Chemometrics-based analysis of the phytochemical profile and antioxidant activity of Salvia species from Iran.

In recent years, the exploration of the therapeutic potential of Salvia has gained considerable attention, leading to a growing number of scientific studies emphasizing its pharmacological properties. Despite this, therapeutic applications of Salvia remain underexploited, requiring further investigation. Iran is a major center for sage diversity in Asia, boasting 60 Salvia species, 17 of which are unique to the area. This study aimed to comprehensively explore and compare the extracts of 102 Salvia samples belonging to 20 distinct Salvia species from Iran, providing a deeper understanding of their specific polyphenol content and, consequently, their antioxidant capabilities and potential therapeutic uses. All samples were analyzed to determine the contents of total phenolics, total flavonoids, total tannin, photosynthetic pigments, and ascorbic acid, along with their antioxidant activity. These data were then combined with the forty distinct chemical fingerprints identified by ultrafast high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry. Multivariate data analysis was employed to find correlations and differences among the huge number of data obtained and to identify Salvia species with similar phytochemical and/or antioxidant properties. The results show that each Salvia species is characterized by a distinct class of polyphenols recognized for their antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective and neuroprotective properties. Overall, our findings reveal the potential of some Salvia species for targeted therapeutic applications and provide a rational basis for the development of Salvia-derived nutraceuticals, ultimately improving the prospects for the use of Salvia in medicine.

Screening of 20 species from Lamiaceae family based on phytochemical analysis, antioxidant activity and HPLC profiling.

The Lamiaceae family encompasses numerous species highly valued for their applications in medicine, food, and cosmetics. In order to screen the Lamiaceae family and discover new sources of phytochemicals and antioxidants, we comprehensively evaluated 20 species from this family, including Phlomis herba-venti, P. tuberosa, P. olivieri, P. kurdica, Nepeta sp., N. cataria, N. saccharata, Stachys sp., S. inflata, Scutellaria albida, Marrubium parviflora, Mentha pulegium, Thymus kotschyanus, Lamium album, Salvia officinalis, S. multicaulis, S. macrochlamys, S. candidissima, S. verticillata, and S. nemorosa. The aerial parts of these species were analyzed to determine their total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid (TFC) contents, total tannin content (TTC), ascorbic acid content (AAC), antioxidant capacity (assessed by FRAP and DPPH assays), and polyphenolic components (by HPLC). The phytochemical compounds and antioxidant properties varied widely among different species. The highest concentrations of TPC (70.93 mg GAE/g DW), TFC (17.89 mg Que/g DW), TTC (6.49 mg TAE/100 g), and AAC (1.15 mg AA/g DW), as well as the greatest antioxidant activity, were observed in different Salvia species. Additionally, chlorogenic and rosmarinic acids were the primary phenolic compounds identified in the extracts from the investigated Lamiaceae family. According to Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA), three groups of species were identified, characterized by variations in phytochemical composition and antioxidant capacity. The results obtained can provide new natural sources of phytochemicals and antioxidant agents, particularly from Salvia species, for the advancement of new products in the food, agricultural, cosmetics and health industries.