Salvia officinalis L.

This work explores the diurnal and seasonal variation of polyphenols and essential oils of Salvia officinalis. Chromatographic analysis of essential oils extracted from the aerial parts of S. officinalis by hydrodistillation shows that their chemical composition is strongly dependent on the time and season of harvest. The essential oil of sage officinalis is dominated by either ¿-thujone , or camphor depending on the time or season of harvest. Chromatographic analysis of methanolic extracts of sage reveals the predominance of rosmarinic acid whose content depends on the time and season of harvest. These extracts are characterized by a high total antioxidant capacity and by good antiradical and reducing powers. The essential oil of Salvia officinalis is also endowed with antifungal activity against the phytopathogenic strains Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium sambucinum,fumigant against Spodoptera littoralis and repellent activity against Trogoderma graniarum. Moreover, the methanolic extract of sage has an antiappetent activity against Spodoptera littoralis