Comparative Antioxidant, Anti-Acetylcholinesterase and Anti-α-Glucosidase Activities of Mediterranean <i>Salvia</i> Species

<i>Salvia</i> species have a cosmopolitan distribution and comprise several well-known plants valuable for pharmaceutical and food industries due to their recognized medicinal, food flavouring, and preservative properties. The present study aimed to evaluate and compare the biological ac...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mateja Mervić, Maja Bival Štefan, Marija Kindl, Biljana Blažeković, Marijan Marijan, Sanda Vladimir-Knežević
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-02-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/5/625
Description
Summary:<i>Salvia</i> species have a cosmopolitan distribution and comprise several well-known plants valuable for pharmaceutical and food industries due to their recognized medicinal, food flavouring, and preservative properties. The present study aimed to evaluate and compare the biological activities of seven wild-growing <i>Salvia</i> species from the Mediterranean area (<i>S</i><i>. fruticosa</i>, <i>S. glutinosa</i>, <i>S. nemorosa</i>, <i>S. officinalis</i>, <i>S. pratensis</i>, <i>S. sclarea</i>, <i>S. verticillata</i>). All studied ethanolic leaf extracts exhibited significant DPPH and NO radical scavenging ability, lipid peroxidation inhibition, and reducing power, as well as moderate iron-chelating properties. Together with <i>S. officinalis</i> and <i>S. fruticosa</i>, <i>S. verticillata</i> showed anti-acetylcholinesterase activity, while <i>S. glutinosa</i> was also found to possess the ability to inhibit α-glucosidase. Total flavonoid (0.37–0.90%), phenolic acid (3.55–12.44%), tannin (1.22–2.60%), and anthocyanin contents (0.03–0.08%) were determined in <i>Salvia</i> leaves. Rosmarinic acid was the predominant hydroxycinnamic acid in all studied sage plants, ranging from 9400 to 38,800 μg/g. The correlation study showed a strong relationship between biological activities and contents of total phenolic acids, total tannins, and rosmarinic acid, indicating their significant contribution to the efficiency of tested <i>Salvia</i> species. Our results highlighted Mediterranean sage plants as rich sources of potent antioxidant, neuroprotective, and hypoglycemic agents which are worthy of further research.
ISSN:2223-7747