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. 2010 Feb 1;15(2):735–746. doi: 10.3390/molecules15020735

Chemical Composition and Antigerminative Activity of the Essential Oils from Five Salvia Species

Laura De Martino 1, Graziana Roscigno 1, Emilia Mancini 1, Enrica De Falco 1, Vincenzo De Feo 1,*
PMCID: PMC6263192  PMID: 20335942

Abstract

The chemical composition of the essential oils of Salvia africana L., Salvia elegans Vahl, Salvia greggii A. Gray, Salvia mellifera Green and Salvia munzii Epling, cultivated in Eboli (Salerno, Southern Italy), was studied by means of GC and GC-MS analyses. In all, 88 compounds were identified, 54 for S. africana, accounting for 95.4% of the total oil, 55 for S. elegans (92.9%), 50 for S. greggii (96.9%), 54 for S. mellifera (90.4%) and 47 for S. munzii (97.5%), respectively. In S. africana, the amount of monoterpenoids and sesquiterpenoids is very similar. For other species, the monoterpenoid percentage is greater than the amount of sesquiterpenoids. The oils of S. elegans, S. greggii and S. munzii were active inhibitors of germination and radical elongation of Raphanus sativus L. and Lepidium sativum L.

Keywords: Salvia africana, Salvia elegans, Salvia greggii, Salvia mellifera, Salvia munzii, essential oil, germination, radical elongation

1. Introduction

Allelopathy is an expression of the general chemical interaction among plants: a large number of plants possess both inhibitory and stimulatory effects on the growth of neighbouring or successional plants by releasing chemicals into the soil [1,2,3]. The study of plant compounds, which inhibit or stimulate the germination and the development of other species, is important for understanding the mechanisms of the ecological interaction. Our research group is studying the possible allelopathic effects of medicinal and aromatic plants [4,5,6,7] that, being rich in active principles, are considered an important source of potential allelochemicals.

The genus Salvia (Lamiaceae: subfamily Nepetoideae, tribe Mentheae) is a cosmopolitan assemblage of nearly 1,000 species showing a remarkable diversity in growth forms, secondary compounds, floral morphology and pollination biology. “Salvia phenomenon” is one of the best known and well-studied examples of allelopathy [8]: Muller and co-workers showed the potent potential allelopathic of Salvia leucophylla Greene and S. apiana Jeps. [8,9,10,11,12].

Salvia africana L. is an aromatic, hardy shrub up to 2 m in height, originating from Africa. There are no literature data about the essential oil of Salvia africana L. Salvia elegans Vahl is a perennial shrub native to Mexico, commonly known as “pineapple sage” and “pineapple-scented sage” in English, and “mirto”, “flor del cerro”, “limoncillo” and “perritos rojos”, in Spanish. The volatiles of pineapple-scented sage were analyzed for the first time by Makino and coworkers [13]. S. elegans is widely used in Mexican traditional medicine for alleviate Central Nervous System ailments [14]; Herrera-Ruiz and co-workers reported this species as a possible source for isolating new anxiolytic and antidepressant substances [15]. Moreover, Wake and coworkers studied this species for its cholinergic activity [16]. Salvia greggii A. Gray, “autumn sage” or “autumn salvia”, a biennial plant originating from both Mexico and the Texas, is a semi-woody species that has a showy display of brilliant red, pink, white or orange flowers from spring until the first frost in fall [17]. Only few phytochemical reports are available about S. greggii, in particular concerning its diterpenoid compounds [18,19,20]. Salvia mellifera Greene grows abundantly in California at heights below 2,000 feet and it undergoes various hybridizations with other species of the same genus [21]. S. mellifera is a dominant species in much of the California coastal scrub sage and bordering chaparral. Several studies reported the chemical composition of this species [22,23,24] and the biological activity of its volatile terpenes [8]. In northernmost Baja California as the coastal sage scrub becomes increasingly xeric, S. mellifera is replaced by S. munzii [22]. The chemical composition of the essential oil of S. munzii was studied before [22], showing the presence of camphor, 1,8-cineole and limonene, as main constituents.

In continuation of our studies on the possible phytotoxic activity of essential oils from Mediterranean plants [7,25,26], we studied the chemical composition of the essential oils from these Salvia species and their possible in vitro effects against germination and initial radical elongation of Raphanus sativus L. (radish) and Lepidium sativum L. (garden cress).

