Bioactivity, biocompatibility and phytochemical assessment of lilac sage, Salvia verticillata L. (Lamiaceae) - A plant rich in rosmarinic acid

The plants from genus Salvia, as one of the largest genus in Lamiaceae family, are frequently in use for various purposes, as foods, in cosmetic industry, or in traditional and official medicine. Salvia verticillata L. (liliac sage) is one of sidelined sage species with potential bioactivity, reported in traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to acquire a phytochemical profile of the methanol extract obtained from S. verticillata aerial parts and to evaluate its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and biocompatibility potential. Characteristic compounds of the genus Salvia, such as rosmarinic and caffeic acids, along with their derivatives (e.g. salvianolic and yunnaneic acids isomers) and flavonoids, have been identified by ultrahigh-performance Orbitrap metabolomic fingerprinting as the main phenolic metabolites in S. verticillata. The extract displayed moderate antimicrobial properties and significant antioxidant potential, with the half maximal inhibitory concentration values (IC50) ranging from 33 to 73 μg/mL. Importantly, full biocompatibility of the extract with eukaryotic cell lines was observed up to 72 h. The obtained results revealed the presence of polyphenolic bioactive compounds in S. verticillata extract with promising antioxidant potential and significant biocompatibility. In this regard, S. verticillata can find new perspectives of application as a food ingredient, in cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, as it represents a valuable source of compounds with prominent health properties, with a special focus on rosmarinic acid.