Systematic Review of Clinical Trials Assessing Pharmacological Properties of Salvia Species on Memory, Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease

Abstract

Salvia officinalis L. and Salvia lavandulaefolia L. have a longstanding use as traditional herbal remedies that can enhance memory and improve cognitive functions. Pharmacological actions of S. officinalis and S. lavandulaefolia on healthy subjects and on patients suffering of cognitive decline have been investigated. Aim of this review was to summarize published clinical trials assessing effectiveness and safety of S. officinalis and S. lavandulaefolia in the enhancement of cognitive performance in healthy subjects and neurodegenerative illnesses. Furthermore, to purchase a more complete view on safety of S. officinalis and S. lavandulaefolia, we collected and discussed articles regarding toxicity and adverse reactions. Eight clinical studies investigating on acute effects of S. officinalis on healthy subjects were included in the review. Six studies investigated on the effects of S. officinalis and S. lavandaeluaefolia on cognitive performance in healthy subjects. The two remaining were carried out to study the effects of sage on Azheimer's disease. Our review shows that S. officinalis and S. lavandulaefolia exert beneficial effects by enhancing cognitive performance both in healthy subjects and patients with dementia or cognitive impairment and is safe for this indication. Unfortunately, promising beneficial effects are debased by methodological issues, use of different herbal preparations (extracts, essential oil, use of raw material), lack of details on herbal products used. We believe that sage promising effects need further higher methodological standard clinical trials.

Therapeutic Effects of Phytochemicals and Medicinal Herbs on Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

“…Salvia officinalis (Sage) is a perennial herb with well-known carminative, antispasmodic, antiseptic, astringent, and antihydrotic properties [85]. The phytocomplexes of S. officinalis contain monoterpenes with a broad range of carbon skeletons, including acyclic, monocyclic, and bicyclic compounds, phenolic compounds, diterpenes, triterpenes [86,87].…”

Recent Studies on the Neuropharmacological Effects of Salvia officinalis L.: A Promising Candidate for Alzheimer's Disease

“…The hypnotic effects of SO has been reported recently in an experimental model of pentobarbital sodium-induced sleeping time test [10]. The findings indicate that SO extract has positive effect on sleeping time and sleep latency induced by pentobarbital.…”

“…Memory effects of SO have shown in many previous studies [10,[21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28]. In an active avoidance paradigm apparatus, SO-treated mice showed significant reduction in number of avoidance and discrimination errors during retention trial compared to control group.…”

“…In this examination, higher doses of SO extract (600 and 800 mg/kg) attenuated the withdrawal signs including wet dog shakes and sniffing. SO 800 mg/kg, but not 600 mg/kg, also reduced rearing, standing, face grooming and paw tremor in SO 800 mg/kg treated-morphine dependent rats [10].…”

“…The two major chemical classes of secondary metabolites have been identified as typical products of the plant: terpenoids and phenolics compounds (e.g., coumarins, flavonoids, tannins) [7,10]. The essential oil of SO mainly comprises the monoterpenes α-and β-thujone, camphor, 1,8-cineole and borneol, and sometimes in larger amounts sesquiterpenes α-humulene and β-caryophyllene.…”