2. Results and Discussion

2.1. Chemical composition of the essential oils

Table 1 shows the chemical composition of the five Salvia oils; compounds are listed according to their linear retention indices (LRIs) on a HP 5MS column. In all, 88 compounds were identified, 54 for S. africana, accounting for 95.4% of the total oil, 55 for S. elegans (92.9%), 50 for S. greggii (96.9%), 54 for S. mellifera (90.4%) and 47 for S. munzii (97.5%), respectively.

Table 1.

Essential oil composition of Salvia africana, Salvia elegans, Salvia greggii, Salvia mellifera and Salvia munzii.

Compound Ria Rib Salvia africana Salvia elegans Salvia greggii Salvia mellifera Salvia munzii Identi-ficationc Classi-fication d
Tricyclene 925 1013 0.7 0.2 0.2 0.3 1, 2 M
α-Thujene 928 1035 0.2 0.3 1, 2 M
α-Pinene 938 1032 9.2 1, 2, 3 M
Camphene 953 1076 0.2 0.6 1, 2, 3 M
Sabinene 973 1132 0.4 0.3 0.6 1, 2 M
β-Pinene 980 1118 0.8 0.7 0.2 1, 2, 3 M
Myrcene 993 1174 2.0 1, 2 M
α-Phellandrene 1005 1150 0.1 1, 2, 3 M
δ-3-Carene 1008 1160 1.6 1, 2, 3 M
α-Terpinene 1013 1189 1.7 0.1 0.8 0.1 1, 2, 3 M
o-Cymene 1020 1187 0.1 0.2 0.5 0.1 1, 2, 3 M
p-Cymene 1025 1280 21.2 1, 2, 3 M
β-Phellandrene 1029 1218 0.4 1, 2, 3 M
Limonene 1030 1203 0.4 1.1 0.4 2.2 1.4 1, 2, 3 M
1,8-Cineole 1034 1213 0.2 0.4 0.2 39.8 0.2 1, 2, 3 MO
(Z)-β-Ocimene 1038 1243 1.1 2.2 0.1 0.4 5.7 1, 2 M
(E)-β-Ocimene 1049 1262 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 1, 2 M
γ-Terpinene 1057 1256 15.5 0.1 0.1 2.0 0.2 1, 2, 3 M
cis-Sabinene hydrate 1063 1556 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 1, 2 MO
trans-Linalool oxide 1085 1455 0.1 0.1 0.1 1, 2 MO
trans- Sabinene hydrate 1093 1474 1.3 1.0 1, 2 MO
cis-Thujone 1105 1430 0.2 38.7 43.4 0.2 33.3 1, 2 MO
2-Phenyl ethyl alcool 1113 1925 0.2 3.3 2.0 1, 2, 3 MO
trans-Thujone 1115 1449 0.4 1, 2 MO
cis-p -Menth-2-en-1-ol 1128 1638 0.2 0.1 0.1 1, 2 MO
Camphor 1145 1532 0.2 4.6 4.2 12.2 27.2 1, 2, 3 MO
Pinocarvone 1165 1587 0.1 1, 2 MO
Borneol 1167 1719 0.4 1, 2, 3 MO
Terpinen -4-ol 1176 1611 1.0 0.7 0.7 2.0 0.6 1, 2, 3 MO
p-Cymen-8-ol 1185 1856 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 1, 2 MO
α-Terpineol 1189 1706 0.5 1.6 2.0 0.7 1.2 1, 2 MO
Verbenone 1204 1723 0.1 1, 2 MO
trans-Carveol 1217 1845 0.1 0.1 1, 2 MO
Myrtenyl acetate 1227 1698 0.1 1, 2 MO
Geraniol 1235 1857 6.5 3.4 0.1 4.0 1, 2 MO
Neral 1240 1656 0.7 0.5 0.6 1, 2 MO
Carvone 1241 1752 0.1 1, 2, 3 MO
Geranial 1267 1712 1.0 0.5 0.5 1, 2, 3 MO
Bornyl acetate 1284 1597 1.7 1.0 1.2 0.5 0.3 1,2 MO
Thymol 1293 2198 0.8 1.6 1.1 1, 2, 3 P
Carvacrol 1299 2239 0.5 0.6 0.8 0.4 1, 2, 3 P
δ-Elemene 1335 1476 0.1 0.1 0.1 1, 2 S
α-Cubebene 1352 1466 0.2 0.1 0.4 0.1 1, 2 S
(Z)-Isoeugenol 1353 2186 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 1, 2 P
