ABSTRACT:

Purpose: To identify and compare the composition of volatile components of two Salvia species, and also their free radical scavenging activity.
Method: The essential oil of two Salvia species was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) techniques while their phenolic contents were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The in vitro antioxidant activity of the essential oils was evaluated by 1, 1-diphenyl-2 picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging technique.
Results: Seven derivatives were identified for S. verticillata and four derivatives for S. suffruticosa. For both species, the main compounds were 1, 8-cineole (S. suffruticosa: 31.21 % and S. verticillata: 38.26 %) and camphor (S. suffruticosa: 27.11 % and S. verticillata: 22.98 %). The content of the phenolic compounds was: ascorbic acid (S. suffruticosa: 23.98 % and S. verticillata: 33.53 %), p- hydroxyl benzoic acid (S. suffruticosa 11.50 % and S. verticillata 3.83 %), vanilic acid (S. suffruticosa 5.86% and S. verticillata: 6.55 %), syringic acid (S. suffruticosa 6.29 %), ferulic acid (S. suffruticosa: 6.35 % and S. verticillata 6.04 %) and sinapic acid (S. suffruticosa 6.26 % and S. verticillata 4.93%). DPPH radical scavenging ability was 0.548 % for S. suffruticosa for S. suffruticosa and 0.558 % for S. verticillata.
​Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that these two species are rich in 1, 8-cineole, camphor and phenolic compounds. There is no significant difference between the radical scavenging activities of the two essential oils.