levels of Key Genes Involved in the Terpenoid Biosynthesis Pathway in Garden Sage (Salvia officinalis) under the Effect of Hydrazine Hydrate

Mutagenesis is a highly efficient tool for establishing genetic variation and is widely used for genetic enhancement in various plants. The key benefit of mutation breeding is the prospect of enhancing one or several characteristics of a variety without altering the genetic background. In this study, we exposed the seeds of Salvia officinalis to four concentrations of hydrazine hydrate (HZ), i.e., (0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3%) for 6 h. The contents of terpenoid compounds in the S. officinalis plantlets driven from the HZ-treated seeds were determined by GC-MS, which resulted in the identification of a total of 340 phytochemical compounds; 163 (87.48%), 145 (84.49%), 65 (97.45%), and 62 (98.32%), from the four concentrations of HZ (0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3%), respectively. Furthermore, we used the qRT-PCR system to disclose the "transcriptional control" for twelve TPS genes related to terpenoid and terpene biosynthesis, namely, SoGPS, SoMYRS, SoNEOD, SoCINS, SoSABS, SoLINS, SoFPPS, SoHUMS, SoTPS6, SoSQUS, SoGGPS, and SoGA2. Altogether, results are likely to ensure some positive relationship between the concentrations of the chemical mutagen HZ used for treating the seeds, the type and amount of the produced terpenes, and the expression of their corresponding genes.

Effect of Salvia officinalis aqueous infusion on copper sulfate-induced inflammatory response and oxidative stress imbalance in mice liver and kidney

Extracts of Salvia officinalis (S. officinalis) have been described to have many therapeutic properties. However, the effect of S. officinalis on copper sulfate toxicity has not been previously reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the toxicity of copper sulfate and the potential beneficial effects of S. officinalis aqueous infusion on proinflammatory response and antioxidant status. 56 male mice were used and equally divided into 6 groups: control group, copper sulfate treated group (40 mg/kg), S. officinalis aqueous infusion treated groups (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) separately or in combination with copper. IL-6 (interleukine-6) and TNF-α (Tumor necrosis factor alpha) were assessed by Elisa. Catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities, malondialdehyde (MDA) and oxygen peroxide levels were determined. Serum biochemical parameters were analyzed. Copper enhanced aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (p < 0.05). Copper enhances significantly IL-6, TNF-α and MDA levels in liver and kidney and reduced CAT, SOD and AChE activities (p < 0.05). Aqueous infusion of S. officinalis at 400 mg/kg abolished copper-induced changes in AST and ALT activity. S. officinalis aqueous infusion at 200 mg/kg reversed copper-induced IL-6 in kidney and TNF-α in liver at both doses. S. officinalis aqueous infusion at 400 mg/kg restored SOD in kidney and CAT and AChE activities in both liver and kidney. S. officinalis aqueous infusion may be useful in partially ameliorating tissue disorders induced by copper exposure such as inflammatory response, oxidative stress imbalance and organ dysfunction through its phenolic compounds and higher antioxidant capacity.

Distinct Optical and Structural (Nanoyarn and Nanomat-like Structure) Characteristics of Zinc Oxide Nanofilm Derived by Using Salvia officinalis Leaves Extract Made without and with PEO Polymer

This paper reports the optical properties of zinc oxide nanofilm fabricated by using organic natural products from Salvia officinalis leaves (SOL) extract and discusses the effect of the nanocrystal (NC) structure (nanoyarn and nanomat-like structure) on nanofilm optical properties. The surface-active layer of the nanofilm of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) was passivated with natural organic SOL leaves hydrothermally, then accumulated on zinc oxide nanorods (ZnO NRs). The nanofilms were fabricated (with and without PEO) on glass substrate (at 85 °C for 16 h) via chemical solution deposition (CSD). The samples were characterized by UV-vis, PL, FESEM, XRD, and TEM measurements. TEM micrographs confirmed the nucleation of ZnO NPs around 4 nm and the size distribution at 1.2 nm of ZnO QDs as an influence of the quantum confinement effect (QCE). The nanofilms fabricated with SOL surfactant (which works as a capping agent for ZnO NPs) represent distinct optoelectronic properties when compared to bulk ZnO. FESEM images of the nanofilms revealed nanoyarn and nanomat-like structures resembling morphologies. The XRD patterns of the samples exhibited the existence of ZnO nanocrystallites (ZnO NCs) with (100), (002), and (101) growth planes. The nanofilms fabricated represented a distinct optical property through absorption and broad emission, as the optical energy band gap reduced as the nanofilms annealed (at 120 ℃). Based on the obtained results, it was established that phytochemicals extracted from organic natural SOL leaves have a distinct influence on zoic oxide nanofilm fabrication, which may be useful for visible light spectrum trapping. The nanofilms can be used in photovoltaic solar cell applications.

Hepato-Nephroprotective Actions of Salvia officinalis Decoction Extract Against Extraintestinal Alterations Induced with Acetic Acid-Colitis Model in Rats

Inflammatory bowel disease is associated with multiple extraintestinal disorders, including hepato-nephrological disruptions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hepato-nephroprotective effect of Salvia officinalis leaf decoction extract (SLDE) on acetic acid (AA)-induced colitis accompanied with liver and kidney injuries. Wistar albinos rats were pretreated with SLDE (50, 100, and 200 mg kg^-1, b.w., p.o.) during 10 days and intoxicated for 24 h by acute rectal administration of AA (3%, v/v, 5 mL kg^-1, b.w.). Our results showed that S. officinalis treatment protected against AA-induced liver and kidney injuries by plasma transaminase activities and preservation of the hepatic and renal tissue structures. The level of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol was also reverted back to near normalcy by treatment. Lipid peroxidation was decreased significantly by officinal sage supplementation. Treatment with SLDE increased enzymatic (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase) and nonenzymatic (-SH groups and reduced glutathione) antioxidants in liver and kidney tissues. Also, SLDE treatment significantly protected against inflammation markers and reversed all intracellular mediator perturbations. This study suggests that the S. officinalis has a beneficial effect in controlling kidney and liver injuries by reducing lipid peroxidation and increasing antioxidant enzyme activities and nonenzymatic contents, which reduce the risk of developing extraintestinal complications.

Antimelanoma effect of manool in 2D cell cultures and reconstructed human skin models

Melanoma is the most aggressive and lethal type of skin cancer, characterized by therapeutic resistance. In this context, the present study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic potential of manool, a diterpene from Salvia officinalis L., in human (A375) and murine (B16F10) melanoma cell lines. The analysis of cytotoxicity using the XTT assay showed the lowest IC₅₀ after 48 h of treatment with the manool, being 17.6 and 18.2 µg/ml for A375 and B16F10, respectively. A selective antiproliferative effect of manool was observed on the A375 cells based on the colony formation assay, showing an IC₅₀ equivalent to 5.6 µg/ml. The manool treatments led to 43.5% inhibition of the A375 cell migration at a concentration of 5.0 µg/ml. However, it did not affect cell migration in the B16F10 cells. Cell cycle analysis revealed that the manool interfered in the cell cycle of the A375 cells, blocking the G2/M phase. No changes in the cell cycle were observed in the B16F10 cells. Interestingly, manool did not induce apoptosis in the A375 cells, but apoptosis was observed after treatment of the B16F10 cells. Additionally, manool showed an antimelanoma effect in a reconstructed human skin model. Furthermore, in silico studies, showed that manool is stabilized in the active sites of the tubulin dimer with comparable energy concerning taxol, indicating that both structures can inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells. Altogether, it is concluded that manool, through the modulation of the cell cycle, presents a selective antiproliferative activity and a potential antimelanoma effect.