Citronellyl acetate 1358 1662 0.1 1, 2 MO
Neryl acetate 1367 2097 0.2 0.2 0.1 1, 2 MO
Geranyl acetate 1379 1765 6.9 8.7 2.0 1, 2 MO
β-Elemene 1387 1600 0.4 0.4 0.2 1, 2 S
α-Gurjunene 1408 1529 0.2 0.1 1, 2 S
β-Caryophyllene 1415 1612 0.4 0.2 0.1 0.9 0.1 1, 2 S
Aromadendrene 1422 1628 0.4 0.1 0.1 0.1 1, 2 S
β-Gurjunene 1431 1632 0.2 0.1 0.1 1, 2 S
γ-Elemene 1434 1650 0.4 1, 2 S
α-Guaiene 1437 1530 1.0 0.5 0.1 0.1 1, 2 S
trans-Bergamotene 1438 0.1 1, 2 S
α-Humulene 1455 1689 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.2 1, 2 S
allo-Aromadendrene 1463 1661 0.2 0.2 0.1 1, 2 S
γ-Gurjunene 1473 1687 0.1 1, 2 S
Germacrene D 1477 1726 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.2 1, 2 S
γ-Muurolene 1478 1704 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 1, 2 S
cis-β-Guaiene 1490 1694 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 1,2 S
Biciclogermacrene 1491 1756 2.5 1.7 1.1 1, 2 S
Valencene 1495 1741 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.2 0.3 1, 2 S
α-Selinene 1498 1744 0.4 1, 2 S
α-Muurolene 1500 1740 0.4 1.8 2.3 0.1 1.4 1, 2 S
β-Himachalene 1505 1706 0.4 0.1 0.1 0.3 1, 2 S
β-Bisabolene 1510 1743 0.7 1, 2 S
γ-Cadinene 1515 1776 2.8 1.5 1.3 0.3 1.0 1, 2 S
Cubebol 1517 1957 0.2 0.2 0.1 1, 2 SO
cis-Calamenene 1520 1839 0.1 0.1 1, 2 S
Selina-3,7(11)-diene 1524 1.7 0.5 1, 2 S
δ-Cadinene 1526 1773 4.6 11.5 14.0 0.9 8.9 1, 2 S
α-Cadinene 1535 1745 0.3 0.3 0.2 1, 2 S
Cadina-1,4-diene 1538 1799 0.1 0.1 0.1 1, 2 S
α-Calacorene 1541 1941 0.1 1, 2 S
Germacrene B 1544 1854 0.2 1.1 1, 2 S
Germacrene D-4-ol 1577 2069 0.5 0.5 1,2 SO
Spathulenol 1578 2150 0.2 1, 2 SO
Caryophyllene oxide 1580 2008 1.3 1.4 1, 2, 3 SO
Globulol 1585 2098 0.2 1.8 0.2 1, 2 SO
Viridiflorol 1591 2104 0.2 1, 2 SO
β-Oplopenone 1608 2100 0.2 0.1 0.8 0.1 1, 2 SO
1- epi-Cubenol 1625 2088 2.9 0.2 0.2 0.1 1, 2 SO
τ-Cadinol 1640 2187 13.6 0.9 0.8 0.4 0.3 1, 2 SO
τ-Muurolol 1642 2209 1.4 1.1 0.4 0.5 1, 2 SO
α-Cadinol 1649 2255 1.9 SO
α-Eudesmol 1652 2250 10.7 1, 2 SO
TOTAL 95.4 92.9 96.9 90.4 97.5
Monoterpene hydrocarbons 43.6 5.5 1.1 19.1 8
Oxygenated Monoterpenes 7.1 62.7 68.9 57 72.3
Phenolic compounds 1.6 0.7 2.4 0.1 1.6
Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons 13.6 20.9 22.3 6.9 14.4
Oxygenated Sesquiterpenes 29.6 3.1 2.2 7.3 1.2
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a Kovats retention index on HP-5 MS column; b Kovats retention index on HP Innowax; c 1 = Kovats retention index, 2 = mass spectrum, 3 = coinjection with authentic compound; d M = Monoterpene hydrocarbons, MO = Oxygenated Monoterpenes, P = Phenolic compounds, S = Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, SO = Oxygenated Sesquiterpenes.

