Evaluation of the essential oil composition of Salvia officinalis L. by different drying methods in full flowering stages

Common sage (Salvia officinalis L.; Lamiaceae) is one of the most important herb known for its essential oil richness and extensive use in folk medicine. In the current study, we determined the effects of three drying methods on the chemical composition of the essential oil of Saliva officinalis L. The aerial parts of Saliva officinalis were collected from Iran at the full-flowering stage and dried by three different drying methods: sun-drying, shade-drying and oven-drying at 50°C. The essential oil was extracted and analyzed by Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. 17-35 components were detected in the oil of Saliva officinalis under different drying methods, including, ?-Thujone (24.0-25.0 %), 1,8-Cineole (11.0-20.0 %), viridiflorol (7.0-15.0 %), ?-Thujone (5.0-7.0 %) , camphor (6.0-6.5 %), Borneol (3.5-7.0 %), ?-pinene (5.0-6.0 %), ?-pinene (3.5-5.5 %) and ?-humulene (4.0-7.5 %), as main components. The presence of comparatively high concentration of oxygenated compounds mainly thujones, 1,8-cineole and camphor in sage oils may be attributing its carminative, antispasmodic, antiseptic, and astringent properties. Therefore, these sage collections may be exploited for various biological and therapeutic applications. The study revealed that sage can be dried by different methods in full flowering stage of the plants