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
Download Full Article PDF
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.