In S. africana the monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes were almost in a similar percentage, amounting to 50.6% and 43.2%, respectively. The main compounds are p-cymene (21.2%), γ-terpinene (15.5%), both monoterpenes, τ-cadinol (13.6%) and α-eudesmol (10.7%), oxygenated sesquiterpenes. Other sesquiterpene compounds, in less amount, are δ-cadinene (4.6%) and γ-cadinene (2.8%).

In the oil from S. elegans, the monoterpenes amounted to 68.2% and consisted mainly of oxygenated compounds (62.7%); on the other hand, the total sesquiterpenes were 24.0% (20.9% sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and 3.1% of oxygenated sesquiterpenes) of the total oil. cis-Thujone (38.7%) and geranyl acetate (6.9%) were the most abundant among oxygenated monoterpenes, while geraniol (6.5%) and camphor (4.6%) were present in less amount. The most abundant sesquiterpene hydrocarbons were δ-cadinene (11.5%), bicyclogermacrene (2.5%) and α-muurolene (1.8%). The volatiles of pineapple-scented sage were analyzed for the first time by Makino and coworkers [13] and 28 constituents were identified: among them, mono- and sesquiterpenoids such as linalool, β-caryophyllene, germacrene D and spathulenol were the predominant components.

In the oil from S. greggii, the monoterpene fraction amounted to 70.0% of the total oil, while sesquiterpenes accounted for only 24.5%. In the monoterpene fraction, oxygenated monoterpenes represent a great amount, accounting for 68.9%. The main components were cis-thujone (43.4%) and geranyl acetate (8.7%), while camphor (4.2%) and geraniol (3.4%) were in less amount. δ-Cadinene (14.0%), α-muurolene (2.3%) and biciclogermacrene (1.7%) were the most abundant sesquiterpene hydrocarbons.

In the S. mellifera oil, the monoterpene fraction amounted to 76.1%, while the sesquiterpene one was 14.2%. Also in this case, the monoterpene fraction was mainly represented by oxygenated compounds (57.0%), with great prevalence of 1,8-cineole (39.8%) and camphor (12.2%). α-Pinene (9.2%) was the major component of non-oxygenated monoterpenes. Neisess and coworkers [22] reported camphor as one of the most abundant compounds in S. mellifera and S. munzii oils; our data confirmed their results.

In S. munzii, the monoterpene fraction amounted to 80.3% of the total oil, while sesquiterpenes represented only 15.6%: the main compounds are cis-thujone (33.3%) and camphor (27.2%), with δ-cadinene (8.9%) and geraniol (4%) in appreciable amounts. In literature, Neisses and coworkers [22] reported the essential oil composition of this species and they showed that camphor is one of the major compound of the oil: once more, our data confirmed their results.

2.2. Biological activity

The five essential oils were evaluated for their phytotoxic activity against germination (Table 2) and initial radical elongation (Table 3) of radish (Raphanus sativus) and garden cress (Lepidium sativum), two species usually utilized in biological assays [7]. The oils affected the germination and the radical elongation of two seeds in a distinct way. The germination of radish appeared sensitive to Salvia greggii oil, at the highest dose (1.25 μg/mL) used. The germination of garden cress was completely inhibited by S. elegans, S. greggii and S. munzii oils, at the highest doses (1.25 μg/mL, 0.625 μg/mL) used. The essential oil of S. elegans, at the almost all doses tested, inhibited significantly the radical elongation of both radish and garden cress. Also S. greggii and S. munzii oils inhibited, in a significative way, the radical elongation as of radish as of garden cress; on the other hand, S. mellifera oil inhibited, in a significative way, the radical elongation of radish but not of garden cress, while S. africana oil was inactive towards both seeds.

Table 2.

Biological activity of essential oils of Salvia africana, Salvia elegans, Salvia greggii, Salvia mellifera and Salvia munzii, against germination of Raphanus sativus and Lepidium sativum, 120 h after sowing. Results are the mean of three experiments ± SD.

