title: The in vitro pharmacological activities and a chemical investigation of three South African Salvia species.
abstract: Salvia species (sage) are well known in folk medicine throughout the world. In South Africa sage is used against fever and digestive disorders. Three closely related South African species (Salvia stenophylla, Salvia repens and Salvia runcinata) were investigated for their anti-oxidant (DPPH assay); anti-inflammatory (5-lipoxygenase and cyclo-oxygenase assays); antimalarial (tritiated hypoxanthine incorporation assay); antimicrobial (disc diffusion and micro-dilution assays) properties and toxicity profile (tetrazolium-based assay). The solvent extracts exhibited anti-oxidant, antimalarial and antibacterial and poor anti-inflammatory properties. The essential oils exhibited anti-inflammatory and antimalarial properties, but displayed poor anti-oxidant and antimicrobial activity. The extract of Salviastenophylla and the essential oil of Salvia runcinata displayed the highest toxicity profile. Overall, Salvia runcinata displayed the most favorable activity of all three taxa tested with an IC(50) value of 6.09 (anti-oxidant); 29.05 (antimalarial) and 22.82 microg/ml (anti-inflammatory). Analytical procedures (GC-MS and HPLC-UV) were employed to generate chromatographic profiles for the essential oils and solvent extracts respectively. The HPLC analysis revealed the presence of rosmarinic acid in all three taxa while carnosic acid was only present in Salvia repens and Salvia stenophylla. The GC-MS analysis showed that oils were qualitatively and quantitatively variable. beta-Caryophyllene was present in large amounts in all three taxa. Other components present include camphor, alpha-pinene and alpha-bisabolol. The results of the in vitro pharmacological activities provide a scientific basis to validate the use of these Salvia species in traditional medicine in South Africa.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: G P P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Kamatou
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Viljoen
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Gono-Bwalya
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: van Zyl
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: van Vuuren
authors.forename: A C U
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lourens
authors.forename: K H C
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Başer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Demirci
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Lindsey
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van Staden
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Steenkamp
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D027544:Salvia / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D013019:South Africa
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010936:Plant Extracts