Anti-Heliobacter pylori and Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Salvia officinalis Metabolites: In Vitro and In Silico Studies

Due to its rising antibiotic resistance and associated inflammations, Helicobacter pylori poses a challenge in modern medicine. Salvia officinalis, a member of the Lamiaceae family, is a promising medicinal herb. In this regard, a phytochemical screening followed by GC-MS and LC-MS was done to evaluate the chemical profile of the total ethanolic extract (TES) and the essential oil, respectively. The anti-H. pylori and the anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated by a micro-well dilution technique and COX-2 inhibition assay. Potential anti-H. pylori inhibitors were determined by an in silico study. The results revealed that the main metabolites were flavonoids, sterols, volatile oil, saponins, and carbohydrates. The LC-MS negative ionization mode demonstrated 12 compounds, while GC-MS showed 21 compounds. Carnosic acid (37.66%), epirosmanol (20.65%), carnosol1 (3.3%), and 12-O-methyl carnosol (6.15%) were predominated, while eucalyptol (50.04%) and camphor (17.75%) were dominant in LC-MS and GC-MS, respectively. TES exhibited the strongest anti-H. pylori activity (3.9 µg/mL) asymptotic to clarithromycin (0.43 µg/mL), followed by the oil (15.63 µg/mL). Carnosic acid has the best-fitting energy to inhibit H. pylori (-46.6769 Kcal/mol). TES showed the highest reduction in Cox-2 expression approaching celecoxib with IC₅₀ = 1.7 ± 0.27 µg/mL, followed by the oil with IC₅₀ = 5.3 ± 0.62 µg/mL. Our findings suggest that S. officinalis metabolites with anti-inflammatory capabilities could be useful in H. pylori management. Further in vivo studies are required to evaluate and assess its promising activity.

verbenaca) by high-performance thin-layer chromatography - effect-directed analyses

Ethyl acetate extracts of Tunisian Salvia aegyptiaca and S. verbenaca aerial parts and S. officinalis leaves were examined via bioanalytical profiling using high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) combined with nine bioactivity assays, namely antibacterial (Aliivibrio fischeri, Bacillus subtilis, and Rhodococcus fascians), antifungal (Bipolaris sorokiniana, and Fusarium avenaceum), radical scavenging (DPPH•), and enzyme inhibitory (α-glucosidase, acetylcholinesterase, and lipase) ones. The screening, using toluene - ethyl acetate - methanol 6:3:0.5 (V/V/V) as a mobile phase, revealed five bioactive zones (a-e) that were analyzed by HPTLC-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Zones b and c, observed exclusively in S. officinalis, were active in all assays except α-glucosidase, and only c inhibited F. avenaceum. Compounds in these zones were identified by HPLC-high resolution tandem MS (LC-HRMS/MS) as rosmanol/epi-rosmanol and methyl carnosate, respectively. In the bioactive zones a and e, corosolic/maslinic acid and ursolic/oleanolic acid isomer pairs were present, which could be identified in all three Salvia species after their HPTLC separation using pre-chromatographic derivatization with iodine and MS detection. The triterpenes inhibited B. subtilis and R. fascians bacteria and α-glucosidase enzyme. Linoleic and linolenic acids were detected in zone d, which showed strong lipase inhibition in all three sage species.

A Validated Method for the Determination of Carnosic Acid and Carnosol in the Fresh Foliage of Salvia rosmarinus and Salvia officinalis from Greece

In the framework of a project aiming at identifying genotypes of Greek rosemary and sage producing high amounts of carnosic acid, an HPLC-PDA method was developed for the determination of the main antioxidant in the fresh leaves. To this end, an effective and repeatable extraction process of the labile diterpene was developed to ensure a good extraction yield. A fast RP-HPLC protocol was developed and optimized to allow for a short and reliable analysis of the unstable target constituent. The HPLC-PDA method was validated for precision and accuracy according to ICH guidelines. Finally, the overall method was validated for precision and accuracy at three concentration levels. The precision was acceptable with % RSD values ranging between 1.42 and 4.35. The recovery ranged between 85.1% and 104.6% with RSD values < 5%, within the acceptable limits. The developed assay was fast and simple and allowed for the fast and accurate determination of carnosic acid and carnosol in the fresh herbs. The methodology was applied to the quantitative analysis of several cultivated samples of S. rosmarinus and S. officinalis, and some of them were revealed to be promising starting materials for the development of Greek genotypes rich in carnosic acid.

A Phytocomplex Obtained from Salvia officinalis by Cell Culture Technology Effectively Controls the Grapevine Downy Mildew Pathogen Plasmopara viticola

The negative impact of using conventional fungicides in plant disease protection has increased the interest in safer alternatives such as plant secondary metabolites, generally having a better toxicological profile. However, cultivation conditions and plant material strongly affect the quality and quantity of secondary metabolites obtained from field grown plants, limiting the standardization needed for industrial production. Plant cell culture technology can provide highly homogeneous biomasses with specific chemical characteristics. A phytocomplex with high rosmarinic acid content (10.12% w/w) was obtained from a selected cell line of Salvia officinalis and was tested against the grapevine downy mildew pathogen, Plasmopara viticola. Grapevine leaf discs were sprayed with the phytocomplex at 5 g/L and then inoculated with P. viticola sporangia. Sporulation level on each disc was assessed after 7 days with an image processing software. The phytocomplex reduced by 95% the sporulation level compared to the control and was also more effective than rosmarinic acid alone, used at the same concentration found in the phytocomplex. Persistence of the phytocomplex was also assessed: when applied 5 days before inoculation, it reduced by 90% the sporulation level compared to the control. These results highlight the possibility to take advantage of cell culture techniques to produce safer pesticides with high quality standards.

Evaluation of antiobesity and hepatorenal protective activities of Salvia officinalis extracts pre-treatment in high-fat diet-induced obese rats

The present study evaluated the effects of Hail Salvia officinalis total extract (SOTE) and its high flavonoid fraction (SOHFF) on the high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity and hepatorenal damage in rats. Salvia officinalis plants were collected from Hail region, Saudi Arabia. Rats were fed HFD and supplemented orally with SOTE (250 mg kg^-1) or SOHFF (100 mg kg^-1) or simvastatin (SVS; 10 mg kg^-1) every day for 8 weeks. Compared to the controls, HFD-induced obesity led to significant increases in body weight, body weight gained, blood insulin, leptin, cardiac enzymes (LDH and CPK) activity, and atherogenic index (AI). HFD rats also showed higher levels of hepatic and renal function biomarkers (ALT, urea, and creatinine), as well as lower levels of PPARγ and Nrf2-gene expression and a disrupted lipid profile. Moreover, HFD rats had lower levels of hepatic and renal antioxidant biomarkers (CAT, GPx, SOD, GR, and GSH), accompanied by higher levels of hepatic and renal lipid peroxidation (LPO), nitric oxide (NO), and inflammatory mediators (interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)). In addition, histological examination of hepatic and renal tissues revealed histopathological changes that validated the biochemical findings. Compared to HFD group, SOTE and SOHFF treatment led to marked amelioration of all the aforementioned parameters. Collectively, supplementation with SOTE and SOHFF effectively reversed HFD-induced alterations through its antioxidant, hypolipidemic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Hence, SOTE and SOHFF have therapeutic potential in controlling obesity and related pathologies.