Raphanus sativus Germinated seeds ± SD
Doses Salvia africana Salvia elegans Salvia greggii Salvia mellifera Salvia munzii
Control 9.3 ± 1.1 9.3 ± 1.1 9.3 ± 1.1 9.3 ± 1.1 9.3 ± 1.1
0.06 μg/mL 9.7 ± 0.6 7.7 ± 2.0 7.3 ± 1.5 10 ± 0 9.7 ± 0.6
0.125 μg/mL 9.0 ± 1.0 8.7 ± 1.5 8.0 ± 1.7 10 ± 0 10 ± 0
0.25 μg/mL 8.7 ± 1.5 7.6 ± 0.6 8.7 ± 1.5 8.7 ± 0.6 9.0 ± 1.0
0.625 μg/mL 9.7 ± 0.6 7.6 ± 0.6 7.6 ± 0.6 8.7 ± 1.5 9.0 ± 1.0
1.25 μg/mL 8.7 ± 1.1 7.6 ± 0.6 6.3 ± 0.6 8.3 ± 1.5 8.7 ± 1.1
Lepidium sativum Germinated seeds ± SD
Doses Salvia africana Salvia elegans Salvia greggii Salvia mellifera Salvia munzii
Control 9.3 ± 0.6 9.3 ± 0.6 9.3 ± 0.6 9.3 ± 0.6 9.3 ± 0.6
0.06 μg/mL 9.7 ± 0.6 8.3 ± 1.5 9.3 ± 1.1 8.7 ± 0.6 9.7 ± 0.6
0.125 μg/mL 9.7 ± 0.6 8.7 ± 1.5 8.0 ± 1.7 8.7 ± 0.6 9.0 ± 1.0
0.25 μg/mL 10 ± 0 6.0 ± 1.0* 7.0 ± 1.0 7.0 ± 1.0 10 ± 0
0.625 μg/mL 10 ± 0 0 ± 0 1 ± 0 6.0 ± 1.0* 0 ± 0
1.25 μg/mL 9.0 ± 1.0 0 ± 0 0 ± 0 6.3 ± 0.6 0 ± 0
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Note:p < 0.05 vs. control.

Table 3.

Biological activity of essential oils of Salvia africana, Salvia elegans, Salvia greggii, Salvia mellifera and Salvia munzii against radical elongation of Raphanus sativus and Lepidium sativum, 120 h after sowing. Data are expressed in cm. Results are the mean of three experiments ± SD.

Raphanus sativus Radical elongation ± S.D
Doses Salvia africana Salvia elegans Salvia greggii Salvia mellifera Salvia munzii
Control 3.4 ± 2.0 3.4 ± 2.0 3.4 ± 2.0 3.4 ± 2.0 3.4 ± 2.0
0.06 μg/mL 2.6 ± 1.0 2.7 ± 1.3 3.4 ± 1.9 2.4 ± 1.1* 2.1 ± 1.3**
0.125 μg/mL 3.2 ± 1.6 2.1 ± 0.9** 1.9 ± 1.3 2.6 ± 1.4 2.3 ± 0.8**
0.25 μg/mL 2.5 ± 1.5 1.9 ± 1.1** 2.7 ± 1.6 2.9 ± 1.7 1.9 ± 1.1**
0.625 μg/mL 3.1 ± 2.0 1.2 ± 0.9*** 2.2 ± 1.2* 2.2 ± 0.9** 2.1 ± 1.2**
1.25 μg/mL 2.5 ± 1.4 1.4 ± 0.6*** 1.3 ± 0.5*** 1.9 ± 1.4** 1.2 ± 0.7***
Lepidium sativum Radical elongation ± S.D
Doses Salvia africana Salvia elegans Salvia greggii Salvia mellifera Salvia munzii
Control 2.5 ± 0.9 2.5 ± 0.9 2.5 ± 0.9 2.5 ± 0.9 2.5 ± 0.9
0.06 μg/mL 4.1 ± 2.4** 1.7 ± 0.8** 2.4 ± 0.9 2.3 ± 0.7 2.3 ± 0.7
0.125 μg/mL 2.6 ± 0.8 1.1 ± 0.8*** 2.9 ± 1.5 3.3 ± 1.9 2.1 ± 0.9
0.25 μg/mL 2.4 ± 0.9 0.8 ± 0.4*** 2.5 ± 0.9 2.4 ± 1.8 0.8 ± 0.6***
0.625 μg/mL 2.6 ± 0.9 0.0 ± 0.0*** 2.5*** 2.3 ± 0.9 0.0 ± 0.0***
1.25 μg/mL 2.6 ± 1.1 0.0 ± 0.0*** 0.0 ± 0.0*** 2.6 ± 1.5 0.0 ± 0.0***
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Note: * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001 vs. control.

