Phytochemical composition, antioxidant and cytoprotective activities of essential oil of Salvia lavandulifolia Vahl

The use of aromatic plants for food flavoring and medicinal purposes began a long time ago. The chemical composition of two essential oils from Salvia lavandulifolia from Spain differing in plant density conditions (sample S-1 - high density and sample S-2 - low density) was evaluated. Moreover, the antioxidant and cytoprotective effects of both essential oil samples were investigated. The essential oil of S-1 was characterized by a rich content in 1,8-cineole, whereas the essential oil of S-2 contained high amounts of camphor. The two essential oil samples exhibited a potent antioxidant capacity by ROS scavenging, enhancing the endogenous antioxidant system and inhibiting lipid peroxidation in a H2O2-induced oxidative stress model in astrocytes. S-1 was the most effective essential oil, suggesting that the higher the plant density, the higher the antioxidant effect. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.