Abstract The use of fresh sage is increasingly popular due to its unique aroma and sensory characteristics. However, sage is a perishable fresh produce with a short shelf life, with limited knowledge of its storage conditions. This work investigated the effects of various temperatures (2, 6, and 20 °C) and relative humidity (RH) levels (atmospheric-65 % and high-95 %) on the quality characteristics of fresh sage during postharvest storage. The results indicated lower weight loss and respiration rate at lower temperatures and high RH. In addition, a higher phytochemical content (phenols, flavonoids, and ascorbic acid) and antioxidant activity were observed in sage stored at 2 and 6 °C (at a high RH level). Sage stored at 6 °C and 65 % RH, also presented higher phenolics and antioxidants. Storage at 20 °C resulted in higher microbial load compared to lower temperatures. Higher sage essential oil yield was found at plants stored at 6 °C, while camphor was also found at higher levels at this temperature. Thus, from the results, it could be suggested that postharvest storage of fresh sage at 6 °C along with high RH could contribute to the preservation of a fresh, aromatic fresh produce of high nutritional value.

Plant metabolites exhibit a variety of different chemical properties, physiological activities, and biological functions. However, untargeted imaging of highly diverse metabolic profiles is still a great challenge. Here, metabolites in plant leaves were imaged via imprint, followed by desorption electrospray ionization/post-photoionization (imprint DESI/PI) mass spectrometry imaging. In contrast to the traditional imprint DESI method, quite a few metabolites, such as terpenoids, flavonoids, glycosides, alkylphenols, amino acids, phenolic acids, tannins, and lipids, in fresh sage leaves, ginkgo leaves, and tea leaves were well detected and imaged by imprint DESI/PI. More than 80 metabolites were additionally identified, and more than 1 order of magnitude higher signal intensities were obtained for most metabolites in the negative ion mode. By virtue of the significant improvement of coverage and sensitivity of PI, the catechin biosynthesis network in fresh tea leaves could be clearly illustrated, indicating the potential applicability of imprint DESI/PI in exploring the sites and pathways of plant metabolic conversion.

The overall aroma profiles of commercial dried sage differ significantly from the profile of macerated fresh leaves. To clarify changes in the key aroma compounds, first an aroma extract dilution analysis was applied on an extract/distillate prepared from the fresh leaves of Italian garden sage cultivated in a green house in Germany. Among the 39 aroma active compounds characterized, (Z)-3-hexenal, 1,8-cineol, borneol and eugenol showed the highest flavor dilution (FD) factors. Odorants identified with FD factors between 64 and 8192 were quantitated to calculate odor activity values (OAV; ratio of concentration to odor threshold). The highest OAVs were determined for myrcene, (Z)-3-hexenal, (1S,2R,4S)-borneol and 1,8-cineol. A mixture of 22 key reference aroma compounds in the same concentrations as determined in the fresh sage leaves successfully mimicked the overall aroma profile of the spice. To get insight into changes induced by drying, all key aroma compounds were quantitated in sage leaves from the same plant by drying at 50 °C. While all monoterpenes remained nearly unchanged during drying, in particular highly volatile compounds such as dimethyl sulfide or 2- and 3-methylbutanal were decreased. Almost a total loss occurred for 3-(methylthio)propanal, phenylacetaldehyde, and (Z)-3-hexenal. By contrast, storage of the dried leaves for 12 months at room temperature in the dark did not much effect the concentrations of selected key odorants, thus indicating that drying is the most important factor for the changes in aroma compounds. Sensory profiling of six commercial sage samples showed different aroma profiles, which also clearly differed from the profile of the sage dried in lab scale, which was rated to elicit the most typical sage aroma. In addition, the concentrations of selected key aroma compounds as well as the total amount of volatiles were clearly lower in all commercial samples.

A rapid GC-FID method for determination of sabinene, β-pinene, α-thujone and β-thujone in the essential oil of Kitchen Sage (Salvia officinalis L.)

The aim of the experiment was to determine the effect of aqueous extracts of dried sage (Salvia officinalis L.) in concentrations of 2%, 5% and 10%, and the fresh parts of the plant in concentrations of 10%, 20% and 30% on the feeding of Sitona lineatus L. on the broad bean (Vicia faba L.) leaves. The olfactometry response of the pest (response to olfactory stimuli) was also determined in relation to the sage. Extracts of dry and fresh parts of sage reveal the inhibitory effect on feeding of both males and females of pea leaf weevil, the stronger, the higher their concentrations, however, no apparent differences were registered between the analysed sexes. Dry plant extracts in 10% concentrations and 30% extracts of fresh sage parts caused 2–3 time reduction of Sitona lineatus feeding after 4 days of the experiment. An apparent repellent response of aroma substances originating from sage towards weevil beetles (both males and females) was registered, which suggests potential applications of this plant as a neighbouring plant in mixed stands or, e.g., as a component of border belts.

