Salvia officinalis
Sage
Salvia officinalis, commonly known as culinary sage, is a perennial herb prized for its aromatic leaves and potent medicinal properties. Rich in antioxidants and essential oils, it has been used historically to support digestive health, reduce inflammation, and boost cognitive function, making it a cornerstone of traditional herbal medicine.
- Scientific name: Salvia officinalis
- Family: Lamiaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae, it is classified under the genus Salvia. Its specific scientific name is Salvia officinalis.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Lamiales | WCVP |
| Family | Lamiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Salvia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Salvia officinalis, is referred to by various common names depending on the language and region. In Italian, it is simply known as Salvia, while in Chinese, it is called 鼠尾草 in Simplified (zh-hans), Traditional (zh-hant), and Cantonese (zh-hk) scripts. Additionally, in the Walloon language, it is referred to as Franke saedje.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| vec | Salvia | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 鼠尾草 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 鼠尾草 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 鼠尾草 | Wikidata |
| wa | Franke saedje | Wikidata |
| pl | Szałwia lekarska | Wikidata |
| qu | Q'uwa | Wikidata |
| ko | 세이지 | Wikidata |
| fr | sauge officinale | Wikidata |
| bs | Kadulja | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, it can be found growing within the territories of Great Britain and Ireland. Moving toward the center of the continent, the species is also established in Middle Europe. Specifically, it inhabits parts of Austria as well as the regions of Czechia and Slovakia. Finally, its presence is well-documented throughout the country of Germany.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Switzerland | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Baleares | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | France | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Portugal | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Sardegna | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as sage, is valued for its various components that contribute to its therapeutic properties. The most significant parts used in herbal medicine are the aerial parts, which encompass everything above the ground. Within these structures, the leaves serve as the primary source of bioactive compounds, particularly when they are processed into dried leaves for storage and consumption. Furthermore, the plant is rich in volatile essential oils, and the concentrated essential oil extracted from the foliage is often utilized for its potent aromatic and medicinal qualities.- Total parts
- 15
- Scientific sources
- 24
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| essential oil | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| aerial parts | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| essential oils | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dried leaves | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leaves | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| total ethanolic extract (TES) | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| seeds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oils | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oil | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Salvia officinalis has 157 reported phytochemicals identified across 260 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include camphor, rosmarinic acid, 1,8-cineole, flavonoids, ursolic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 157
- Scientific sources
- 260
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| camphor | 11 | ★★★★★ |
| rosmarinic acid | 10 | ★★★★★ |
| 1,8-cineole | 9 | ★★★★☆ |
| flavonoids | 9 | ★★★★☆ |
| ursolic acid | 7 | ★★★★☆ |
| camphene | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| carnosol | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| cis-thujone | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| trans-thujone | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| viridiflorol | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
Activities
Salvia officinalis has 37 reported activities identified across 95 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antimicrobial, Antidiabetic, Anticancer.
- Total activities
- 37
- Scientific sources
- 95
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 23 | ★★★★★ |
| Antibacterial | 11 | ★★★★★ |
| Antimicrobial | 10 | ★★★★★ |
| Antidiabetic | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Antihyperglycemic | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiinflammatory | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antinociceptive | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiproliferative | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antitumor | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Salvia officinalis has 123 reported medicinal uses identified across 176 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include oxidative stress, Alzheimer's disease, antioxidant, Escherichia coli, cancer.
- Total uses
- 123
- Scientific sources
- 176
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| oxidative stress | 8 | ★★★★☆ |
| Alzheimer's disease | 7 | ★★★★☆ |
| antioxidant | 7 | ★★★★☆ |
| Escherichia coli | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| cancer | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Staphylococcus aureus | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| inflammation | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| antidiabetic | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| diabetes mellitus | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| hyperglycemia | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |