Volatile and some non-volatile chemical constituents of Mediterranean Salvia species beyond their native area

Abstract

Members of the Salvia genus, like many representatives of the subfamilies Lamioideae and Nepetoideae, can be grown under the continental conditions of Hungary, beyond their native area of distribution.

Salvia tomentosa Mill., S. officinalis L., S.fruticosa Mill., S. lavandulifolia Vahl., S. candelabrum Boiss., and S. ringens Sm. are species with essential oils of similar characteristics, i.e., with a predominant monoterpenoid content, whereas the thujone shows significant variations.

The investigations reviewed have demonstrated that since S. tomentosa Mill. has a similar essential oil composition to S. officinalis L., but with a favorably lower thujone content, it could be regarded as a potential substitute for the purpose of essential oil production. Among the non-volatile components, ursolic, oleanolic, rosmarinic, caffeic acids do not show remarkable differences in the species investigated.

Keywords:

• Section Salvia
• essential oils
• essential oil composition
• rosmarinic
• caffeic
• ursolic
• oleanolic acids