Study of phenolic compound content, essential oil and antioxidant and antibacterial activities of Salvia aethiopis L. (Lamiaceae)

Salvia L. is one of the important genera of the Lamiaceae family، that most of its species have nutritious and medicinal values. This study aimed to examine the total phenol and flavonoid contents and the antioxidant activities of S. aethiopis using spectrophotometric method. The essential oil of this species was analyzed using GC and GC/MS methods. In addition، antibacterial activities of the essential oil and methanolic extract were evaluated against six gram positive and negative bacteria، respectively. Results showed that the extract has high content of phenolic compounds with high antioxidant activity. From GC analysis، 11 different compounds were indentified in which α-copaene was the most abundant compound with 33. 48%. The extract of the species showed a high antibacterial activity against Proteus vulgaris. However، the essential oil of S. aethiopis had no effect on examined bacteria.