Salvia sclarea L. essential oil as possible natural antimicrobial and antigenotoxic agent

Abstract

Clary sage (Salvia sclarea L.) belongs to genus Salvia (family Lamiaceae). This cultivar is also known as a “clear-eye” since its seeds are traditionally used to easily remove foreign objects from the eye. The essential oil obtained from the plant aerial part is widely used as an antiseptic, antidepressant, antispasmodic, carminative, and aphrodisiac. The aim of this study was to determine the pharmacological potential of selected essential oil, obtained by means of steam distillation, according to screened antimicrobial and antigenotoxic activity. The antimicrobial activity was assessed using the microdilution method against ten ATCC standardized microorganisms, nine bacterial strains (of which six G+ and three G-) and one fungi. The in vitro protective effect of the essential oil from S. sclarea against hydroxyl radical-induced DNA damage was also evaluated. The obtained MIC values pointed out good antimicrobial potency of tested essential oil against Bacillus subtilis (0.3125 μg μL-1), Bacillus cereus (0.3125 μg μL-1), Enterococcus faecalis (10 μg μL-1), Staphylococcus aureus (25 μg μL-1), Staphylococcus epidermidis (1.56 μg μL-1), Micrococcus lysodeikticus (50 μg μL-1), Escherichia coli (50 μg μL-1), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10 μg μL-1), Salmonella enteritidis (10 μg μL-1), Candida albicans (6.25 μg μL-1). Antigenotoxic activity was dose-dependent, decreasing with higher dosages in a concentration range from 25 to 400 μg mL-1. Conclusively, examined oil may be characterized as a potential therapy against infections caused by Bacillus strain as well as a supplement in cancer treatments as healthy cells protector.