This trial aimed to assess the tolerability and efficacy of a fresh sage preparation in treating hot flushes and other menopausal complaints. Sage (Salvia officinalis) has been traditionally used to treat sweating and menopausal hot flushes, as well as to alleviate associated menopausal symptoms and as a general tonic. However, no clinical studies substantiating the use of sage in menopause have been published previously. In an open, multicenter clinical trial conducted in eight practices in Switzerland, 71 patients (intent-to-treat population [ITT], n=69; with a mean age of 56.4±4.7 years, menopausal for at least 12 months, and with at least five flushes daily) were recruited and treated with a once-daily tablet of fresh sage leaves for 8 weeks after an introductory baseline week. Parameters for the evaluation of efficacy were the change in intensity and frequency of hot flushes, and total score of the mean number of intensity-rated hot flushes (TSIRHF) as determined by diary protocol over the 2-month treatment period. Other variables included assessment of the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) by the treating physician at baseline and after 2 months of therapy. In the ITT population there was a significant decrease in the TSIRHF by 50% within 4 weeks and by 64% within 8 weeks (P<0.0001). The mean total number of hot flushes per day decreased significantly each week from week 1 to 8. The mean number of mild, moderate, severe, and very severe flushes decreased by 46%, 62%, 79%, and 100% over 8 weeks, respectively. The MRS and its somato-vegetative, psychological, and urogenital subscales decreased significantly by 43%, 43%, 47%, and 20% respectively. The treatment was very well tolerated. A fresh sage preparation demonstrated clinical value in the treatment of hot flushes and associated menopausal symptoms.

The effect of microwave-convective air-drying (continuous and intermittent) and convective air-drying of sage (Salvia officinalis) on color and essential oil content were studied. For microwave-convective air-drying, four pulse ratio levels (PR1, PR2, PR3, and PR4) at 25 °C drying air temperature were used and the average drying rates were 0.404, 0.158, 0.114, and 0.085 kg H2O kg−1 DM min−1 for PR1, PR2, PR3, and PR4, respectively. For convective air-drying, two drying temperatures of 40 and 50 °C were examined and the average drying rates were 0.005 and 0.006 kg H2O kg−1 DM min−1 for 40 and 50 °C, respectively. The experimental data were fitted to 11 different moisture ratio models to describe the drying kinetics under various drying conditions. Page model was found satisfactory to describe the drying curves of sage leaves. Comparing with the fresh sage, lightness (L*), greenness, and yellowness decreased for all drying applications. Lightness, greenness, and yellowness of the convective air-dried sage leaves were higher than those of microwave-convective air-dried sage leaves. The deviation from fresh product color (ΔE*) increased as the pulse ratio or the drying air temperature increased. The total quantity of essential oils of sage decreased considerably during microwave-convective air-drying whereas the loss of essential oils was limited during air-drying.

The ability of some commercially available herb and spice extracts to preserve alpha-tocopherol in sunflower oil during heating at 85-105°C was assessed using sunflower oil as a model system. The Rancimat® was evaluated for the heating stage and was used throughout as it was shown to be viable: α-tocopherol did not evaporate under the test conditions. The delay in the onset of rancidity was found to be directly related to the initial α-tocopherol concentration (P < 0.01). Rosemary, thyme, turmeric, sage, oregano and cumin extracts (2000 mg.kg−1) delayed rancidity (P < 0.01) and preserved α-tocopherol (P < 0.01). Some preservation was observed with clove extract but coriander and cardamom extracts were pro-oxidants. With thyme extract, the log of the induction time (as an indicator of the delay in rancidity) was directly proportional to the temperature (85-100°C). The ethyl acetate, hexane and methanol extracts of fresh sage were effective for preserving α-tocopherol (P < 0.01). With thyme, rosemary and sage extracts, the increase in the preservation of α-tocopherol was directly related to the concentration of the herb extract (P < 0.01) and was quite effective even at 100 mg.kg−1. The increased delay in the onset of rancidity was due directly to the improved preservation of α-tocopherol (P < 0.01). In further experiments, the preservative effect of turmeric was shown not to be due to its reported major antioxidant, curcumin, even though it delayed rancidity. When herb/spice extracts were examined mixed with thyme, bay and turmeric showed synergism (P < 0.01) whereas bay alone was slightly inhibitory. The mode of action appeared to be due to free radical activity rather than through singlet oxygen generation.