Salvia officinalis water extract: a potential hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic and anti-ulcerogenic remedy

Herbal medicine, an aspect of folk medicine, is nowadays practiced extensively in the community and most often without control when it comes to third world countries. Sage (Salvia officinalis L., Lamiaceae), widely used in folk medicine [1], is one of the medicinal herbs commonly used in the Middle East. The present investigation explores and sheds light on possible medicinal effects of the aqueous extract of sage leaves upon lipemia, glycemia and gastric ulcer in rats. After one month of extract intake via drinking water (50, 200 and 500mg/kg body weight), the highest dose showed significant improvement in serum HDL cholesterol, LDL/HDL cholesterol, and glucose. All doses used caused significant decreases in stool water content indicating that the extract is a possible remedy for patients with diarrhea. Assessment of liver enzyme activities (AST, ALT, LDH, ALP) revealed no hepatotoxic effects. Protection against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer [2] was investigated using 100 and 500mg/kg body weight doses. Results showed significant protection with both doses used. A maximum protection (46%) was observed at 100mg/kg body weight dose compared to the reference drug cimetidine (34%) at a dose of 10mg/kg body weight. The assessment of antibacterial activity against 11 bacterial hospital isolates using disk diffusion technique showed no potential in this respect. In conclusion, Salvia officinalis leaves water extract showed no liver toxicity, and exhibited a positive effect on lipemia, glycemia and gastric ulcer protection.

Acknowledgements: Mr. Jean Karam.

References: 1. Newall, C. et al. (1996). Herbal Medicine, A Guide for Health-Care Professionals. (pp. 330–334).

2. Gurbuz, I. et al. (2005)J. Ethnopharmacol. 101: 313–318.