Determination of essential oil components, mineral matter, and heavy metal content of Salvia virgata Jacq. grown in culture conditions

Abstract

Most members of the family Lamiaceae are of considerable importance in areas such as medicine, food, cosmetics, andperfumery, as they are rich in essential oils, aromatic oils, and secondary metabolites. Sage, a member of this family, is the genericname for species of the genus Salvia. The genus Salvia has approximately 900 species worldwide. There are 99 species of the genusSalvia L. in Turkey; 51 of these species are endemic. The local name of S. virgata is “yılancık” or “fatmanaotu” in Turkey, and it is usedfor the treatment of wounds and various skin diseases. In addition, a decoction prepared by using aerial parts of this species is used toprevent blood cancer. In this study, essential oil composition and heavy metal and nutrient element contents (aluminum, cadmium,cobalt, chrome, nickel, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, sulfur, iron, copper, zinc, manganese, boron, and sodium) of S. virgata grownin Yozgat, Turkey, under local ecological conditions were determined using standard analytical processes. The essential oil contentin the aerial parts of S. virgata harvested during full flowering was 0.01% (w/w). The principal constituents of the essential oil werepentacosane (20.09%), caryophyllene oxide (6.90%), phytol (6.83%), spathulenol (6.09%), and nonacosane (5.15%). The highest macroand micromineral contents were Ca and K, and Fe and Na, respectively. The accumulated concentrations of the three metals found werelower than the maximum allowed for human consumption without health risks.