Antioxidant and antimicrobial chitosan films enriched with aqueous sage and rosemary extracts as food coating materials: Characterization of the films and detection of rosmarinic acid release

Chitosan films containing aqueous extracts of sage and rosemary were prepared as a potential food coating material with antioxidant and antibacterial properties. The effect of adding extracts at different concentrations on the mechanical, physical, and optical properties of the films was investigated. The addition of the extracts significantly increased Young's modulus values of the films compared to the chitosan film, and a significant decrease was observed in the swelling percentage and water vapor permeability of the films. Since all the prepared films were ionically cross-linked, the increase in water solubility of the films with the addition of the extract was at a low level. The release of rosmarinic acid, which is found in significant amounts in both plants, from the films was monitored by the capillary electrophoresis. The antioxidant properties imparted to the films by the addition of plant extracts were determined by DPPH and FRAP methods. The addition of plant extracts increased the antimicrobial property of chitosan films against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Films containing sage and rosemary extracts showed potential for use as food coating materials.

In Silico Study for Algerian Essential Oils as Antimicrobial Agents against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria Isolated from Pus Samples

In the context of the globally growing problem of resistance to most used antibacterial agents, essential oils offer promising solutions against multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial pathogens. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, etiology, and antibiotic-resistance profiles of bacteria responsible for pyogenic infections in Regional Military University Hospital of Constantine. Disc diffusion and broth microdilution (MIC) methods were used to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of essential oils from five Algerian aromatic plants growing wild in the north of Algeria-Salvia officinalis (Sage), Thymus vulgaris (Thyme), Mentha pulegium L. (Mentha), Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary), and Pelargonium roseum (Geranium)-against reference and MDR strains. During three months of the prospective study, 112 isolates out of 431 pus samples were identified. Staphylococcus aureus was the most predominant species (25%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (21.42%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (21%), and Escherichia coli (17.95%). Among pus isolates, 65 were MDR (58.03%). The radial streak-line assay showed that R. officinalis and M. pulegium L. had weak activity against the tested strains, whereas P. roseum showed no activity at all. Meanwhile, T. vulgaris was the most potent, with an inhibition zone of 12-26 mm and an MIC value ranging between 0.25 and 1.25%, followed by S. officinalis with an inhibition zone of 8-12 mm and an MIC value ranging between 0.62 and 2.5%. Generally, A. baumannii and S. aureus ATCC6538P were the most sensitive strains, whereas P. aeruginosa ATCC27853 was the most resistant strain to the oils. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of chemical composition revealed the presence of borneol (76.42%) and thymol (17.69%) as predominant in thyme, whereas camphor (36.92%) and α- thujone (34.91%) were the major volatiles in sage. The in-silico study revealed that sesquiterpenes and thymol had the highest binding free energies against the vital enzymes involved in biosynthesis and repair of cell walls, proteins, and nucleic acids compared to monoterpenes. The results demonstrated that T. vulgaris and S. officinalis are ideal candidates for developing future potentially active remedies against MDR strains.

Chemical Analysis and Investigation of Biological Effects of Salvia officinalis Essential Oils at Three Phenological Stages

Salvia officinalis is a medicinal plant used to treat some diseases, including microbial infections and diabetes. Different studies showed the biological and pharmacological properties of this species. The aim of this study was the determination of the chemical compounds of S. officinalis essential oils and the investigation of their antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory properties. The chemical compounds of S. officinalis were determined by GC-MS analysis. The antioxidant activity was assessed by DPPH, ABTS, H₂O₂, and FRAP assays. The in vitro antidiabetic effect was evaluated by the inhibition of α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and lipase activities, and the anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated using the 5-lipoxygenase assay. Moreover, antibacterial activity was assessed against six bacterial strains using agar well diffusion assay and microdilution method. The main compounds in essential oils of S. officinalis at three phenological stages were naphthalenone, camphor, 1.8-cineole, and α-thujone. The full flowering stage essential oil showed the best antioxidant activity with different IC₅₀ values according to the used tests. This oil also exhibited important inhibitory effects at the full flowering stage against α-amylase (IC₅₀ = 69.23 ± 0.1 μg/mL), α-glucosidase (IC₅₀ = 22.24 ± 0.07 μg/mL), and lipase (IC₅₀ = 37.3 ± 0.03 μg/mL). The 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory effect was the best at the full flowering stage (IC₅₀ = 9.24 ± 0.03 μg/mL). The results of the antibacterial evaluation revealed that, at three seasonal periods, S. officinalis essential oil demonstrated strong antibacterial activity. Although the full flowering stage had the best antibacterial activity, there were no significant differences between the three stages. Additionally, the essential oils showed bactericidal effects on Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella typhimurium, respectively. The findings of this work showed remarkably that S. officinalis synthesizes essential oils according to different developmental stages. Moreover, it has exhibited interesting biological and pharmacological properties justifying its medicinal effects and suggesting it as a very important source of natural drugs.

L

Fusarium of date palm is a vascular fusariosis caused by a telluric fungus Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. albedinis (F.O.A) which affects the best date varieties in Algeria. Several medicinal plants are adapted with the climatic complexity of the Saharan region, among these plants in the south-west of Algeria Salvia officinalis and Ocimum basilicum. The aim of this work is to study the antifungal effect of flavonoid extracts from Salvia officinalis and Ocimum basilicum leaves by the technique described by Bouchelta et al. (2005), as well the antifungal effect of the aqueous extract of these plants against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. albedinis isolated from the grove of Igli. The evaluation of the antifungal activity revealed a slight mycelial growth anti-proportional to the concentration of flavonoid extract added to the culture medium with an inhibition index of 73.04% at the concentration 3.17 μg/ml and 57.42% at the concentration 1.13 µg/ml for flavonoids extract of Ocimum basilicum and Salvia officinalis, respectively. In addition, the aqueous extract revealed an inhibition index of 35.15% at the concentration of 0.33 mg/ml and 10.54% at the concentration of 3.92 mg/ml for Salvia officinalis and Ocimum basilicum, respectively.

Beneficial effects of Salvia officinalis essential oil on vanadium-induced testicular injury, DNA damage and histological alterations in Wistar rats

Vanadium has been shown to catalyze the generation of reactive oxygen species. Since free radical production and lipid peroxidation are potentially important mediators in testicular physiology and pathophysiology, the present study was conducted to elucidate vanadium-induced oxidative damage in rat testis and the ameliorative role of Salvia officinalis essential oil (SEO) against the adverse effects of this heavy metal. Adult male Wistar rats were treated daily during 10 days either with ammonium metavanadate (5 mg/kg bw, intraperitoneally), SEO (15 mg/kg bw, orally) or their combination. A group of rats receiving daily a saline solution served as a negative control. Vanadium treatment induced a significant decrease in body and reproductive organ weights, serum testosterone level and sperm number and motility. An increase in lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation as well as a marked inhibition in the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the testes and seminal vesicles indicated the occurrence of oxidative stress after vanadium toxicity. Histopathological changes in testis and seminal vesicles were also observed following vanadium administration. However, co-administration of SEO to vanadium-treated rats resulted in an appreciable improvement of these parameters, emphasizing the therapeutic effects of SEO. It can be suggested that SEO mitigates vanadium-induced reproductive damage due to its antioxidant capacity. Thus, we can hypothesize that SEO supplementation could protect against vanadium poisoning.

