Meadow sage (Salvia pratensis L.): A neglected sage species with valuable phenolic compounds and biological potential

Abstract

The genus Salvia is well-known for its use in food as aromatic and spicy herbs, as well as in the pharmaceutical and fragrance industries. Regardless of their importance, some Salvia species have not been thoroughly examined and chemically characterized, including Salvia pratensis L. In the present study, the detailed phenolic composition using LC/MS analysis, some bioactivities, and in vitro digestion stability of S. pratensis aerial part (SPA) and root (SPR) methanol extracts were determined. The results showed that both extracts possess high phenolic content, while SPR was richer in rosmarinic (11065.56 µg/g) and caffeic (509.00 µg/g) acids, as well as salvianolic acid A (519.22 µg/g) and B (291.60 µg/g) amounts quantified by UHPLC-DAD/(-)HESI-MS/MS analysis than SPA. The extracts demonstrated considerable antioxidant activity, particularly radical scavenger activity with IC50 values ranging between 24 and 90 µg/mL. The high inhibitory effect of extracts against DNA oxidative damage induced by peroxyl and hydroxyl radicals was noticed. The root extract was the most effective in inhibiting bacterial growth with MIC < 0.156 mg/mL for some G+ bacterial species. SPR extract was substantially more cytotoxic than SPA against all examined cell lines, particularly on cancer cells. The IC50 values of SPR for two cancerogenic cell lines A431 and SVT2 were 24.3 and 49.6 µg/mL, respectively. S. pratensis, especially its root, possess valuable phenolic compounds and biological properties for potential application as a substitute for some commonly used Salvia species.