Variability in essential oil composition of sage (Salvia officinalis L.) grown under North Western Himalayan Region of India

Abstract

Common sage (Salvia officinalis L.; Lamiaceae) is one of the most important herb known for its essential oil richness and extensive use in folk medicine. The essential oil from aerial parts of S. officinalis L. collections grown under temperate climate of Uttarakhand, India, was analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GC/MS). The essential oil content of S. officinalis was found to vary between 1.11 to 2.76% on dry weight basis. A total of 35 compounds were identified, representing 94.21 to 99.36% of the total oils. The range of major constituents present among six sage collections were: α-thujone (21.43 to 40.10%), β-thujone (2.06 to 7.41%), camphor (11.31 to 37.67%), 1,8-cineole (4.47 to 9.17%), α-humulene (4.58 to 9.51%), camphene (1.89 to 7.04%), viridiflorol (2.14 to 5.56%), α-pinene (1.55 to 6.17%), β-pinene (1.68 to 3.49%) and β-caryophyllene (1.06 to 5.59%). The essential oil composition of sage collections showed presence of larger quantities of the oxygenated terpenes (59.43 to 70.68%) as compared to monoterpene hydrocarbon (13.41 to 17.01%), sesquiterpene hydrocarbon (7.78 to 15.36%) and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (2.14 to 7.73%). The presence of comparatively high concentration of oxygenated compounds mainly thujones, 1,8-cineole and camphor in sage oils may be attributing its carminative, antispasmodic, antiseptic, and astringent properties. Hence, these sage collections may be exploited for various biological and therapeutic applications. Key words: Salvia officinalis, essential oil, composition, Lamiaceae, terpenes, thujones.