Evidence for anti-inflammatory effects and modulation of neurotransmitter metabolism by Salvia officinalis L

Background

Cognitive health is of great interest to society, with neuroinflammation and systemic inflammation age-related risk factors that are linked to declines in cognitive performance. Several botanical ingredients have been suggested to have benefits in this area including Salvia officinalis (sage), which has shown anti-inflammatory effects and exhibited promising cognitive improvements in multiple human studies. The current study demonstrates anti-inflammatory effects for S. officinalis across a broad set of in vitro models in human cells, and adds further evidence to support modulation of acetylcholine and monoamine neurostransmitter levels as mechanisms that contribute towards the benefits of the herb on cognitive health.

Methods

The effect of S. officinalis extract on release of multiple cytokines and chemokines was measured in human primary intestinal epithelial cells treated with or without LPS stimulation, and Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) cells in presence or absence of recombinant IL-17A and/or Human IL-17RA/IL-17R Antibody. Antioxidant effects were also assessed in BBB cells incubated with the extract and H₂O₂. The anti-inflammatory effects of S. officinalis extract were further assessed based on clinically-relevant biomarker readouts across 12 human primary cell-based disease models of the BioMAP Diversity PLUS panel.

Results

S. officinalis showed significant attenuation of the release of most cytokines/chemokines into apical media in LPS-stimulated intestinal cells, but small increases in the release of markers including IL-6, IL-8 in basolateral media; where TNF-α was the only marker to be significantly reduced. S. officinalis attenuated the release of CRP and VCAM-1 from BBB cells under IL-17A induced conditions, and also decreased H₂O₂ induced ROS overproduction in these cells. Phenotypic profiling with the BioMAP Diversity PLUS Panel identified additional anti-inflammatory mediators, and based on a similarity search analysis suggested potential mechanistic similarity to caffeic acid and drugs known to inhibit COMT and MAO activity to modulate monoamine metabolism. Subsequent in vitro assessment showed that S. officinalis was able to inhibit the activity of these same enzymes.

Conclusions

S. officinalis extract showed anti-inflammatory effects across multiple human cell lines, which could potentially reduce peripheral inflammation and support cognitive health. S. officinalis extract also showed the ability to inhibit enzymes related to the metabolism of monoamine neurotransmitters, suggesting possible dopaminergic and serotonergic effects acting alongside proposed cholinergic effects to mediate acute cognitive performance benefits previously demonstrated for the extract.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12906-022-03605-1.

Essential Oil: Characterization, Antioxidant Properties, and the Effects of Aromatherapy in Adult Patients

The purpose of this study is to reveal the chemical and biochemical characteristics and the potential aromatherapy applications of the essential oil (EO) of Salvia officinalis (common sage) within a hospital environment. The chemical composition was determined by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Three types of sage EOs were included in this study: two commercial oils and one oil obtained by in-house hydrodistillation. Based on the findings, these EOs were included in different chemotypes. The first two samples were similar to the most common chemotype (α-thujone > camphor > 1,8-cineole > β-thujone), while the in-house sage EO revealed a high content of 1,8-cineole, borneol, α-thujone, similar to the Dalmatian type. The latter sample was selected to be evaluated for its antioxidant and medical effects, as borneol, a bicyclic monoterpene, is known as a substance with anesthetic and analgesic effects in traditional Asian medicine. The study suggests that the antioxidant capacity of the sage EO is modest (33.61% and 84.50% inhibition was determined by DPPH and ABTS assays, respectively), but also that the inhalation of sage EO with high borneol content by hospitalized patients could improve these patients’ satisfaction.

Eucalyptus globulus and Salvia officinalis Extracts Mediated Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles and Their Application as an Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Agent

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) biosynthesized using plant extracts as reducing and capping agents show multiple possibilities for solving various biological problems. The aim of this study was to expand the boundaries of AgNPs using a novel low toxicity and production cost phytochemical method for the biosynthesis of nanoparticles from Eucalyptus globulus and Salvia officinalis aqueous leaf extracts. Biosynthesized AgNPs were characterized by various methods (ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy with horizontal attenuated total reflectance (HART), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS)). The determined antioxidative and antimicrobial activity of plant extracts was compared with the activity of the AgNPs. The UV-vis spectral analysis demonstrated the absorption peaks at 408 and 438 nm, which confirmed the synthesis of stable AgNPs from E. globulus and S. officinalis, respectively. FTIR-HART results suggested strong capping of phytochemicals on AgNPs. TEM results show mainly spherical-shaped AgNPs, whose size distribution depends on the plant leaf extract type; the smaller AgNPs were obtained with E. globulus extract (with size range of 17.5 ± 5.89 nm compared to 34.3 ± 7.76 nm from S. officinalis AgNPs). The in vitro antioxidant activity evaluated by radical scavenging assays and the reduction activity method clearly demonstrated that both the plant extracts and AgNPs showed prominent antioxidant properties. In addition, AgNPs show much stronger antimicrobial activity against broad spectrum of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria strains than the plant extracts used for their synthesis.

Antioxidative, Antidiabetic, and Hypolipidemic Properties of Probiotic-Enriched Fermented Camel Milk Combined with Salvia officinalis Leaves Hydroalcoholic Extract in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes in Rats

Antioxidative, antidiabetic, and hypolipidemic properties of probiotic-enriched fermented camel milk (FCM) combined with Salvia officinalis L. leaves hydroalcoholic extract (SOHE) in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats were investigated. Phytochemicals analysis and antioxidant capacity indicated that S. officinalis contained high phenolics with super antioxidant activity. Subsequently, HPLC analysis demonstrated 13 phenolic acids and 14 flavonoids in considerable amounts with ferulic acid and resveratrol as predominant, respectively. The antidiabetic and hypolipidemic properties of FCM and SOHE were examined in a designed animal model consisting of seven treated groups for four weeks. There was a negative group (G1); the positive group (G2) received a single dose (50 mg kg^-1) of streptozotocin (STZ) by intraperitoneal injection (i.p.); in G3, diabetic rats (DRs) orally received 5 mL FCM kg^-1 daily; in G4, DRs orally received 50 mg GAE SOHE kg^-1 daily; in G5, DRs orally received 5 mL FCM contains 25 mg GAE SOHE kg^-1 daily; in G6, DRs orally received 5 mL FCM contains 50 mg GAE SOHE kg^-1 daily; in G7, DRs orally received 50 mg metformin kg^-1 daily. Combining FCM with SOHE at 25 or 50 mg kg^-1 exhibited a synergistic effect in significantly lowering random blood glucose (RBG), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and improved weight gain recovery %. The hypolipidemic effect of FCM + 50 mg GAE SOHE kg^-1 was significantly higher than using FCM or SOHE individually, and attenuation in triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (CHO), and high- and low-density lipoproteins (HDL and LDL), and very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) was remarked. Combining FCM with SOHE at 25 or 50 mg kg^-1 ameliorated liver and kidney functions better than individual uses of FCM, SOHE, or metformin. Interestingly, FCM with 50 mg SOHE kg^-1 presented significant improvement in the activity of antioxidant enzymes, reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and a substantial reduction in malonaldehyde (MDA) levels with 53.75%, 89.93%, 63.06%, and 58.69% when compared to the STZ group (G2), respectively. Histopathologically, administrating FCM + 25, 50 mg SOHE kg^-1 or 50 mg kg^-1 metformin showed a normal histological structure of both islets of Langerhans cells and acini. In conclusion, combining FCM with SOHE presented synergistic and therapeutical efficacy. It could be beneficial and profitable for controlling diabetes mellitus complications and protecting against oxidative stress.

Support vector machine and PCA for the exploratory analysis of Salvia officinalis samples treated with growth regulators based in the agronomic parameters and multielement composition

The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of different growth regulators on the mineral and total phenolic contents of Salvia officinalis. The samples received the applications of salicylic acid (AS); gibberellic acid (GA₃); abscisic acid (ABA) and solution without regulators (control). The exploratory evaluation of the samples was carried out through the Principal Component Analysis (PCA). In addition, has been used supervised learning methods with support vector machine (SVM) algorithms to classify the samples. The phenolic and total flavonoid contents were higher in the plants treated with the regulators. The element found in the highest concentration in Salvia officinalis was N. Plants sprayed with ABA showed higher concentrations of N, K, and Mn; Fe and Al were higher with ABA and gibberellin application, while the application of AS provided the highest accumulation of P. The application of plant regulators improves the nutraceutical properties of Salvia officinalis.

Antioxidants and Phytohormones Act in Coordination to Regulate Sage Response to Long Term Ozone Exposure

Antioxidants and phytohormones are hallmarks of abiotic stress responses in plants. Although it is known that they can offer cell protection or accelerate programmed cell death (PCD) depending on the level of stress, the involvement of these metabolites in stress acclimation is still not fully elucidated. Here, we showed the role of antioxidants and phytohormones in Salvia officinalis tolerance to long-term ozone (O₃) exposure (120 ppb for 36 days, 5 h day^-1). Salicylic acid (SA) content was increased under O₃ throughout the whole experiment (+150%, as average compared with control), being required to maintain the cellular redox state and potentiate defense responses. This accumulation was induced before the production of ethylene (ET), suggesting that ET was controlled by SA during O₃ exposure to modulate the magnitude of chlorosis formation and the cell redox balance (by regulating ascorbate and glutathione levels). The synthesis and/or regeneration of these antioxidants did not protect membranes from lipid peroxidation, as demonstrated by the accumulation of malondialdehyde (+23% as average). However, these processes of lipid oxidation did not include the synthesis of the membrane breakdown products, as confirmed by the unchanged values of jasmonic acid, thus indicating that this compound was not involved in the regulation of PCD strategies.

Antioxidant Properties of Salvia officinalis Decoction Extract and Mechanism of Its Protective Effects on Ethanol-Induced Liver and Kidney Injuries

This study assessed the hepato- and nephroprotective effects of Salvia officinalis flowers decoction extract (SODE) against ethanol (EtOH)-induced oxidative stress in rats as well as the possible mechanism implicated in such protection. Animals were divided into four groups: control, EtOH, and EtOH+SODE. Wistar rats were pretreated with SODE (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, body weight [b.w.], p.o.) for 15 days and intoxicated during 2 h by acute oral administration of EtOH (4 g/kg, b.w.) 60 min after the last dose of SODE. We found that SODE pretreatment, in vivo, protected against EtOH-induced liver and kidney injuries evident by plasma transaminases activity and preservation of the hepatic tissue structure. Compared with the control group, the animals treated with the SODE showed a significant decrease (68.81 ± 6.89-50.65 ± 3.97 UI/L) of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST; 144.38 ± 6.58-113.64 ± 8.03 UI/L) in a dose-dependent manner. By contrast, the plant extract significantly and dose dependently increased (0.175 ± 0.077-0.302 ± 0.011 mmol/L) the uric acid. The SODE counteracted EtOH-induced liver and kidney lipoperoxidation, preserved sulfhydryl groups (-SH) and glutathione reduced (GSH) contents. Our extract prevented the depletion of antioxidant enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). We also showed that acute alcohol administration increased tissue and plasma hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), calcium and free iron levels. Of interest, SODE pretreatment reversed all EtOH-induced disturbances in intracellular mediators. More importantly, SODE treatment significantly protected against alcohol-induced inflammation by reducing C-reactive protein (CRP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities in plasma. It was concluded that the SODE exerted a potential protective effect against EtOH-induced inflammation and oxidative stress in the rat organs. This study recommends that the consumption of sage flowers is useful for patients who suffer from hepato- and nephrotoxicity.

Role of Salvia officinalis Silver Nanoparticles in Attenuation Renal Damage in Rabbits Exposed to Methotrexate

Nanomaterials are now considered in an extensive range of applications in various fields such as biotechnology and biomedicine. The present study aimed to investigate the protective role of Salvia officinalis Silver Nanoparticles (SOSNPs) as an anti-oxidant on nephrotic damage induced by methotrexate (MTX) in adult rabbits. Green silver nanoparticles were synthesized using alcoholic extract of Salvia officinalis (S. Officinalis) leaves and were characterized by UV-spectrophotometry and scanning electron microscope. The mixing of the plant extract of S. Officinalis with silver nitrate solution leads to the change of the reaction mixture color to yellowish within 1 h and dark brown after 8 h. For studying the protective role of SOSNPs, a total of 28 adult Wistar albino rabbits were divided into four groups and treated intramuscularly (twice per week) for 45 days as follows: T1: S. Officinalis (150 mg/kg B.W), T2: SOSNPs (150 mg/kg B.W); T3: MTX (0.25 mg/kg B.W) and SOSNPs (150 mg/kg B.W); T4: MTX (0.25 mg/kg B.W). Blood was collected at 0, 15, 30, and 45 days using retro-orbital sinus and cardiac puncture technique, and the serum factors including malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) in serum, creatinine, as well as blood urea nitrogen and uric acid concentrations were measured at the next step. The results indicated that MTX (T4) caused a case of oxidative stress by a significant decrease in GSH and MDA as well as an increase in serum creatinine, urea, and uric acid concentrations. On the other hand, the protective roles of S. Officinalis and SOSNPs given concurrently with MTX were clarified in T2 and T3 groups, where there was the alleviation of renal damage through the correction of the previously mentioned parameters as well as the correction of anti-oxidant status. Finally, the present study documented the anti-oxidant activity and renal protective effects of SOSNPs against the damaging effects of MTX in rabbits.

Hydrosols from Rosmarinus officinalis, Salvia officinalis, and Cupressus sempervirens: Phytochemical Analysis and Bioactivity Evaluation

The present work evaluates the aromatic waters of rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus Spenn. syn. Rosmarinus officinalis L.), sage (Salvia officinalis L.), and cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.) obtained as innovative commercial products of a hydrodistillation process. All extracts were exhaustively analysed by GC-MS, ¹H-NMR, and LC-MS in order to evaluate potential metabolite fingerprint differences. GC-MS appears to be the most exhaustive technique for the qualitative identification of the single constituents, although in this case, the use of ¹H-NMR and LC-MS techniques allowed some useful considerations in semi-quantitative terms. Antimycotic effects were studied against Tricophyton, Candida, and Arthroderma species, resulting in weak activity. The toxicological impact was partly evaluated in vitro by means of allelopathy and brine shrimp lethality. Cytotoxicity was investigated in human colon cancer cells (HCT116) and in hypothalamic cells (Hypo-E22) challenged with hydrogen peroxide. Sage and rosemary hydrosols were the most effective antimycotics, whereas all hydrosols displayed antiradical effects. Cytotoxic effects against HCT116 cells (at 500 µL/mL) were related in silico to the endovanilloid TRPM8 and TRPV1 receptors. At lower concentrations (5-50 µL/mL), the hydrosols protected hypothalamic neurons Hypo-E22 cells from hydrogen peroxide-induced toxicity. The overall experience indicates that hydrolates are an important source of relevant phytochemicals with significant pharmacological potential.