The difference in biological activity of the oils could be attributed to their different chemical composition: in S. africana oil, there is a minor amount of oxygenated terpenoids, reported as germination and seedling growth inhibitors [27], in comparison with the other four oils: in fact, this species of Salvia is the less active. On the other hand, the oils of S. elegans, S. greggii and S. munzii, that have a similar chemical composition, with cis-thujone, camphor and 1,8-cineole as main components, possess a comparable antigerminative activity. These compounds are known as potent inhibitors of seed germination [8]. Moreover, Pinto and coworkers [28] showed that a Salvia officinalis oil, containing 10.4% of cis-thujone and 20.5% of camphor, was very active against Candida sp., dermatophytes and other filamentous fungi and showed fungicidal activity: cis-thujone and camphor are both present in our most active oils.

Our data agree with the literature on inhibitory activity exerted by essential oils of Salvia species on seed germination and radical elongation and, in general, on vegetation. Muller [12] reports a dramatic example of zones free of annual herbs, influenced by terpenoids, in the areas surrounding patches of Salvia leucophylla. Several authors [29,30] studied the mechanism of monoterpene volatilization in S. mellifera. Volatile monoterpenoids, emanating from leaves of this species are responsible for anatomical and physiological changes occurring in herb seedlings which were exposed to vapours [31]. Camphor and 1,8-cineole, the main components of the oil of Salvia leucophylla, are potent inhibitors of oxygen uptake by mitochondrial suspensions [12]. Moreover, we reported recently the phytotoxic activity of other two species of Salvia [26].

Although the mode of inhibitory action of essential oils against germination still remains unclear, several papers reported that volatile oils and monoterpenoids inhibit cell division and induce structural breaks and decomposition in roots [32,33,34,35]. Both monoterpenoids and sesquiterpenoids appear to be involved in these allelopathic effects. Some monoterpenoids are potent inhibitors of seed germination and radical elongation. These include cineoles, as 1,4- and 1,8-cineole [32], citronellol, linalool [35,36], α-pinene [34,37], and limonene [37]. Recently, researchers reviewed the role of sesquiterpenoid compounds: chemicals as β-maaliene, α-isocomene, β-isocomene, δ-cadinene, 5-hydroxy-calamenene, and 5-methoxycalamenene were shown to inhibit the seedling growth of associated native vegetation, and thus possibly help in successful invasion in the introduced sites [38].

3. Experimental

3.1. Plant material

Aerial parts of Salvia africana L., Salvia elegans Vahl, Salvia greggii A. Gray, Salvia mellifera Green and Salvia munzii Epling were gathered at the full flowering stage from plants cultivated in the garden of the Improsta Experimental Station at Eboli, (Salerno), in July 2009. The seeds of the plants were purchased at “Vivaio Granburrone”, Nocera Umbra (Perugia, Italy). Plants were identified by Prof. V. De Feo. Voucher specimens of each plant were deposited in the Herbarium of the Medical Botany Chair at the Salerno University. The specimens are labelled as follows: S. africana (DF 2009/345), S. elegans (DF 2009/346), S. greggii (DF 2009/347) S. mellifera (DF 2009/348), S. munzii (DF 2009/349).

3.2. Isolation of the volatile components

Fifteen grams of each air-dried sample of Salvia species were ground in a Waring blender and then subjected to hydrodistillation for 3 h according to the standard procedure described in the European Pharmacopoeia [39]. The oils were solubilised in n-hexane, filtered over anhydrous sodium sulphate and stored under N2 at +4 °C in the dark until tested and analyzed. The dry materials gave yellow-reddish oils in a yield of 0.37% (v/w) for S. africana, of 0.55 (v/w) for S. elegans, of 0.70% (v/w) for S. greggii, 0.68% (v/w) for S. mellifera and 0.80% (v/w) for S. munzii.

