Salvia officinalis
There is nothing more enticing than the smell of sage coming from the kitchen, but this herb is more than a pantry staple. Part of the same family as thyme, sage has natural active compounds that have been used since ancient times for their medicinal potential1. Several recent studies have brought attention to the antibacterial and antitumor effects of sage. Intramammary infusion of sage in sheep with mastitis resulted in improved milk quality and mammary gland health; the results even rivaled the antibacterial control2. Sage also significantly reduced the colony count of dental plaque after use of a mouthwash with its extract3. One of the major chemical constituents of sage is known as 1, 8-cineole, which is a powerful antiseptic. Another component of sage is the neuroprotective chemical rosmarinic acid, which has been shown to improve the learning and memory function of diabetic rats4. Farmers are thrilled to use sage as an organic and effective antifungal and antibacterial treatment on plants and animals alike5. We choose it for its taste and internal TLC.
1Alexa, E., Sumalan, R. M., Danciu, C., Obistioiu, D., Negrea, M., Poiana, M.-A., … Dehelean, C. (2018). Synergistic Antifungal, Allelopatic and Anti-Proliferative Potential of Salvia officinalis L., and Thymus vulgaris L. Essential Oils. Molecules, 23(1), 185. https://doi-org.unh.idm.oclc.org/10.3390/molecules23010185
2Alekish, M. O., Ismail, Z. B., Awawdeh, M. S., & Shatnaw, S. (2017). Effects of intramammary infusion of sage (Salvia officinalis) essential oil on milk somatic cell count, milk composition parameters and selected hematology and serum biochemical parameters in Awassi sheep with subclinical mastitis. Veterinary World, 10(8), 895–900. https://doi-org.unh.idm.oclc.org/10.14202/vetworld.2017.895-900
3Beheshti-Rouy, M., Azarsina, M., Rezaie-Soufi, L., Alikhani, M. Y., Roshanaie, G., & Komaki, S. (2015). The antibacterial effect of sage extract (Salvia officinalis) mouthwash against Streptococcus mutans in dental plaque: a randomized clinical trial. Iranian Journal of Microbiology, 7(3), 173–177. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.unh.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=asn&AN=111210552&site=ehost-live
4Hasanein, P., Felehgari, Z., & Emamjomeh, A. (2016). Preventive effects of Salvia officinalis L. against learning and memory deficit induced by diabetes in rats: Possible hypoglycaemic and antioxidant mechanisms. Neuroscience Letters, 622, 72–77. https://doi-org.unh.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2016.04.045
5Dammak, I., Hamdi, Z., Kammoun El Euch, S., Zemni, H., Mliki, A., Hassouna, M., & Lasram, S. (2019). Evaluation of antifungal and anti-ochratoxigenic activities of Salvia officinalis, Lavandula dentata and Laurus nobilis essential oils and a major monoterpene constituent 1,8-cineole against Aspergillus carbonarius. Industrial Crops & Products, 128, 85–93. https://doi-org.unh.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2018.11.006
