Planta Med 2006; 72 - P_321
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-950121

Seasonal variation in the essential oil composition of Salvia fruticosa Mill. cultivated in Portugal

PSC Braga 1, AM Vicente 2, M Fernandes-Ferreira 1
  • 1Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710–057 Braga, Portugal
  • 2Estação Regional de Hortofloricultura, Quinta S. José – S. Pedro de Merelim, 4700–856 BRAGA, Portugal

Salvia fruticosa Miller (Greek sage) is a well-known medicinal plant endemic of the Eastern Mediterranean region. Also named three-lobed sage (Salvia triloba L.) due to its leaf morphology, Greek sage has been commercialized since ancient times for use in therapy but also as a spice to flavour meats such as pork, sausage and poultry [1]. Its essential oil has shown antimicrobial, cytotoxic, antiviral and anti-tumor properties [2]. However, the composition of the essential oil varies geographically and seasonally and these variations seem to affect its properties [3, 4].

Our group has already studied the seasonal and geographical variation of the essential oil composition of S. officinalis plants grown in Portugal [5]. We now report on the seasonal variation of S. fruticosa essential oil composition.

Aerial parts of S. fruticosa plants (˜30cm) were collected every two months, during a year period, from an experimental field from DRAEDM located in Merelim, Braga (Portugal). The aerial parts were then divided in an upper (UAP) and lower segment (LAP) at ˜10cm from the top and approximately 25g of each sample were hydrodistilled in a Clevenger type apparatus. The resulting essential oils were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. They were rich in oxygenated monoterpenes and monoterpene hydrocarbons and, despite some variation, 1,8-cineole was the major compound in all samples, representing 29% to 46% of the oil. Myrcene was present in high percentages throughout the year. However, its levels fell during flowering, especially in the UAP's. The levels of cis- and trans-thujone were always low (<3%). Camphor percentages were also low but rose in August and October, being higher in the LAP's.

Acknowledgements: This work was sponsored by EU (FSE/FEDER) and Portuguese Republic Government (FCT) through the Grant SFRH/BD/18908/2004 and the Project SageBiotech (POCTI/AGR/62040/2004).

References: 1. Gali-Muhtasib, H. et al. (2000), J. Ethnopharmacol. 71: 513–520. 2. Gali-Muhtasib, H.U., Affara, N. I. (2000), Phytomedicine 7: 129–136. 3. Skoula M. et al. (2000), Biochem. Syst. Ecol. 28: 551–561. 4. Farhat, G.N. et al. (2001), Toxicon 39: 1601–1605. 5. Santos-Gomes, P.C., Fernandes-Ferreira, M. (2001), J. Agric. Food Chem. 49: 2908–2916.