Sage real

A spice and medicinal plant from the labiate family that is native to the Mediterranean region and was introduced to Central and Northern Europe by monks in the Middle Ages. The shrub, which grows up to 60 cm tall, has tomentose stems, thick, hairy green leaves in young sage, which appear white tomentose on the underside, and whitish or pink to purple flowers. Flowering time is June to July.

Salvia officinalis is the parent plant of Salviae officinalis folium, the sage leaves.

In addition to the true sage, there is also the three-lobed or Greek sage (Salvia triloba = Salvia fruticosa). The essential oil of the three-lobed sage varies in quantity.

The quality is specified in the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.).

The sage leaves(Salviae folium) are used phytotherapeutically:

HMPC monograph: Traditional use: traditional herbal medicinal product for oral and cutaneous use
ESCOPmonograph: positive for dyspeptic complaints. Heartburn, flatulence, hyperhidrosis, hot flushes; supportive for hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia; externally for inflammations and infections of the oral mucosa, gums and pharyngeal mucosa.
Commission E: internally for dyspeptic complaints, increased sweat secretion; externally for inflammations of the oral and pharyngeal mucosa.

Empirical medicine: external: herpes simplex

According to the HMPC,sage oil should not be used internally as the risk outweighs the benefit due to the high content of thujone, a neurotoxin. see also Salvia officinalis extract (INCI).

Sage is also used as a spice, e.g. for meat, soups, stews and vegetable dishes; sage prolongs the shelf life of food.

Due to the high proportion of essential oils (containing thujonine, cineole, camphor, canusol, diterpenes, flavonoids, bitter substances) in various types of sage, there are different uses.

Sage as a culinary spice: True sage (S. officinalis) is used as a culinary spice in meat preparation.

Sage in medicine: Sage extracts have an antibacterial effect against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, questionably virostatic, fungistatic against yeasts, Candida albicans; also astringent, antioxidant and antihidrotic.

Used as an infusion for sore throats or gingivitis. In a randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind study, the topical application of a 2% sage cream showed a stronger inhibition of UV-induced erythema compared to the vehicle, comparable to a 1% hydrocortisone cream.

Furthermore, sage lozenges can be used against excessive sweating.

Sage in cosmetics:

• Salvia officinalis extract is a drug obtained from the dried leaves and parts of the stem.
• Salvia officinalis oil is the essential oil obtained by steam distillation from the dried leaves.

Indication (traditional use) according to HMPC: 1) Relief of mild dyspeptic complaints such as heartburn and flatulence. 2) Relief of excessive sweating. 3) Relief of inflammation of the mouth or throat. 4) Traditional herbal medicinal product for the relief of mild skin inflammations.

Internal use according to Commission E: Dyspeptic complaints such as bloating and heartburn, hyperhidrosis.

Topically for inflammations of the oral and pharyngeal mucosa, mild skin inflammations.

Empirical medicine also uses sage extracts locally for herpes simplex .

I

InfectoGingi® Oral Gel, Aperisan® Oral Mucosa Therapeutic Gel, Bronchial Tea 400, Gerner Antibronchiticum N, Gerner Nervinum N, Pernionin® N Ointment, Slavia Thymol®, Salvysat® Bürger Film Tablets and Drops, Sweatosan Dragees N®, Trauma-cyl Ointment, Varicylum® S Ointment, Rephaderm® Balm

1. Beheshti-Rouy M et al. (2015) The antibacterial effect of sage extract (Salvia officinalis) mouthwash against Streptococcus mutans in dental plaque: a randomized clinical trial. Iran J Microbiol 7:173-177.
2. Felšöciová S et al. (2015) Antifungal activity of essential oils against selected terverticillate penicillia. Ann Agric Environ Med 22:38-42
3. Fournomiti M et al. (2015) Antimicrobial activity of essential oils of cultivated oregano (Origanum vulgare), sage (Salvia officinalis), and thyme (Thymus vulgaris) against clinical isolates of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella oxytoca, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Microb Ecol Health Dis 26:23289.
4. Ghorbanpour M et al.(2016) Phytochemical Variations and Enhanced Efficiency of Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Ingredients in Salvia officinalis as Inoculated with Different Rhizobacteria. Chem Biodivers 13:319-330.
5. Soares IH et al. (2015) In vitro activity of essential oils extracted from condiments against fluconazole-resistant and -sensitive Candida glabrata. J Mycol Med 25:213-217.
6. Reuter J et al. (2007) Sage extract rich in phenolic diterpenes inhibits ultraviolet-induced erythema in vivo. Planta Med 73: 1190-1191
7. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/draft-european-union-herbal-monograph-salvia-officinalis-l-folium_en.pdf
8. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/salbei.php
9. Wenigmann M. (2017) Phytotherapy medicinal drugs, phytopharmaceuticals, application. Urban & Fischer, pp. 187-188
10. https://pflanzen.fnr.de/industriepflanzen/arzneipflanzen/pflanzen-datenbank
11. https://www.awl.ch/heilpflanzen/salvia_officinalis/salbei.htm
12. https://heilkraeuter.de/lexikon/salbei.htm