3.3. Gas chromatography

Analytical gas chromatography was carried out on a Perkin-Elmer Sigma-115 gas chromatograph equipped with a FID and a data handling processor. The separation was achieved using a HP-5 MS fused-silica capillary column (30 m × 0.25 mm i.d., 0.25 μm film thickness). Column temperature: 40 °C, with 5 min initial hold, and then to 270 °C at 2 °C/min, 270 °C (20 min); injection mode splitless (1 μL of a 1:1,000 n-pentane solution). Injector and detector temperatures were 250 °C and 290 °C, respectively. Analysis was also run by using a fused silica HP Innowax polyethylenglycol capillary column (50 m × 0.20 mm i.d., 0.25 μm film thickness). In both cases, helium was used as carrier gas (1.0 mL/min).

3.4. Gas chromatography–Mass spectrometry

Analysis was performed on an Agilent 6850 Ser. II apparatus, fitted with a fused silica DB-5 capillary column (30 m × 0.25 mm i.d., 0.33 μm film thickness), coupled to an Agilent Mass Selective Detector MSD 5973; ionization energy voltage 70 eV; electron multiplier voltage energy 2,000 V. Mass spectra were scanned in the range 40–500 amu, scan time 5 scans/s. Gas chromatographic conditions were as reported in the previous paragraph; transfer line temperature, 295 °C.

3.5. Identification of components

Most constituents were identified by gas chromatography by comparison of their Kovats retention indices (Ri) with either those of the literature [40,41] or with those of authentic compounds available in our laboratories. The Kovats retention indices were determined in relation to a homologous series of n-alkanes (C8–C28) under the same operating conditions. Further identification was made by comparison of their mass spectra on both columns with either those stored in NIST 02 and Wiley 275 libraries or with mass spectra from the literature [40,42] and a home made library. Components relative concentrations were obtained by peak area normalization. No response factors were calculated.

3.6. Biological assay

A bioassay based on germination and subsequent radical growth was used to study the phytotoxic effects of the essential oils of S. africana, S. elegans, S. greggii, S. mellifera and S. munzii on seeds of Raphanus sativus L. cv. “Saxa” (radish), and Lepidium sativum L. (garden cress). The seeds were purchased from Blumen srl, Piacenza, Italy. The seeds were surface sterilized in 95% ethanol for 15 s and sown in Petri dishes (Ø = 90 mm), containing five layers of Whatman filter paper, impregnated with distilled water (7 mL, control) or tested solution of the essential oil (7 mL), at the different assayed doses. The germination conditions were 20 ± 1 °C, with natural photoperiod. The essential oils, in water–acetone mixture (99.5:0.5), were assayed at the doses of 1.25, 0.625, 0.25, 0.125 and 0.062 μg/mL. Controls performed with water–acetone mixture alone showed no appreciable differences in comparison with controls in water alone. Seed germination was observed directly in Petri dishes, each 24 h. Seed was considered germinated when the protrusion of the radical became evident [43]. After 120 h (on the fifth day), the effects on radical elongation were measured in cm. Each determination was repeated three times, using Petri dishes containing 10 seeds each. Data are expressed as the mean ± SD of both germination and radical elongation. The Student’s t test of independence was applied [44].

4. Conclusions

Aromatic plants are regarded as a primary source of potential allelochemicals and interact with their environment. Muller and coworkers demonstrated [8,9,10,11,12] that Salvia species produce volatile growth inhibitors, particularly oxygenated monoterpenoids. These findings were subsequently confirmed by other papers [13,29]. Our in vitro experiments on the essential oils from Salvia species on germination and initial radical elongation of radish and garden cress, show that the essential oils of S. elegans and S. munzii were the most active inhibitors , whereas S. africana oil didn’t show such activity. The phytotoxic activity of S. elegans and S. munzii was probably due to the presence of a substantial amount of oxygenated terpenoids, in particular of cis-thujone, 1,8-cineole and camphor. Our in vitro studies can contribute to explain the importance of volatile compounds as chemical mediators in biochemical interactions among higher plants and could suggest models for lead compounds in the development of new pesticides [45].

Footnotes

Samples Availability: Samples of the essential oils are available from the authors.

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