Design and evaluation of nanostructured lipid carriers loaded with Salvia officinalis extract for Alzheimer's disease treatment

Considering the potential of Salvia officinalis in prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD), as well as the ability of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) to successfully deliver drug molecules across blood-brain barrier (BBB), the objective of this study was design, development, optimization and characterization of freeze-dried salvia officinalis extract (FSE) loaded NLC intended for intranasal administration. NLC were prepared by solvent evaporation method and the optimization was carried out using central composite design (CCD) of experiments. Further, the optimized formulation (NLCo) was coated either with chitosan (NLCc) or poloxamer (NLCp). Surface characterization of the particles demonstrated a spherical shape with smooth exterior. Particle size of optimal formulations after 0.45 μm pore size filtration ranged from 127 ± 0.68 nm to 140 ± 0.74 nm. The zeta potential was -25.6 ± 0.404 mV; 22.4 ± 1.106 mV and - 6.74 ± 0.609 mV for NLCo, NLCc, and NLCp, respectively. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) confirmed the formation of NLC whereas Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the FSE encapsulation into particles. All formulations showcased relatively high drug loading (>86.74 mcg FSE/mg solid lipid) and were characterized by prolonged and controlled release that followed Peppas-Sahlin in vitro release kinetic model. Protein adsorption studies revealed the lowest adsorption of the proteins onto NLCp (43.53 ± 0.07%) and highest protein adsorption onto NLCc (55.97 ± 0.75%) surface. The modified ORAC assay demonstrated higher antioxidative activity for NLCo (95.31 ± 1.86%) and NLCc (97.76 ± 4.00%) as compared to FSE (90.30 ± 1.53%). Results obtained from cell cultures tests pointed to the potential of prepared NLCs for FSE brain targeting and controlled release.

Estrogenic activity of Sage (Salvia officinalis L.) aerial parts and its isolated ferulic acid in immature ovariectomized female rats

ETNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Common sage (Salvia officinalis L., Lamiaceae), a medicinal plant of Mediterranean origin, has been traditionally applied in cases of excessive sweating, and in menopausal complaints, including hot flushes.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aims to study the possible estrogenic effect of the aerial parts of S. officinalis ethanolic extract in immature ovariectomized female rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The ethanolic extract was subjected to qualitative and quantitative HPLC analysis and phytochemical isolation. The estrogenic activity of S. officinalis ethanolic extract at oral doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg b.wt. and its isolated ferulic acid at a dose of 50 mg/kg b.wt. for a week, was assessed on ovariectomized immature Wistar rats. The experiment was confirmed by luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) serum levels determination, a histopathological examination and a histomorphometrical study.

RESULTS

HPLC/PDA analysis revealed fourteen phenolic compounds the major constituents were methyl rosmarinate (24.86 mg/100 g) and ferulic acid (6.06 mg/100 g) together with five flavonoids where the major constituents were rutin, naringenin and quercetin. Two compounds were isolated from the polar fraction and identified as methyl rosmarinate (1) and ferulic acid (2). Oral administration of sage ethanolic extract and ferulic acid revealed a significant increase in the uterine weight compared to ovariectomized control rats. Moreover, S. officinalis and ferulic acid showed different phases of estrus cycle denoting estrogenic activity, and significantly decreased the serum levels of FSH and LH.

CONCLUSION

From these results it could be concluded that S. officinalis ethanolic extract and its content of ferulic acid could be useful as a safe natural source for estrogenic activity, supporting its traditional use to improve postmenopausal symptoms.

Productive Performance, Ovarian Follicular Development, Lipid Peroxidation, Antioxidative Status, and Egg Quality in Laying Hens Fed Diets Supplemented with Salvia officinalis and Origanum majorana Powder Levels

This study aimed to assess the effect of dietary supplementation with different levels of Salvia officinalis and/or Origanum majorana on productive performance, ovarian follicular development, lipid peroxidation, antioxidative status, and egg quality in laying hens. Two hundred and ninety-four 45-week-old Bovans brown hens were allocated into seven groups, with seven replicates of six hens each. The first group was fed with the basal considered as a control (A); the second (B) and third (C) groups were provided with the same control diet further supplemented with 0.5 and 1 kg/ton Salvia officinalis, respectively; the fourth (D) and fifth (E) groups received the control diet further supplemented with 0.5 and 1 kg/ton Origanum majorana, respectively; while the sixth (F) and the seventh (G) groups were offered a diet supplemented with 0.5 kg/ton Salvia officinalis and 0.5 kg/ton Origanum majorana and 1 kg/ton Salvia officinalis and 1 kg/ton Origanum majorana, respectively. No significant effects were observed in the final body weight (BW) and feed intake (FI) of the laying hens. In the diets supplemented with Salvia officinalis and Origanum majorana, the egg weights for groups C, F, and G had significantly higher values only compared to group D. The supplementation of the diets with Salvia officinalis and/or Origanum majorana significantly (p < 0.05) increased the Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and estradiol estrogenic hormone concentration, except for Origanum majorana at both levels with regard to estradiol. The dietary utilization of Salvia officinalis and Origanum majorana did not significantly alter the plasma glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), total protein, albumin, globulin, and High density lipoprotein (HDL) parameters. Cholesterol, glucose, triglyceride, and Low density lipoprotein (LDL) were decreased (p < 0.05) in the birds fed with Salvia officinalis and/or Origanum majorana supplemented diets. Moreover, at both doses, the dietary supplementation with Salvia officinalis and Origanum majorana decreased (p < 0.05) the yolk cholesterol and liver Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. In addition, the dietary enrichment with Salvia officinalis and/or Origanum majorana decreased (p < 0.05) the palmitoleic and stearic fatty acids' egg yolk concentration. In contrast, the yolk linoleic fatty acid concentration was significantly increased by Salvia officinalis and/or Origanum majorana. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with Salvia officinalis and/or Origanum positively affected productive performance, ovarian follicular development, antioxidant activity, hormonal status, and steroidogenesis in Bovans brown laying hens.

Bioactive phytochemicals from Salvia officinalis attenuate cadmium-induced oxidative damage and genotoxicity in rats

This study was conducted to identify the bioactive phytochemicals in Salvia officinalis essential oil, to determine the polyphenols in the aqueous extract (SOE), and to evaluate their protective role against cadmium (Cd)-induced oxidative damage and genotoxicity in rats. Six groups of female rats were treated orally for 2 weeks including the control group, CdCl₂-treated group, SOE-treated groups at low or high dose (100 and 200 mg/kg b.w), and CdCl₂ plus SOE-treated groups at the two doses. The GC-MS analysis identified 39 compounds; the main compounds were 9-octadecenamide, eucalyptol, palmitic acid, and oleic acid. However, the HPLC analysis showed 12 polyphenolic compounds and the majority were coumaric acid, chlorogenic acid, coffeic acid, catechin, vanillin, gallic acid, ellagic acid, and rutin. In the biological study, rats received CdCl₂ displayed severe disturbances in liver and kidney indices alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), albumin (Alb), total protein (TP), total bilirubin (T. Bil), direct bilirubin (D. Bil), creatinine, uric acid, and urea, lipid profile, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and CEA), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), gene expressions, DNA fragmentation, and histological alterations in the liver and kidney tissue. SOE showed a potent antioxidant and mitigated these alterations in serum and tissue. Moreover, the high dose succeeded to normalize most of the tested parameters and histological features. It could be concluded that S. officinalis is a promising source for bioactive compounds with therapeutic benefits against environmental toxicants.

