Romanian Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences

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IN VITRO – IN VIVO CORRELATION OF THE ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY OF SALVIAE AETHEROLEUM ESSENTIAL OIL

OANA CIOANCA1, CORNELIA MIRCEA1*, LUCIAN HRITCU2, ADRIANA TRIFAN1, MARIUS MIHASAN2, ANA CLARA APROTOSOAIE1, SILVIA ROBU3, ELVIRA GILLE4, MONICA HANCIANU1

1.University of Medicine and Pharmacy „Gr. T. Popa” Iaşi, Faculty of Pharmacy, Romania
2.“Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, Faculty of Biology, Romania
3.“Dunarea de Jos” University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Galati, Romania
4.NIRDBS/ “Stejarul” Biological Research Centre, Piatra Neamt, Romania

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Both free radicals and oxygen reactive species have been involved as mediators to cell and tissue injury, inflammation, ischemia, neurodegeneration and dementia. Therefore, a great amount of evidence-based studies tried to explain the mechanisms and structure-relation activity. Most of these studies are related to polyphenols, renowned compounds for their powerful antioxidant properties. Our research aimed to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of the essential oil extracted from Salvia officinalis L. from biologic cultures. We used in vitro and in vivo (the determination of superoxide dismutase activity and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity) studies to fully assess its potential. The GC-MS analysis indicated the presence of 45 compounds and the principal components of the essential oil, in addition to thujone, were 1,8-cineol and camphor. The results of in vitro tests indicated that Salviae aetheroleum is a powerful inhibitor against 15-lipoxygenase (IC50 0.064 μL/mL) and cholinesterase (IC50 0.478 μL/mL) and a good scavenger of free radicals (IC50 10.5 μL/mL). For the in vivo testing, the essential oil was administered by inhalation to rats with induced Alzheimer disease and brain tissue samples were analysed. Daily exposures for one week to sage essential oil increased antioxidant enzymes activity, suggesting that the main mechanism to prevent neurodegeneration is related to antioxidant properties.