Green Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Salvia officinalis Leaf Extract and Their Photocatalytic and Antifungal Activities

The facile bio-fabrication of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) is described in this study using an aqueous leaf extract of Salvia officinalis L. as an efficient stabilizing/capping agent. Biosynthesis of nanomaterials using phytochemicals present in the plants has received great attention and is gaining significant importance as a possible alternative to the conventional chemical methods. The properties of the bio-fabricated ZnONPs were examined by different techniques, such as UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric/differential scanning calorimetry analysis (TGA/DTG). The photocatalytic activity of ZnONPs was investigated against methyl orange (MO) under UV light irradiation. Under optimum experimental conditions, ZnONPs exhibited 92.47% degradation of MO. Furthermore, the antifungal activity of bio-fabricated ZnONPs was determined against different clinical Candida albicans isolates following standard protocols of broth microdilution and disc diffusion assay. The susceptibility assay revealed that ZnONPs inhibit the growth of all the tested fungal isolates at varying levels with MIC values ranging from 7.81 to 1.95 µg/mL. Insight mechanisms of antifungal action appeared to be originated via inhibition of ergosterol biosynthesis and the disruption of membrane integrity. Thus, it was postulated that bio-fabricated ZnONPs have sustainable applications in developing novel antifungal agents with multiple drug targets. In addition, ZnONPs show efficient photocatalytic efficiency without any significant catalytic loss after the catalyst was recycled and reused multiple times.

Preparation, Characterization, and Biocompatibility Assessment of Polymer-Ceramic Composites Loaded with Salvia officinalis Extract

In the present work, hydroxyapatite-polymer materials were developed. The preparation, as well as characterization of the ceramic-polymer composites based on polyvinylpyrrolidone, sodium alginate, and gelatin were described. The system was enriched with the addition of common sage extract (Salvia officinalis). The antioxidant potential of sage aqueous extract and total polyphenol content was determined. The antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content of extract were equal to 86.06 ± 0.49% and 16.21 ± 0.58 mg gallic acid equivalents per gram of dry weight, respectively. Incubation studies in selected biological liquids were carried out to determine the biomineralization capacity on the surface of the composites and to examine the kinetics of release of the active substances from within the material. As a result of the incubation, a gradual release of the extract over time from the polymer matrix was observed; moreover, the appearance of new apatite layers on the composite surface was recorded as early as after 14 days, which was also confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) microanalysis. The composites were analyzed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectroscopy, and the morphology was recorded by scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging. The in vitro biological studies allowed their cytotoxic effect on the reference L929 fibroblasts to be excluded. Further analysis of the biomaterials showed that enrichment with polyphenols does not support the adhesion of L929 cells to the surface of the material. However, the addition of these natural components stimulates human monocytes that constitute the first step of tissue regeneration.

Sage, Salvia officinalis L., Constituents, Hepatoprotective Activity, and Cytotoxicity Evaluations of the Essential Oils Obtained from Fresh and Differently Timed Dried Herbs: A Comparative Analysis

Sage, Salvia officinalis L., is used worldwide as an aromatic herb for culinary purposes as well as a traditional medicinal agent for various ailments. Current investigations exhibited the effects of extended dryings of the herb on the yields, composition, oil quality, and hepatoprotective as well as anti-cancer biological activities of the hydrodistillation-obtained essential oils from the aerial parts of the plant. The essential oils’ yields, compositions, and biological activities levels of the fresh and differently timed and room-temperature dried herbs differed significantly. The lowest yields of the essential oil were obtained from the fresh herbs (FH, 631 mg, 0.16%), while the highest yield was obtained from the two-week dried herbs (2WDH, 1102 mg, 0.28%). A notable decrease in monoterpenes, with increment in the sesquiterpene constituents, was observed for the FH-based essential oil as compared to all the other batches of the essential oils obtained from the different-timed dried herbs. Additionally, characteristic chemotypic constituents of sage, i.e., α-pinene, camphene, β-pinene, myrcene, 1, 8-cineole, α-thujone, and camphor, were present in significantly higher proportions in all the dried herbs’ essential oils as compared to the FH-based essential oil. The in vivo hepatoprotective activity demonstrated significant reductions in the levels of AST, ALT, and ALP, as well as a significant increase in the total protein (p < 0.05) contents level, as compared to the acetaminophen (AAP) administered experimental group of rats. A significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the ALT level was demonstrated by the 4WDH-based essential oil in comparison to the FH-based essential oil. The levels of creatinine, cholesterol, and triglycerides were reduced (p < 0.05) in the pre-treated rats by the essential oil batches, with non-significant differences found among them as a result of the herbs dryings based oils. A notable increase in the viability of the cells, and total antioxidant capacity (TAOxC) levels, together with the reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were observed by the essential oils obtained from all the batches as compared with the AAP-treated cell-lines, HepG-2, HeLa, and MCF-7, that indicated the in vitro hepatoprotective effects of the sage essential oils. However, significant improvements in the in vivo and in vitro hepatoprotective activities with the 4WDH-based oil, as compared to all other essential oil-batches and silymarin standard demonstrated the beneficial effects of the drying protocol for the herb for its medicinal purposes.

Alleviation of Lead Stress on Sage Plant by 5-Aminolevulinic Acid (ALA)

Oxidative stress is imparted by a varying range of environmental factors involving heavy metal stress. Thus, the mechanisms of antioxidant resistance may advance a policy to improve metal tolerance. Lead as a toxic heavy metal negatively affects the metabolic activities and growth of medicinal and aromatic plants. This investigation aimed to assess the function of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) in the alleviation of Pb stress in sage plants (Salvia officinalis L.) grown either hydroponically or in pots. Various concentrations of Pb (0, 100, 200, and 400 µM) and different concentrations of ALA (0, 10, and 20 mg L^-1) were tested. This investigation showed that Pb altered the physiological parameters. Pb stress differentially reduced germination percentage and protein content compared to control plants. However, lead stress promoted malondialdehyde (MDA) and H₂O₂ contents in the treated plants. Also, lead stress enhanced the anti-oxidative enzyme activities; ascorbate peroxidase superoxide, dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase in Salvia plants. ALA application enhanced the germination percentage and protein content compared to their corresponding controls. Whereas, under ALA application MDA and H₂O₂ contents, as well as the activities of SOD, APX, GPX, and GR, were lowered. These findings suggest that ALA at the 20 mgL^-1 level protects the Salvia plant from Pb stress. Therefore, the results recommend ALA application to alleviate Pb stress.

Salvia officinalis Extract and 17β-Estradiol Suppresses Ovariectomy Induced Osteoporosis in Female Rats

&lt;b&gt;Background and Objective:&lt;/b&gt; Osteoporosis is a progressive metabolic disorder characterized by an impaired bone formation that leads to increased morbidity and mortality.&lt;i&gt; Salvia officinalis &lt;/i&gt;is a source of phytoestrogens that could help mitigate the risk of osteoporotic rat fracture by exerting sex hormones. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the curative effect of &lt;i&gt;Salvia officinalis &lt;/i&gt;Extract&lt;i&gt; &lt;/i&gt;(SOE) and&lt;i&gt; &lt;/i&gt;17β-estradiol (E&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;) and their combination&lt;i&gt; &lt;/i&gt;on bone loss in female rats with ovariectomy-induced estrogen deficiency &lt;b&gt;Materials and Methods:&lt;/b&gt; Forty adult female albino rats were divided into five groups, which included Sham control (Sham), ovariectomy (OVX), OVX+SOE, OVX+E&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; and OVX +SOE+E&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;.&lt;i&gt; &lt;/i&gt;SOE (10 mL kg&lt;sup&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;sup&gt;1&lt;/sup&gt;) and E&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; (30 μg kg&lt;sup&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;sup&gt;1&lt;/sup&gt;) had been daily gavaged in the OVX+SOE, OVX+E&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; and OVX+SOE+E&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;, respectively for 6-weeks. &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; The model of ovariectomy resulted in osteoporosis as demonstrated by the decreased serum Ca, P, vitamin D, E&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; level associated with a significant increase in PTH levels in comparison to the sham control group. Besides, OVX to rats caused up-regulation in the levels of CTX-1, P1NP, BALP, OC and RANKL comparable to the sham control group. Moreover, SOE and E&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; significantly modulated the calciotropic parameters and improved all bone turnover markers as well as RANKL as compared to the OVX group. However, Histopathological and immunohistochemical results showed defective mineralization with the destruction of the bone matrix and increased TNF-α expression from the OVX group relative to the treated groups. &lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; These results suggest that both SOE and E&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; or their combined administration are efficient inhibitors against ovariectomy-induced bone loss in female rats.

Triterpenic and phenolic acids production changed in Salvia officinalis via in vitro and in vivo polyploidization: A consequence of altered genes expression

The induction of polyploidy is an efficient technique for creating a diversity of genetic, phenotypic, and phytochemical novelties in plant taxa. Sage (Salvia officinalis L.) is a well-known medicinal plant rich of valuable bioactive molecules such as triterpenic and phenolic acids. In the present study, the effect of in vitro and in vivo polyploidization on morphological characteristics, anatomical structures, phytochemical traits, and expression level of the genes involved in the biosynthesis of major triterpenic acids (ursolic, betulinic, and oleanolic acids) of the plant was studied. The sterile seeds treated with different concentrations (0, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2%) of colchicine for 24 and 48 h were considered for polyploidy induction. Flow cytometry and chromosome counting were used to confirm the ploidy level of diploid (2n = 2x = 14, 2C DNA = 1.10 pg) and tetraploid (2n = 4x = 28, 2C DNA = 2.12 pg) plants after seven months. The highest polyploidy induction was obtained by applying 0.1% (w/v) colchicine for 48 h with an efficiency of 19.05% in vitro tetraploidy. Polyploids showed differences in leaf shape and color, leaf and stem thickness, trichrome density, root length, plant height, and number of leaves compared to diploid plants. There was also a significant decrease in rosmarinic acid content in polyploid (plants) as compared to diploid plants. Although a significant decrease in ursolic acid content was observed in polyploids, betulinic acid content associated with the expression levels of genes encoding enzymes being active in triterpene biosynthesis such as squalene epoxidase (SQE) and lupeol synthase (LUS). The expression of SQE and LUS was significantly increased in in vitro tertaploids (2.9-fold) and in vivo mixoploids (2.4-fold). The results confirm the idea that induced polyploidy can randomly alter breeding traits of plants as well as the content of bioactive compounds.

Phytocompounds

BACKGROUND

The aim of this research is to investigate the potential activity of Salvia officinalis and various hair samples responsible for secretion of essential oil. In Tunisia, biological activity of Salvia officinalis is poorly recorded. Salvia leaves contain various types of hairs (glandular and nonglandular).

METHODS

The investigation of different trichomes was carried out by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) apparatus. Antiradical potential was assessed using 2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assay. Antimicrobial activity was analysed using disc diffusion assay. The extracts of Salvia officinalis (SvOf), showed the following order of richness in phenolic contents: methanolic (70.76 mg GAE/g DW), aqueous (43.76 mg GAE/g DW) and infusion (9.42 mg GAE/g DW). The methanolic fraction records the highest levels of flavonoids (77 mg QE/g DW) compared with the aqueous extracts (33.19 mg EQ/g DW) and infusion (26.25 mg EQ/g DW). MESvOf showed higher value of free radical scavenging activity towards DPPH free radical and ferric reducing power.

RESULTS

The results revealed that the main bioactive constituents in the methanolic fractions of sage leaves generally exhibited higher antibacterial effects. Overall, sage phytocompounds constitute a promising approach for the treatment of infectious diseases.

DISCUSSION

Functional groups detected in S. officinalis by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer (FT-IR) were mainly phenols, saccharides, amine and Aromatic (Ar-H).

CONCLUSION

Antiradical and antibacterial activities of Salvia officinalis are mainly due to phenolic content and other bioactive compounds. Non-glandular hairs are the most important trichomes in the Salvia leaves.

essential oils against avian influenza H5N1 virus

Nowadays, viral infection is considered a major cause of mortality all over the world such as covid-19 pandemic. In this context, searching for antiviral agents are major researchers interests. In this study, essential oils (EO) of Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) and Salvia officinalis (salvia) were subjected to combat avian influenza H5N1 virus. Laboratory trials were performed to identify Lavender and salvia EOs and evaluate their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiviral activity against an avian influenza H5N1 virus. EOs were prepared by the hydrodistillation of air-dried plants and analyzed by GC-MS methods. The results revealed that salvia has the highest EOs yield 1.3% than lavender 1%. The dominant constituents of lavender EO were linalyl acetate and linalool while camphor and α-thujone were the dominant compounds of salvia. Both oils exhibited antioxidant activity in DPPH and ABTS and total antioxidant capacity assays. The results suggest the use of salvia and lavender EOs as effective natural anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiviral agents.

A mouth rinse based on a tea solution of Salvia officinalis for oral discomfort in palliative cancer care: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Few clinical studies evaluate interventions to reduce oral discomfort among patients in palliative care.

AIM

This study examines the efficacy of a Salvia officinalis (SO) based herbal mouth rinse compared to conventional normal saline (NS) in order to improve oral health.

DESIGN

A block-randomized controlled trial. Data were collected before and after a 4-day intervention with either SO (n=44) or NS (n=44). Numerical rating scales (NRS, 0-10) and 12 items from the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire-Oral Health 17 (EORTC QLQ-OH17) measured patient-reported oral symptoms. An oral examination was performed before and after the intervention.

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS

This study included adult patients with late-stage cancer in an inpatient hospice unit.

RESULTS

Of the 88 patients included (mean age=63.9 years, SD=10.6), 73 (83%) completed the study. At baseline, 78% reported dry mouth on the EORTC QLQ-OH17, and 80% rated dry mouth ≥4 on the NRS. Total oral health scores based on the 12 EORTC QLQ-OH17 items improved similarly in both groups (p<0.001). However, dry mouth ratings on both the EORTC QLQ-OH17 (p=0.036) and NRS (p=0.045) improved more in the SO group than in the NS group. Plaque on the teeth improved in both the SO (p=0.008) and NS (p=0.018) groups, but plaque on the tongue and erythema only improved with NS.

CONCLUSIONS

This study did not detect an overall significant difference between SO and NS. Both mouth rinses improved oral health parameters, indicating that systematic assessment and oral care may reduce oral discomfort.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT02067572.